The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-12-20
Evn's Fortunc.

AS fair as Il man ever looked upon, pure
as daisy, was Iva Lorne vi it'll fortune
of hundred thousand in her own lln-
disputed right i, and her guardian had Just
tilted himself back in bis chair, and looked
| straight in Fred Jasper''s handsome eyes,
| and told hlm that if he wanted Iva Lomc
and her fortune, he might have her
Il hundred thousand and Iva Lorne, it
would set him up for life, make him inde.
pendent for all time. Only lie loved Bessie
Campbell.
sFrps9eJasgs,r YaS aiisSS fellow ,.i,,,o los,tt
ing, tall, manly, with bold, handsome grey
eyes that liked to look and smile at a pretty
girl, and with carcssing mode of speech
and way of manner that was not easy to
resist and Mr.. Cathcrton had frankly, de-
libcratly told this young man that there
was waiting for him Iva Lornc and the
golden handfuls she could bring him.
Of course Fred enjoyed the compliment,
but that argument was not so powerful in
| its effects as Mr.. Cathcron had intended.
"But, sir, you have not taken Miss Lorne
| into consideration. Remember she has never
| seen me Or"
Mr.. Cathcrton interrupted him with a
curious smile.
''Not being vcrscd in women and their
ways, or the sacrcdncss of their condolences
l don't know whether or not I bctray a
trust when l tell you Iva has seen YOU,
| and-well Fred, will you come up to dinner
tonight and be introduced 2"
So that was how that evening Fred Jas
per came to be sitting at one side of Nr.
Catherton's mahogany, looking very admir-
ingly at the daisy-faccd girl, who, if he 80
willcd it, was for him. Iva had dressed
herself with exquisite taste and care that
evening, and a faircr vision man would not
wish to sec opposite him at table for all the
| days of his life, and the temptation sud-
denly strengthened and took a most scduc
tive form, when the elaborate dinner was
| over, and Fred insisted on accompanying
Iva to the dining room instead Of tarrying
ovor the wine with Mr.. Catherton. that
gentleman gave a smile of assent that was
like q triumph, and Iva flushed to her love-
ly white forhcad at Freds eagcrness
She was so sweet. so lovcablc only, some-
how a sudden thrill of icy rcvulsion of
| feeling curdlcd all through Fred's veins as
| she arose from her CHAIR and Fred saw
she. was lame-oh !! 80 lame-and. that be-
side the chair had been all the while wait
ing the little velvet land satin-c,lshioned
crrtch on which she depended. ~
But Iva did not see the sudden look of
blank disappointment and almost horror
that swept across Frcd's face, and she
went on beside him, her little crutch maxi
ing soft thud OH tile thick carpet that
made him feel strangly ashamed, and pit
full, that mado him think of Bessie Camp
bell and her fine grace Of motion, Bessie,
who he knew loved him, but, who had no
hundred thousand.
The battle began that night, and ragged
many a day, when one hour Fred would
swear to himself that nothing ever should
come between him and the girl he loved,
and the next, that he was fool, that ho
could not love such sweet, gentle girl as
Iva Lorne--tha! he would not deliberately
quarrel with all his chances, and that Bes-
sic Campbell would be just as happy with
some other lover. These reasonings and
arguments were the actual onset of the bat
tie; and tho result was that Fred Jasper
and sweet lame Iva Lorne became engaged
| to be married. n
They were happy enough days that fol-
| lowed to Iva, who never once dreamed that
| 1t was for hor money and her money alone
| lie saw and realized how tenderly she loved
him, it made him very gentle and tender
| towards her, and the time went on fairly
| we'll, bringing the wedding day with the
sweet October weather. SO
2 81 prefer to have a quiet wedding, Fred,
and am almost sure you would--on ac-
count of--of my lameness Fredl am so
afraid you willlbeS ashamed of me when I
am your wife" ,k
Iva said that to him one soft, cool Sep
tember night as they sat In the vivid moon
light, her fair face very sweet to see up
turned to his In such shy eagerness.
y Thousand times between that lovely