The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-01-20


feeble elements in comparison with the
cruel anger, the passionate upbraiding and
pitilcss threats that formed the actual dark
pre- -emincncc OF the evcntful night.
One bright scene stood out III relief
against the stormy background-thc open
ing OF door in answer to Il faint, despair
ing knock a beaming home room, warm
with light and gray with cheerful lamps;
Kind voices, sympathy, encouragement,
help. So every dark night-cvcn the dark
cst-has its friend.
Before the morning dawncd Rcdolctte,
urged with all the gentle and firm aid of
which she had need, was speeding forth on
her journey that was to cast into higher
plane her whole future life. BY tho tine
night had glmnercd nto day Rctloettc
had made her escape.
Examination week at the famous rirls'
school of NJ had reached its closing
act. Compositions were to be read in the
afternoon; prizes to be awarded and IN
the evening i collation. would be spread at
half past 10 in the not spacious but particu-
larly attractive grounds of the N
SEMINARY to end III garden party style, with
oand OF music and II merry dance, the
arduous exercises of tho week.
Intense interest gathers about this closinr
afternoon Indeed, when one considers
how small part Of the great world the fe-
male seminary of N, with all its
fame, it was wonderful how intense this
interest became. One would say, who hap
pcncd to peep into the green room of the
composition readers, whiting with cold
fright or with hectic agitation, each for hcr
turn TO be called upon the stage, that the
result of this evening would be something
momentons enough to cause an alteration
IN the course OF our planets, Or, at the very
least, trembling in its onward way.
The impression would not have been les
soncd by reading the titles of the compo
sitions: "Woman of our Century :" "rhc
Dead Past burylng its Dead :" ''I'hc Future
OF the American Rcpublic"-a very fine
thing-and the winner of the first prize;
Spiritual Tendencies of Astronomical Re-
scarcA;" ''Darwin Development Theory
confronted with Argylc's Reign Of Law"
us Genius Hereditary, and if SO, from tic
Paternal or the Maternal Side with Sta,is
tics from Galton, carefully complied" and
SO on, and SO forth"
Very simple, after this array, came the
announcement given by the principal of the
seminary, GA Mountain Brook" by Miss
II. Kane
Closing exercises had been heightened
beyond their fixed time, and daylight was
departing as Miss Kane made her appear
ahcc from the grcen-room, composition in
hand. a side window had to be opened to
give sufficient light, and through this open
ing game rosy glow that most atoncd
Tor the lack Of floral tributes such as had
over -whclmcd the entrance of every other
reader. Not single flower was thrown TO
welcome the coming of Miss r. Kane. "a
frcndlcss GIRL" many of the audience
thought. But no one in the world is
frlcndlcss girl, so the suddenly opened win
dow said; for the sunset glow poured i'm
and enshrncd her feet, and illumincu her
garments, and crowned her young head
with flowers Of light.
And in timid but clear voice the COM
position was read. ga Mountain Brook. y
not scientific or crndite, but a theme of
action, and takiug as smile of useful
life the tritc figure of river bearing from
its rocky solitude, through woods and
through field of grain, and over mill-whecl
and by the town, its cvcr-augmcnlinc
stream of refreshing and compelling force.
The Title comparison was treated with a
novel grace. And one thing was quite re-
markaDlc about the compostion-a discrip
ton OF the scenery in which the Mountain
Brook was supposed to receive from high
authority its mission through the thirsling
earth. This description was so vividly ac
cllratc that any one familiar with any Ger
tain mountain locality would have
recognized ut once that the tBrook" spranp
to light under the fern-fanncd cavern Of
Block Height
NO one among the audience however,
was familiar with that particular nook of
upland scenery. No one, excepting
handsome young man who had drawn to
himself during the afternoon tho shyly ad-
mirng gances of very many of the girls.
lie had been restless, like tho watcher who
lmpatiently awaits the striking of the hour.
When Miss Kane entered he became still
and satisfied, like the watcher when the
hour has struck.
isc."
these TWO unspOkcn sentences expressed
the mental impression, complete For to
this young man, through the five years, in
Guiding his senior year at college, his law
study, his energetic establishment of law
practice, "Redolettc" had been the embodi-
mcnt OF oil that is sweetest in a girl. And
she has fulfilled her promise" referred not
oo liuCil W tllc laCC tEat tnlS sweetest girl
had kept her word to him as she had kept
her word to Tinie--kept the promise of
lovely child to be the loveliest woman
"RedocttcI" said Willie.
They had entered ono OF the arbors that
had been improviscd of ccdars to adorn the
garden fcte. They had been walking arm
in arm through tho grounds for long time;
for one of the earliest guests of the evening
had been Willie, and he had rushed imme.
diately to Redolctte's side, and had kept
her to himself all the evening. They chose
to walk in the garden rather than Join in
the dance, for they had 80 much to say.
And they had talked over their five years of
separation and its leading events before
they went into the arbor to rest.
The last thing Redolctte had said in the
walk was, $50 now, Willie, thanks to tho
inspiring leader of my choice, I am ready
to take some part in the movement of nv
time, My schooling here is ended. MY
little inheritance Is made secure / am NV
own mistress now. should like, If posi-
BILE, to do a little good in the world and
The only UupatiOn with mo ,,o,,y 10 tJo,,,