The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-09-11
Her Love or her Life.

The road that led from the small railway
station to the business part Of the pleasant
town wound for nearly mile along the
banks of picturesque stream, across Il
wooden bridge, and up broad avenue
Ranked by handsome villas.
Just across that bridge, at the close of q
dark, sunless day, stopped before the tall
gate of plain black iron fence, and scruli-
nizcd intcrcstcdly the grounds and house
within the rather. grim enclosure. The
place attracted me irres:s'ably, although the
building was decidedly not n miracle of
architectural art, nor were the great shivcr-
ing pines behind it suggestive of anything
particularly CHEEKY. The low polygonal
structure was of brick, red as jasper, heavy
crimson curtains shaded the quaint Win
dows, and the only door visible was broad
and solid, and panclcd in curiously carved
oak, black with age. Weeping willows
and mountain ashes bordercd the wide gras-
sy walk, and the scent of hidden vioets
filled the air.
Back under the pines I saw a tall, mo-
ancholy figure moving to and fro, his dark,
handsome head bowed, and his white,
shapely hands looked behind him. The
clash of the IRON latch startled. him; he
looked up, smiled, and at once hurried to-
wards me. $50
"You have come" lie Observed laconi-
cally, but aifably. "IIow do you like the
placer"
81 can scarcely decide that as yet" re-
turned smiling at his cagerness; sbut it
looks to me something like the nest of a
wild bird who by mistake :buldcd in a
garden of roses. 1t is very unlike the gay,
modern mansion on the other side of the
avenue"
81 hope you do not regret having
bought it, Philip2" he commenced I'M
easily.
''Not at all, Horace" I assured him
promptly; ''my business keeps me in this
town at least seven months of each year,
and am heartily tired of the noisy hotel
over yonder. like the quiet of retired
home, and l shall employ housekccpcr
and make bachelor Paradise of the house
you are leaving.'
81 have some fine old wine you must
taste before you co." he remarked as, after
conducting me through the open door and
spacious hall, he led inc into large, dim
room
''Thanks for the wine, if it will help cx-
pcdite our slight task of business" said
lightly; 81 must catch the next train, you
know"
lie acknowledged my hint with smile,
and left me alone.
| drew back the crimson curtains of a
broad west window, and gazed curiously
about the apartment. The ceiling was de-
llcately frescoed, and the walls exqu-
sitely painted in some pale-pink tint. Tho
velvet carpet was like vast bed of moss
scsttored over with dainty red rosebuds A
table of rosewood and marble stood in the
centre of the room, and as snt down be-
side 1t golden beam from the setting sun
flashed through the parted curtains of the
window and lighted large picture on the
wall before me- It was the life-sze paint
ing Of woman-a young creature whose
form was all qucenlincss and grace, whose
yellow hair was wound In great snalky coils
about naughty but must lovely head,
whose laughing, mocking lips were as red
rs rubies, whose skin was as dainty white
as the leaf of lily, whose eyes and brows
and lashcs were dark as night. She wore
some old Venetian costume of purple vel
vet, drapcd with cloudy lace and sown
with moony pearls. With slnidder I
turned away from that pictured vision of
wicked, smiling beauty.
cit Is the portrait of Horace Chichcster's
renegade wife," / thought
! knew very little about the domestic
sorrow Of my friend. knew that lie had
married one whom he had loved passionate
ly, that she had deserted him, and his
trouble had made him misantllrope and Il
wandercr; but I knew nothing more. Al
though we had been confidential associates
in our college days, we had been for sever
al years almost strangers, and now / did
not care to question BIN Of a trouble that
he evidently did not wish to discuss. But
! had no kindness or mercy for the wife
1 who, believed, had made him the wreck
he had become, and whom had never
& seem. 4! 81
That day he spoke to me.of her for the