The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-11-15
WEEKLY EDITION

Scticf sic grew Ill grace ana FAVOR with
the husband, and declined in equal measure
in the wifc's esteem. She was too keen
wittcd herself not to perceive this, but the
incradicabe love of coquctry and mischief
that turks III every female bosom forbade
her TO change her tactics. The end of it
was desperate quarrel between Constance
and Theresa, and Constancc's hasty depar-
turc from Shrublands in Il rage. On her
part, Theresa vowed that she would never
have that dcccitfu girl in her house again
"All right" Ernest had said; elf you
| don't care about it DON'T"
But Thercsa's jealousy, once aroused, was
not to be quicted by any such prctcnscs as
these. 1t was all very well for Ernest to
say 80, but his saying so did not deceive
her. Having once thrown her influence
| over Ernest, Constance, she knew, would
not be satisfied to resign her power so
easily. She didn't doubt but that Con-
stance would in some way or other contrive
some way to see him, and this mornings
paper had given her q clew to the means
she adopted
Very well, Theresa, too, would be at
Victoria at IL noon.
The carriage had just returned from talk
ing Ernest to the station; it should also
convey her to the next train for London.
She would have sufficient time to reach the
trysting place by noon.
Victoria Station, however, is rather a
wide, open place, not adapted for conceal
ment. How should she so disguise herself
that she might witness the meeting unob-
scrved2 Then she remembered that Aunt
Blake, who had been a widow for a couple
of years, had left behind her widows cap,
bonnet and veil, having the opportunity of
visit to her niece to resume the ordinary
costume of womanhood
Bonncts are not formidable things now
a-days; and Theresa put her aunt's weeds,
with black Grape shawl, into travelling
bag. She put Oh black dress with
white shawl over it, and her usual travel
ling bonnet, that she might not give rise to
surmiscs at her sudden assumption of
mourning, and then started off.
The clock showed five minutes to twelve
when she arrived ut Victoria She hurried
OIL to the ladies' waiting room, donned her
bonnet, cap, shawl and veil, and came QUA
upon the platform dcmurc widow.
Sure enough, Ernest was there, walking
up and down. She gave kind of guilty
start as he passed her, and he looked rather
hard at the young widow with the nice
trim figure.
''So," she thought, that is the way you
look at young women when I an not by"
The next turn that she took she started
as she saw approaching her from the op.
poslte side OF the platform the very double
OF herself. Black dress, black Grape shawl,
WIDOWS cap, bonnet and everythingl She
thought at the first moment that there was
mirror opposite her, and that she saw her
own reflected image. But It was not so.
bor
the features of Constance Brown. 1t was
only for moment, and then she drew her
veil closely over her face, and making a
slight gesture, as it seemed, of caution, she
made her way to the booking office, went
up to porter, and asked in clear, loud
voice, when the train started for Brighton.
Theresa glided into the Office by the op-
positc door. The pretended widow was
waiting her turn at the ticlSct-hat ch. With
the quickness of thought Theret.. ran up
to the barrier. A genial-looking old man
was taking his ticket.
'N1ight ask you, sir, to get me ticket
for Brighton2"
"NIost certainly, madam" said the old
gentleman.
She grasped the ticket and hurried on to
the departure platform, giving as she went
the same signal with her hand that she had
seen her double make just before
Yes, he had recognized the signal and
followed her.
The train was just due to start, and she
hastily jumped into a first class carriage.
a gentleman jumped in after her.
''Faithless fellow" she thought.
Constance" said trcmulous voice at
her sde-''dcarest Constance"
"You wretch" cried Theresa, suddenly
unvciling. ,..'.. ...,...
But the effect was not what she antici-
patcd. 1t was not her husband at all; it
was Captain Potter, late Of the Plungers.
1t is now necessary to revert to the pro-
cecdings of Mr. Black, to account for his
presence on the scene.
Ernest had intended to take the news
paper up to, town with him, having been
Interested in an article he had not time to
finish. But having, with his customary
carclcssness, left it behind him, he bought
another at the station. and then the advcr-
tisemcnt caught his eye-'Constance to
Ernest. Yes, he knew what it meant.
Ernest Black and Ernest Potter had been
schoolfcllows and cronies in early days;
but their friendship had long since dccayed.
Potter was reckless spcndthrift, who had
been obliged to leave the Plungers and sell
his commission, swamped with innumcra-
BILE debts. He had been an old friend of
the Browns, too, and Constance had for
mcrly been infatuated with him; but her
father, who was very violent, self-willcd
old fellow, swore that she should never
marry such scamp.
Constance had a nice little fortune of
her own, and she had just come of age, so
that If she persisted in throwing herself
and her fortune away, there was no help
for It, Still Ernest thought it was his duty
to stop it If he could. He flattcred himself
that he had some influence over Constance;
and If he couldn't put an end to tho affair
altogether, ho might yet prevail upon her
to have all her money carefully tied up.
The advertisement meant an elopcment,
Ernest thought--a clandestine marriage,
and the sacrifice of girls future to a
worthless scamp. He would be there, too,
and save her'if lie could. h&
At all events he found himself on the
1,1of forn, nf Viotprio of ~ sc,, ~ ,,no,,