The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-12-04
THE SISTERS SECRET.
Please don't, Harry, you hurt me-"

flcase uont, larry, you mutt me- =
The dark, handsome face soflcncd sudden
ly, and Harry bent and kissed the soft little
fingers crimson from his angery pressure
"Fergivc me, Ncttc. did not know
How fierce must seem to you. Tho truth
8, was beside myself. And you see that
have reason. Think Of 1t. AN arm that
was mine cncircling that slender waist. 1t
was enough to drive one frantic. must
have an explanation, or our engage
ment Is Mt an end. "
81 cannot say moro than have. Harry.
tell you again that your suspicious arc
cruel and unjus'-furthcr than that 1 can
not If you do not trust ME, it is best that
wo should part"
cit Is as thought. You arc only too
glad to be rid of the old love before you re-
ceivc the now"
He caught her face between his two hands
and held it while he studied it, half angrily,
half tenderly.
The girl bore his scrutiny for a moment
bravely.
Then tho red lips began to quvcr, and
the eyes to fill with tears
He suddenly kissed her.
''That is my farewell to love and faith.
Good by to both.' s,.
Then with long strides ho haslcncd away.
us though afraid TO trust himself to look
back. -. r~,.
Nettie wat chcd him until out of sight !;
and then, with a long, sobbing sish she
said:
ut is bettor thus. could not keep my
secret safe with that distrustful, passionate
nature ever on the watch. Oh, Charlie,
Charlie, what am l suffering for you'll"
Harry, as he said won't away from the
place, not intending to return until he had
covercome his great love. But nature
proved too strong for his resolution. He
was drawn back as though by in isible
cords
He was a young physician, and had been
taken into partnership with tho oldest and
most skillful practitioner in tho town.
When he reached his house, after few
days absence, DR.. Liddcll met him at the
dsor.
"You arc just in time Harry. Ihavo been
called in haste to old Mrs. Stcinburg's dying
bed, and that poor girl at tho hall is in too
critical state to be neglected. will trust
her to you"
Hary's lips turned ashen pale.
'Whom did you saya"
''Poor little Nettio Webster. 1t seems
weeks instead of days that I've boon attend
ing her. She wac stricken down suddenly
with such fearful type of brain fever that
I've been there three or four times day
trying to keep her from dying. It's near
the crisis now" 9E
Harry waited to her no more Flo took
his. case of medicines, and hastencd to the
hall. E.E 5f sr.
Au old servant mo- him at the door. She
had evidently been watching for tho doc
tors arrival.
"IIow isMiss Webster to-day2' was Har-
ro's whispered question.
"Quiet; She's still sleeping like for tho
first time since she's been took. She's al-
ways been sayin' to herself, Innocent---
innocentl Oh, Harry, trust mol' Then
she'll ramblo off about Charlie I can't for
tho life Of mo tell who they is she means.
It's most likely somo Of them stories she
reads has got into her head, and lin her fever
she thinks she's acting in EN-"
Poor Harry Well he knew what 1t
meant. Ashe went to her bedside he felt
as though he had killed her.
There she lay, quietly. But 1t was the
calm of exhaustion.
Ono short week only since he had seen
hcr-but the rounded outlines had grown
strangely sharp, and tho luxuriant hair
which had clustered about her temples in
tendril like c,lrls, had boon cut close 10 her
head. ,s H,
He bent over her and listened to her
breathing, critically. Then he turned to the
nurse:
DO not let her he disturbed on any &C.
count. will be In again In tho morning.
II, she ,awakens give her this,
The nnrse took the powder from him,
and he loft the room. ga Is
At the gate he met q young man. AT the
first glance he recognized him to be tho one
As Y hsA sssa walking ssdss .l The tree.