The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-11-25

rcnounced
A month later and Ethel Mayne's lowell.
ness had taken society by storm To nc
wish had her doting father said, and in the
beautiful home he had provided for her,
with all the wonderful accessories of toilet
he had given hor with lavish hand, she
shone forth peerless.
Save to her father, for whom she wcars
her old radcot smile, the girl is al enigma
to all-cven hcrscf-and she wonders mt
the icy coldness which has frozen round her
heart, causing an Indifference to all things.
Yet coldncss gives way to burning heat, a
heat which seems to scorch the very heart
blood and spurgc upward in mad tamult,
then reccde; leaving her well nigh turned to
stone, as her eye rests upon II paragraph in
tina Post, which confirms her most reckless
| fears
owe hear that Miss Annie Anstay,
daughter OF l.. ID. Anstay, Esq, is shortly
10 De icd TO the altar by Mr.. Ernest Mel
| wood"
This was all, yet enough. lie had called
several times since she had come to the
city, but she had invariably refused to sec
HIM.
a rumor Of this had reached hcr-a ru-
NOR now contrmcd-but which had told
her that the engagement had existed even
in halcyon days he had caused her hearts
awakening.
She had served to pass away the time
then. This was all, and what to her had
been the coloring Of the rainbow, was in
his eyes but painted tints, to be washed
out by her tears.
Tears! Should she ever weep again?
Would such heavcn-such mercy be Civ
Ell to cool those burning lids? Or, should
one scalding drop force its way upward,
was he worth its falling2 No u thousand
times no!
And scornful smile played roond the
beautiful mouth, as drawing her escritorc
toward her, she put into execution a sud
den determination, and pcnncd the follow
ing lines
''My Dear Mr.. Mclwood:-I was very
sorry to have been SO engaged when YOU
last called, that was obliged to deny my
self the pleasure of meeting YOU This
evening | shalt he at home and alone, and
II you have no other engagement, l shall
nope 10 see you. - Yours,
sETHEL MAYNE"
The look of astonishmcnt which over
spread Ernest Mclwood's handsome face
grew into a triumphant smile as he rcfold-
ed the dainty note, with the crest he had,
instantly recognized upon the seal placing
it carefully within an inner pocket and
registering the dctcrmi alton to break all
other engagements and renew his summers
pleading.
The woman he was to marry had never
iound her way into those depths that Ethel
Alaync's blue eyes had penetrated, for, rs
he could love he had loved her.
lie little thought that in her young beau
ty and loving woman's nature, she could
have offered him far richer dover than
that for which he bartcred his manhood and
his noble better self.
Her hciress-ship had been all unknown
to him. until lately r"mors of heY fathers
wealth had reached him-rWnors which
their luxurious. lavish style of living
trush-and as he assembled the steps Of their
elegant mansion, at the appointed time, he
DIT his lip in inward rage, while an unac-
knowlcdged resolve came into his heart
that 1t should not yet be too late
Never, never was Ethel Mayno as raw
ishingly, as dangerously lovely as when she
entered her fathers drawing rooms that
night to greet her recreant lover.
Was this, indeed, tho girl, he asked him
self, from whom he had parted scarce six
months ago; whQ, with an air of quiet self
possession, almost hautincss, touched and
dropped his 0utstretched hand, as she sank
into q .fatte,tii. with all her old wonderful
grace, saying:-
"This is almost al unexpected pleasure,
Mr.. Mclwood, as hardly hoped tho pres
sure OF your engagements would permit
personal answer to my summons. In fact,
scarcely know why / sent for you, save that
was alone this evening and hay ing some
what dread of e''nati, thought, perhaps,
you would break its potent SPELL y
'sYour request Miss Mayne, was more
potent than anothcr's command. Indeed,
had my engagements beon far more press
ing, you would still have seen me here"
''Ah, engagements arc made but to be
broken! Is it not so7 If one suffers tho
other goes unscathed, and do not much
believe in suffering as the world is to-day.
If wo cry even for the moon, somebody
will be good enough to get us an artificial
one, which does just as woll as tho real
thing now-a-days."
'Perhaps if one must deal in gencralities,
but, to those who have lived in the light
and sweetness of a young moon on sum
mers night, hardly think artificial means
would be the same"
''Perhaps moi, If one is young oneself,
with faith untarnished in future. Bit
otter all, I prefer gaslight, for though pos
scssing less romance, 1t is not troubled at
inauspicious times with dark clouds cross
ting its surface, leaving you suddenly in
utter darkness By-the-way, Mr.. Mclwood
may congratulate your" :.
B Upon what, Miss Maync2p
: But the mans face paled and his voice
trembled as lie asked the question.
"Upon whatp Certainly congratula-
tion to man few weeks previous to his
marriage may pass upchellenged, And
Yllen aooietY is tb1ose 90 shining q light as
Mr. iMstHelWood, y, surety may Congratulate
him upon his gain, oven though 1t prove its
loss!"
Bitter-swcet, iccly-cutting, was every
word rs 1t fell from the girls lips; and they
stung the man before her, even through tho
coat Of mall IN which he wrapped himself
===stung and droYe him TO madness, while
her wonderful beauty awakened in him tho
old passion in Irresistible force.
"Huhl, Ethel For heavens sake, hushl
Not from your lips can hear these IDLE
~ IN. 4