The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-12-11
I-WEEKLY EDITION

viz Noiohcl "caltn' IL IL nOtnlnS, no
said aloud, rcsuming his scat.
Trembling at her parrow escape, Mrs.
Harding fastened from the shubbcry. Just
rs she emerged, she ran violcstly against a
man.
"Isobcrt1 Tell ne, what are you doing
hcre2"
''rcn thousand parlonsl l fought"
'Ncver mind what you thought. Why
arc yoa hcrc9 Quick, go to the door, If
in five minutes call you, come, If not,
go away
lie raised her hand to his lips
GLOW good you are!" he SAID. 81 only
came to say have prepared everything for
our flight on Friday.
"IIush!" she answered, as she flew from
him.
1t was the morniug of the evcntful Fri
day that Colonel Harding entered Captain
Hcwett's apartments at Richmond.
"Gcorge," he exclaimed, "no man ever
was in greater pcrplexity than I. For the
last month ] have hcou engaged to the
Dunderbulls to dinner to day. This morn
ing Constance Misunderstanding well and
hearty-hersclf too i'll to attend, but urges
me to CO."
'Ill tell you what, Colonel. If you re-
fuse, you may only raise her suspicion.
You had better, therefore, 60 and I'll watch
for you. Perhaps this time something may
be discovered"
81 was thinking" began the Colonel,
doubtful!y, "whcthcr it would not be best
to ask Constance right down the truth2"
"Absurd! If Il woman will stoop to de-
ceivc husband, she would not hesitate at
faschood"
"That is true. Well, George, let it be as
you say
The Colonel went to the dinner, and the
gentlemen had long been loft to their wines
when footman whispered to the officer
that he was wantcd. Making an excuse,
he withdrew, and found the Captain in the
hail.
"Come homc," said the latter; T must
speak to you at once"
The Colonel, growing pale, followed him
into the road.
"What is it9"
"Bear it like man, Colonel" returned
the other, "Your wife is unworthy your
affections; she has fled with her lover.
saw them. They are now in the train 60
ing to the city"
ooh Constance - Constanccl" he
groaned, "why have you brought this dis
grace upon mca''
And he graspcd the hedge, to savo him
from falling. Recovering himself, his
mood changed
"Gcorgc," " he exclaimed freely. "Come,
we will follow them. The villoin shall an
swer for the wrong he has done ne; but
tell me all about it,
The Captain stated that cab had passed
him on the road to the villa. In it he had
recognized a strange gentleman and Mrs.
Harding. lie pursued, but only reached
tho railway In time to see them leap into
the train.
The true statement was this: Captain
Hewett had seen a cab waiting near the
villa. Concealing himself, he had perceived
q gentleman, escortlng a lady thickly
Veiled and cloakcd, come through the break
in the hedge, hurriedly cross the intcrven-
ing field, enter the cab, and drive off, after
giving the direction.
Had he put his hand out, he could have
stayed them. But that was not his plan.
Let us 60 behind recall and forgiveness,
that was what he thought.
11urrying straight to his dressing-room,
the Colonel secured his pistols.
81 have never used them against fcl-
BEFORE" be exclaimed very
stern and determined, "but bullet shall
reach his heart or mine. One shall not
cave the field"
"Why, goodness, gracious, my love,
how early you are backl hope nothing
is wrong!" exclaimed pleasant voice.
Both gentlemen swung round on their
heels, with an ejaculation of surprise, for
there In the doorway, looking charming in
her evening dress, was standing Mrs.
Harding.
''You here, Coastancel"
s'Hcrel Why, where should be, my
dear7"
The Colonel looked at the Captain, and
Vice versa.
"What is the mattcr7'' asked the
lady; "and-gracious, Edmund, Lowell
what are you going to do with those pis-
tols?"
'T" I was going,' blurted out the Colo
mel, half angrily, ITO take with them tho
live of your lover, Constancel"
"My loverl Surely, darling, you never
contempted suicidc!"
"suicide! Constance, can you look me
In the face and say you have no other one
than II"
"Yes--thcfe, sir! But can you look in