The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-08-07
TRI-WEEKLY EDITION.


ticipations, and began to watch Harry. He
did seem exactly like an impassioned lover
About this time my wife said to me that
Susie was receiving letters from some far oil
friend.
81 notice when they come sometimes
hand them to her, but she never mentions
them again. Shouldn't you think she would
speak about them 2" asked my wife
Susic's movements were now Of importance
in my eyes. How had that plain little girl
contriyed TO captivate handsome, popular
Harry Lonsdale, the most cxacting fellow
in his relations with women l ever knew 2
The thing certainly was done.
Susie came out in new character. Her
gray dresses were frightened with eXqui-
site bits of color. She spoke to my wife of
needing new dresses, and to Nellies aston
ishment bought herself several Then came
ornaments, few, but choice and costly.
where DO you suppose she gets the
money! asked Nellie. "
'sHow do we know but she may be rich
and ccccntric2" was my response. "You
pitied her and thought her poor lone girl,
but her father may have possessed property
to large amount for all we can tell"
Nellie shook her wise head.
81 don't believe he left cent indeed,
what am | sayng2 it is a matter of certain
ty that he did not, for Susie told me so her
sell. Besides, she would have got fine
things fast enough, scores OF times. I've
seen the look in her eye when I've been
shopping at Stewards, suggestive of cmpt-
ness of pocket and anguish of spirit-for
you see now what lovely taste she has
But wish she wasn't such secret thing,
that's what torments me do like to be
confdcd in"
What followed made that conversation
memorable. Some months previous l had
received the sum of$3, 600 for a small piece
of land. This money, or a part of it. had
occasion to use. l went up to the closet in
my room, one side of which served rs a safe
10 my utter astonishment the money was
not there. searched the closet through,
and then called my wife for consultation
Together we looked in every available
place, cleared the shelves of the library,
searched through all the closets, bureaus,
boxes, trunks and hooks that the house af-
forded; but in vain, the money was gone ;
no sign of bank bills anywhere.
"Wherc could you have put them2" asked
my wife. tired and discouraged.
"I put them in that closet; my kew has
been up in that little box on the end of the
mantelpicce; have meyer been to the closet
since l left the money there, but some one
else has, it seems"
"Nonc of the servants but old Hester
ever comes into this room, " murmured Mel
lie, and | would stake my life on her hon
esty."
"Of course, 80 would l."
"Thrce thousand dollars; why, John,
that's large sum to lose."
"Large or small, it's gone"
'But whcre?" my wife quericd, per-
picked and anxious. 'Who could have
known it was therea People will do such
miserable strange things sometimes"
"Yes, l nave spoken or having that
amount by me, two or three times, but no
one was present but you and Susie. It was
an abominable careless thing to do, leaving
1t lying loose instead of putting it in the
bank, rs should. Day after day we look
cd for the money, speaking of the suspicious
to no one, until finally we gave it up for
lost. week after this, Nellie came to my
room with a pale face.
g It's 30 strange" she m,rmurcd, 'sand
hate to have such thoughts; but John,
where could Susie have got that splendid
solitaireS" she whispered.
What solitaire" asked.
"You have not seen it2" she wore it to-
day for the first time"
81 suppose she's engaged-Farry gave it
'But Harry didn't give 1t to her. asked
her and she said no."
"The deuce!" was all I could say.
"And John, it really looks alarming, the
number of costly things she has been bu, ing
of late. Thirty dollars for parasol, only
think and mine don't cost twenty; a box
of daintiest gloves; everything by the
Dozen"
We looked at each other in silence.
"About the richest black silk you ever
saw--bettcr than mine. The material must
have cost hundred dollars; what will it
come to when it Is made up 2"
"What can it all mean 2" queried.
"Don't ask me; Pm heart-slck ut the
thought of 1t. It's miserable business, can
1t be possible 3-but no, won't say it.
Certain 1t is that she has some business rela-
tions with some one in the city. Half the
etters she gets arc not EaTy's."
81 wonder if the fellow loves herr"
Gloves her, he worships her"
"And he will make her his wife 2"
''Of course he will"
"What is our duty in that case, do you
think, Ncllie2"
'For heavens sake say nothing about it,
John. Remember, she Is my cousin, and
it isn't as if we were poor. I'd rather lose
five thousand than to have any trouble of
that kind"
''lts terribly unpleasant" said I.
"Of course 1t is-horrible. And she's so
happy, so thoroughly happy that it would
be pleasure to look at her if one didn't
think, didn't dread--oh John, John /" and
poor Nellie hid her face in her hands.
And still the purchases continued. Mel
lie and l said nothing-never asked ques-
tion, now, but we were all the time watch
ing, miserable and unhappy.
Susie must have noticed the change in us
but she was so preoccupled with her love
that she probably attributed it to some other
cause. 4
Harry was nova constant visitor. He
came to my office one day, and with an al
most radiant face, told me of his love for
my wife's cousin. Ihope you do not OBJ
ject," he added, when had heard him
through.
1 NT i. ~.