The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-07-22
A Second Trial.

1t was Commencement Mt O. College
The people were pouring into the church as
entered it, rather tardy. Finding the
choice seats in the center of the audience
room already taken, pressed forward, look
ing to the right and to the left for a vacun-
cy. On the very front row of seats found
one.
Here little girl moved along to make
room for me, looking into my face with
large gray eyes, whose brightness was soft
cncd by very long lashes. Her face was
open and fresh as newly blown rose before
sunrise. Again and again found my eyes
turning to the rose-like face, and each time
the gray eyes moved, half smiling, TO meet
mine. Evidently the child was ready to
''makc up with me. And when, with a
bright smile, she returned my dropped
handkerchief, and said "rhank you'll" we
seemed fairly introduced. Other persons,
coming into the seat, crowded me quite
close up against the little girl, so that we
soon felt very well acquainted.
''Fhcre's going to be great crowd, she
said to NE.
eyes" replied; "pcople always like to
see how schoolboys are made into men"
Her face beamed with pleasure and pride
as she said:
"hJ pioIuCl SoillS w nC 3
going to speak; I've brought these flowers
to throw to him." ...
They were not greenhouse favorites; lust
old-fashioned domestic flowers, such rs we
associate with the dear grandmothers !;
''but, thought, "they will seem sweet
and beautiful to him for little sisters sake. /"
sfhat is my brother" she went on,
pointing with her nosegay.
''fhc one with the light hair2" asked
''Oh no., she said, smiling and shaking
her head in innocent reproof; ''not that
homcly one, with red hair; that handsome
one with brown wavy hair. His eyes look
brown, too; but they ain't-they arc dark
blue. There! he's got his hand up to his
head now. You sec HIM, don't you2"
In an eager way she looked from me to
him, and from him to me, rs if some impor-
tant fate depended upon my Identifying
her brother.
81 see him." said. Giles very good
looking brother"
eyes, he is beautiful" she said, with
artless delight; "and he's 30 good, and he
studied 80 hard. He has taken care of me
ever since mamma died Here is his name
on the programme. He is not the valedic-
torian, but he has an honor, for all that"
l saw i'll the little creatures familiarity
with these technical college terms that she
had closely identified herself with her
brothers studies, hopes and successes.
''IIe thought, at first," she continued,
'that he would write on the Romance of
Monastic Life" ," &..v
What strange sound these long words
had, whispered from her childish lips! Her
interest in her brothers. work had stamped
them on the child's memory, and to her
they were ordinary things.
'But then, >" she went on, che decided
that he would rather write on Historical
Parallels, and he's got a real good oration,
and he says it beautifully. He said 1t to
me great many times. most know it
by heart. Oh! 1t begins so pretty and 80
grand. This is the way it hegins," she ad-
dcd, encouraged by the interest she must
have seen in my face: "'Amid the per-
mutations and combinations of the actors
and the forces which make up the great
kaleidoscope ol of history we often find that
"Why, bless the baby ~ thought, look
ing down into her bright, proud face I
can't describe how very odd and clfish 1t
did seem to have those sonorous words roll
ling out of the smiling infantile mouth
The band striking up, put an end to the
quotation and to the conferences.
AS the exercises progressed and ap-
preached nearer and nearer the effort on
which all her Interest was concentrated, my
little friend became excited and restless.
Her eyes grew larger and brighter, two
deep-red spots glowed on her cheeks She
totlchcd-up the flowers, manifcstly making
the offering ready for the shrine.
"Now, It's his turn, }" she said, turning to
me face In which pride and delight and
anxiety seemed about equally mingled.
But when the overture was played through,
and his name was called, the child seemed,
In her eagcrness, to forget inc and all the
Garth beside him. She rose to her feet and
leaned forward for better view of her be-
loved, rs he mounted on the speakers stand.
knew by her deep breathing that her heart
was thrObbing In her throat. I knew, too,
by the way her brother came up the steps
and to the front that he was trembling.
The hands hung limp; his face was palid,
and the lips blue as with cold. felt anx-
irus. The child, too, seemed to discern
that things were not we'll with him. Some
thing like fear showed in her face.
He made All automatic bow. Then be-
wildercd, struggling look came into his face,
then d helpless look, and tllcn lie stood
staring vacantly, like a somnambdliet. nj
the waiting audience. The moments Of
painful suspense went by; and still he stood
as u struck dumb. saw how 1t was; nc
bad been seized with stage fright.
y Alasl little sisterl 4 She turned her large,
dismayed eyes upon ME. "He's forgotten
i. Il, y she said. Then swift change canlc intt
her face; Q strong, determined look and Oh