The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-12-13
TRI-WEEKLY EDITION.

my little girl come home. lie said | had
| deceived him. Perhaps | had, but | did
not mean to do so. Elaine wrote often.
Sometimes the letters were hopeful; more
J often they were sad with the wearincss OF
| hope deferred. Occasional mention was
mtde of certain Dilkes Ramsey, Il gentle,
man whom her father had taken into par,
ncrship. Mr. Ramsey, she wrote, was very
polite TO her, but she did not fancy him.
| She didn't want to drive with him; she
| didn't care to sec his beautiful home. But
her father seemed to wish her to accept
| these attentions, and then 1t would not
last SO long, for the two years were nearly
| over.
"Scptembcr came, and with il Il wild,
pltcous letter from my darling. She had
heard nothing from Philip Perhaps he
was dead; certainly he loved her no longer,
or he would come and claim her. Tier
| father had waited until the two years We -.
up, then told her it was his will she should
marry one who loved her, and moi waste
her life signing over the unfaithfuncss of
one who cared nothing for her. She told
me she hnd written Mr.. Ramsey note
begging him to cease prosecuting her with
his attentions, but that he came mex, duy
as smiling and determined as ever.
'Ihcn she wrote again. She had ceased
10 rebel against fate. The marriage had
been arranged for the third week in De-
ccmber. All she had stipulated was that
l should c:mc to her and spend the last
week before The wedding in her fathers
house.
81 went. Though my poor girls face
lighteI up with Joy at seeing me, she soon
icll into listlcss, dcspondcnt way, satdcr
h1 n1,I ff.nr
L mentioned Philips name. She started,
as though she had been stung.
"'Do not speak of him., she said wildly.
'he does not love memo one doc.!, Then
more cnlmly: Forgive me, auntie, dear, |
am not strong, think and she subsidized
into her usual downrast state.
''fhc evening before the day set for the
wedding, scrvcnt entered the room where
we were sitting, and handed Elaine cas-
kct AS she slowly opened it, even gave
cry OF surprise at the sight of the rare
jewels il was Dilkcs Ramscy's wish his
bride should DC adorned WITH She pushed
them wcarlly' aside 's. .'.
"'Strangc that any one should marry for
such things, was all she said
"Ihc next morning as, with my old eyes
blinded with tears, ! had finished fastening
the white veil over the still whittier brow, |
attempted to clasp the necklace Of bril-
llalts about her neck, she lushud them
aside with flash of her old spirit, and
said, bitterly:
Don't aunty. For another half-hour
at least am my own property
II said no more, and we descended to
the parlors.
Gas Judge Fosters eyes fell on his
daughter, he said, stcrnly:
"'Wherc are the groom's jcwels?'
bordering them brought, he claspcd
them himself about his daughters neck and
"rrr'". Oh. .>-,,.>.:t.n~l. ,--.1~.i,.-
owe had entered the church. We had
taken our places before the altar. The last
strains of the wedding march had died
upon our cars. The brilliant assembly was
hushed as the minister began to speak.
''Dilkcs Ramscy's answer, 4 WILL
sounded clear and firm. | raised my eyes
who was it that 1 saw leaning against a
pillar, his sombrc eyes filled with con-
tcmptu0us scorn Of the woman who was
selling her soul before his very eycs1
Elaine raised her eyes to my agitatcd face
Her glance followed mine. Then she did
whatI thought no woman but brave rs
well as>loving one could do. The congrc-
gatien was still waiting for her answer.
AS she caught Philip Rays glance burn
ing blush suffused her face, then died, and
left her cheek rs pale as marble. Her
eyes lighted with sudden resolution.
Turning from the altar she passed the
wondering group Of bridesmaids, and iii
the face Of that gay crowd went and stood
before Philip Ray.
""Philip, said, she, in low suppressed
tone, 'why did you not come for me?'
Nin,n <1s, <l. C ~.
proceedings in tho wild hope that had
sprung up within him, he answered 'hur-
ricdly:
went to your house every day for week,
you sent me-
GAS he SPOKE he took from his breast
pocket a note worn with many readings
'Thcrc i'll the presence of that wonder
ing crowd, ELAINE read the note. 1t ran
thus:
'If you have any pity for me, cease to
annoy me with your presence. DO you
not sec that l can never love you, that my
heart is another's2 ELAINE FOSTER
"Therc is some mistake, she faltcrcd /;
4 did not know you came; sent this note
to Dilkcs Ramsey.
"a light Mashed over his face. Ills eyes
shone with love and triumph.
"'Come, he said, tcndcrly; you arc of
age let us not risk another separation2'
"He took her hand in his, and together
they stepped before the astonisI,cd min
lister. Raising her hand with swift ges-
ture, the diamonds fell to the floor. There
was nothing theatrical in this; she had
been, to outside appearances, singuarly
calm through the entire scene. Il felt as
though they were choking me- she said to
ME afterwards.
~ looked about for Judge Foster. He
hadl left the church, Ere l could recover
from the fright into. which this otfense
against all the conventionalitics of life had
thrown me, Philip Ray and ELAINE Foster
were man and wife.
I "Just as tho minister was closing his
bcncdiction, in rushed white and breath
less, servant from Judge Fosters. We
followed the man quickly. Even Dilkes
Ramsey recovered enough from his cliagrin
to accompany us. AS we entered the, door
wo beheld lying on the floor dead, Elaine's
s. 7 n 81. 4 \