The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-07-06
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AlO0l w QSklCUs
''Mamma. listen lheard groan ~ and
little Helen Hawthorne sprang from her low
seat by the warm fireside, the rich glow
deepening on her fair check, and sudden
excitement leaping into the dark gray
eyes.
''Nonscnsc, DEAR" answered the mother,
after moments silence. ut was your
imagination. My little girl is fanoiful to-
night" and she bent to stroke back the
thickly clustering curls from the low,
white brow, as she impressed fond, low
ing kiss upon it.
1t was pretty picture on which the fire.
light danced and fickcred-the warm lux
urlous room, with the tall, elegant woman
IN It's midst, and the little, daintily dressed
child by her side.
Without the wind swept by, hurhng
great chunks Of snow On it's wings, and
dasliing through the bare, leafless branches
of tho trees.
The child shuddercd as she listened to
its moan.
81 am quite sure heard it., mamma
suppose any one were cut on such night
1t would be dreadful. Let me open the
door momrnt-just a moment"
And, without waiting for the refusal
trembling Oh her mothers lips, she darlcd
forward and threw open the great outside
door,
In another instant, the bell sent q sharp
peal through the house, for On the very
threshold lay PROSTATE body, already half
buried in the snow.
Five minutes later, and the lad had been
carried TO sofa, and rcstorativcs and
stimulaEts passed down his throat.
"Will he live, mammal Do you think
he will livc2"
But, in answer to her question, the lids
slowly lifted themselves, and the great
black eyes rested wondcrlngly on the child s
lace, bending 50 anXiously over him.
Had the death he thought SO near indeed
overtakcn him, and was this heaven he had
reached lie feared to waken from his
dream, and find himself again homeless aud
starving and cold.
With long-drawn sigh he closed his
eyes, only to find the fascination Of the
present overcome him, and impcl him to
again gaze upon his marvellous surround
ings.
But his wonder only dcepencd when the
reality was brought home to hiln-when he
discovered that it was life, not death, and
earth, not heaven, and that he was not to
DC driven out again into the cold and bitter
night.
Through its long. silent hours he lay mo-
tlonlcss in this warm resting-place piclur-
ing, Ill the darkness, the child's face, until
1t became stcrcotypcd both on heart and
brain.
The next day he told his story. newas a
poor lad, orphaned and fricndless.
''Thcy discharged me from my lust
place" he said, "bccausc I carried a book
about with me, and the boss said it would
teach me to dream instead of work. was
only trying to learn something IN my idle
minutes, though couldn't find much time
and didn't take my employers. How
ever, he was hard man to deal with, and
l had to go. l started West The little
money had gave out. The storm over
took me. struggled ON rs best I could, un-
I'll l grew faint and sick. Somewhere in
the distance l saw light. I struggled
toward 1t. You know the rest. Now am
strong and well again, the storm is over,
and l can only thank you in few poor
words for your generous kindness, and go
my way."
'Papa will be home this afternoon" an
swercd the child. Gle is the owner of
all the mills here. If you would like,
will ask him to give you Il place and there
Is school at nigh for thchands, where you
can study, too"
elf l would likcl"
1t was all he said, but little Helen IIaw-
thornc needed no other words. She knew
that q great lump in his throat had choked
his further uutIcrance, and that he had
turned away ashamed, to hide the tears
1,n,
and Alex Vernon stood once more a man
among men. He found place in the night
school, too. Nor did his yeung patroness
forget him. In some way she discovered
Tho books he needed, and lent them to bim
until he grew to associate her with every
good thing Of his new life. One morning
sue sent for him.
II am going TO Europe with mamma,
Alex she said, $40 be gone for a great
many years. When l come back, hone TO
find you man-pcrhaps papa's ovcrsccr.
l wanted to tell you that if you wished NV
books from the library would leave this
key with you, and you might come up and
get thcm."
The sun was streaming full on her face
and the gold Of her hair, rs she SPOKE, but
to the boy, listening, a dark mist seemed to
roll between them. She was going away for
ycars-she who had saved him from death,
Or worse than death.
Ihc next minute she felt just little
hurt, ns, without single word OF thanks,
hc abruptly took the key and fastened from
her presence.
She could not know that he went out TO
throw himself, face downward, on the
ground, and sob out. like very child in his
hearts bitterness.
Seven long years passed swiftly by, and
Alex Vernon had reached his twenty. .f1fth
winter. Helen Hawthornc's last wol ldshad
been TO Lin a prophecy, for she was now
on he" hcmcward way, and he had attained
the EOSiii0n of lnad ounrenar &c H. ...a.l.u