The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-11-20


lined Oh the slender white finger. My
heart bounded. Here was the lover who
had stolen madam's ring. 1t should be re-
stored to her, and once more she should
hnow happiness. All, how frightened l
got, though! While my lips were parted
to speak, and my hand reached forth to
touch his arm, he was gone, and stood
quite alone with Madame Rosis.
"What makes you so whitc2" she asked,
stopping short in her walk.
| "Wby, he has goncl"
"Who has gomez"
''The gentleman who walked beside
you"
"Indecd, who so honored me 2" she said
incrcduously, ~ was busy with my
thoughts" )"
ga strange gentleman walked with you
hear you-and as started towards him
he disappear ed.
Madame laughed low, musical laugh,
but saw that the white hand that clasped
her scarlet mantle over her heart was shals-
ing. Her lips grew white and dry.
81 hope he was handsome
every; and mouth like girls"
Her forehead grew puckcrcd into scowls
"And what clsc2'
'IIe wore a ring aOith u biood-rcd
hcartw
Iprny that I may never OH earth sec q
face so fearful as was madamc's at that
moment. put up quick prayer, for l
thought she was about to kill me- She
clutclcd both hands about my arm and
held me closely to her.
'How dare you, girl2"
II could not help seeing him." I said
There he is now outside, looking in at the
window"
She covered down at my feet and COW
| evcred her eyes with her mantle. I do not
know how long stood there or how long
she knclt without moving. know the
| figure stood motionlcss at the window look
ing at us with steady, unwavering eyes.
Would he never go2 Would he hold us
forever with that quiet, unflinching gaze2
At that moment shrickcd, and madame
sprang to her feet. a crowd came to sec
us. and fell back faiting.
In the morning we started. 1t was sum-
mcr time, and our way led through the
richest of earth's grounds. All was bcauti-
full from the sky downward--birds, flowers,
fruit and vclvcty grccnsward. 1t spite of
everything l was happy.
''We will soon have long rcst," mad
anne said, rs we whirlcd along. "You
Io1,p
home"
was looking out of the window rs she
spoke. AS turned my face towards her
felt some one touch my shoulder. turned
around quickly. The stranger was sitting
near us in the train.
His presence seemed so real to me that
spoke out angrily:
"lf you please, sir"
Madame looked around.
"To whom are you speaking, Louise q"
knew, then, that whatever I saw,
whether man or evil one, Madame Rosis
was conscious of nothing. I looked over
tho facc-at the blue eyes and gentle mouth,
down at the white hands and red ring,
without word.
"NIonsicur Rosis," thought "But why
docs he follow madame2"
We rode the day through with the fair,
immovable figure beside lis, and the doctor
in the next carriage. The one seemed to
countcract the influence of the other. Moth
ing could harm me.
At night we came to our resting place.
'Here we shall find the ring!" said Ma
dame, as we hurried out of the train. "It
is like an inspiration. feel it through and
through"
We did not go to hotel, but to a house
near the outskirts of tho town. know the
coachman of the fly stared at Madame
when she told him where to drive us. Tho
night was very dark. Looking around for
my friend, l GOULD not sec him, and I
thought that was lost,
Warm, ass was the night, the place to
which we went was chilly. Madame had
fires made in tho gratos and ordered wine
to be brought.
"Whero are wo?" asked
( sPardon me for not saying. This Is my
home. No one dare intrudc here"
No onc9 Was Madame surc4 AS she
spoke the pleasant-faced stranger, ghost, or
man, came noiselcssly in, and sat down by
the fire. Hc wore the same expression as
when l. first seen him. CHANGING at his
hand, I saw the blood-rcd ring glowing
upon his finger.
''You do not drink, Madame said, as I
sat holding the winc-glass. ''What is it 3"
1 put down tho glass with a shudder.
"Madame Rosis, want to 60 home"
"This is your home BY day 1t is beau
tiful. Tonight know there arc shadows
and it is cold. We can have moro fire. -
''rhat is not It'll want my sister. i
seem TO be sitting here.p .sys %ea I-
"Well, WE'LL will play to you. I will
sing" ,ggrli5y ..an
She threw open the piano, Good heavens,
what wall came from it as her delicate
fingers ran up and down the keys Wild
unrest, agong, despair found voice in the