The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-09-04
Did She Do Right 7

~ fcarfully cold clustering day it was
late IN December rs she stood alone at the
door, with tho sweeping gale as it dashed
by laden with fine dust and singing chill
almost freezing her in it's ruthless pitilcss-
ness, Isabel Kent, the daughter and once
the hcircss of proud Thomas Kent, was to-
night to leave her home poor girl, to bat
tic with the world, which had once been her
slave and was now her master.
cab rolled up to the door and when
the driver had attended to her luggage she
was whirlcd away-to what she wondcr-
ed, with mlrthlcss little laugh.
Al the station she had little time to
think, the crowds, the noise, the glare, the
incoming ard departing trains gave no op-
lortunity.
After she had procured her ticket she sat
down on Il seat just opposite the door; and
SO when Charles Roberts came in she saw
him before lie saw her. lie advanced
straight over to her as soon as he rccog-
nizcd the black-robed figure.
'Isabel, am tempted to take you away
from here by simple force. l have been TO
the house, but you were too quick for me,
Isabel, will you persist in this foolishncss2"
lie had taken a seat next to her; but,
near as he was he could not see the paling
anguish that lay in her pure classic face, or
the flush of momentary wrath that followed
his eager, impulsivc words.
''It ls not foolishness, Charles. What
should do If I did not 60 to Mrs. Cra-
vens--"
lie interrupted her in his quick, hot
headed, earnest way.
"Wherc should you 60, true enough, my
durling9 Is not my home lonely for the
want of you2 Docs not my heart cry out
for you, its queen Isabel, there is yet ten
minutes; won't you think of it again and
let me take you from this place to be mar
ried to me, and to my home forevcr9 Re-
member, my Isabel, how love YOU"
Under her thick Grape veil Isabel's lips
grew tightly compressed and slow red
bloom came to her cheeks. 1t was great
temptation she so lonely, so fragile, to 90
out into the world, nothing but a compan-
ion to rich, strange woman, whose face
she had never seen and here was Charles
Roberts, with his splendid house, his hand
some face, and irrcproachablc character,
who sat beside her, begging her to accept
1t all.
But she could not brook the idea of mar
rying for home, even if she knew the Of
fer came from the man whom she felt wor-
SHIPPED her. She did not love Charles Rob-
erts; with the chilling look out on the
world before her, she decided that she
would work to the death before she would
be the wife of man to whom she could
not give her affections.
81 had made up my mind long ago,
Charles and indeed it grieves me to find
that you still cling to me So am sorry
] wish for your sake I might view these
things in the same light you do but Can
not; it is impossible, that is all. There
comes the train"
She arose, as the long train came in,
with sad, plying look at her lovers face.
t'We will try to be friends, then, Isabel,
though heaven knows how mocking and
empty friendship is after love. Write tc
ne; If ever trouble comes, command me
to any extent. You'll promise that2"
She was really gone at last, on the way
to her destination. That was long, lonely
ride, and many tears fell back off that
heavy, masking veil, before she arrived At
,Golneyton, on clear bright morning,
when the streets were swarming with life
and gayety.
Mrs Craven was an invalid, passably
good-looking who received her newly en-
gagged companion with polite welcoming
and interest that would have gone straight
to 1sabcl's heart, had not her pride and re-
serve been challenged by the young lady
to whom Mrs. Craven introduced her.
Isabel acknowledged the presentation
and was stnng to the quick by the frigit
hauteur Of the fair girl. Miss Folsom wa
as enraged by Isabel's indiffercntly grace
full bow.
.'Aunt Clara" she said, when Isabel llat
gone to her room that night. to weep ant
suffer all tho long hours, "shall you allow
her TO mingle with our visitors She i