The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-09-27

would never DC, 1Or the memory OF the
: VOWS made under the hcmlock tree would
ever stand between her and another love.
Several days after. as she was preparing
herself for dinner, fastening Il scarlet bios
som in her dark hair and wondering how
Clinton would like her in her rich attire,
she received word from her father that
young Reed had arrived.
Not Il pulsc-bcat auickencd; perfectly
calm and Indifferent, she descended to the
parlor to meet him. She saw him, bend
| ing over an album on the center table, and
her senses began to reel. AS in a dream,
! she heard her fathers voice, saying:
! "Clinton let me present you to my
| daughter"
Dimly she saw him look up from the
album, and she saw the face that had been
SO dear to hcr-hcr lovers, Clinton Russell s
face before her! And to the great surprise
of the persons present, she sank quietly to
the floor unconscious
He did not recognize her, and she was
too proud to onlighten him. She saw his
card one day-Clinton Russell Rccd-that
explained the question Of name to her.
She received his attentions because she
could not send him from her. She loved
him still, madly, dcvotcdly but oh what
pain was mingled with her love, knowing
that he was not tIue-that no was one to
win young girls trusting love, and to
cast it aside carclcssly when the fancy
pleased him.
n day came when he asked her to be his
wife. She could not reply. How could
She refuse him? Yet, she dared not except
him, for never could she have faith in HIM.
knowing what she did.
"Wcll, Florry, what is your answer 2"
he asked, as she stood silent before him.
''Tell me this" she said in return.
'1Iave you ever loved before2"
lie saw her agitation, and attributing it
to jealousy and wishing to appeasc her ho
replied deliberately:
She turned aside and moancd. Oh, if
lie had only confessed to that other love,
she would not have deemed him quite so
hcartlcss!
''Comc tomorrow for your answer" she
cried, as she left him abruptly. cit will
be no." she added to herself as she hur-
ried to her room. 81 cannot marry him
he is false and crucl!"
And yet her resolution tortured her, till
she felt us if she were going mad. At last,
in despair and frenzy, she donncd cloak
and hat, and left the house IN secret. To
go wherc2 Back to the hcmlock trcc-to
the grave of her buried hopes.
Just ut sunset she reached the little vii
lagc. Oh, what memories assailed her rs
she nearcd the old trysting- -placel Her
eyes were filed with tears, 80 that she saw
but dimly; and she was almost on the spot
before she became aware that another-a
man-was already there.
She drew back quickly but glancing at
him again she saw that it was-Clintonl
Instantly, all about and within her
seemed to burst out into loud song of re-
joicing. Eagerly she sprang forward, cry.
ing:
''Clinton-Clinton, why are you here2"
He started violently, then turning to her,
he said coldly:
'Nlay ask why you arc herc2'
ooh, no-no, don't be unl<ind, Clinton!
Only tell me this: Are you here because
you still love little ragged Betty Graham 2"
'Great Heavens! What do you know
about herr"
"Evcrything |" she cried. ooh, Clinton,
don't you sec-must tell you that l am
she!"
"YouMoyou!" he gasped. ooh, God,
He caught her in his arms, and looked at
Hcl hccihy tllcll, ralnlnS KISSES on ner lace,
he murmurcd:
ooh, blind, blind fool that have beenl
Should not have known these cyes2 Oh,
God be praised !-now I can live again
You think NE cruel, little maid-cruel aud
hcartless God knowshow have suffered
l had to give my promise to my dying
father to marry Mr.. Bristols daughter
that promise, cncc given, was sacred to me
l could not break it. l dared not trust
myself to see my darling Ettic-I dared not
write to her; it was only safe for me to
keep away-to be cruel to her. 1 came
here tc-day to bury my love, ere I re-
ceivcd your answer tomorrow, which, I
fattercd myself, would be yes Let us
thank God, my darling, that we have met
and can renew our VOWS, here, where we
first learned to lovc-undcr the hcmlock
trec"