The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-07-06
on receiving congratulations on the cflici-
ency Of his young aid.

! or kind message from his daughters letters,
but Alex received them all in silence. He
had lost the little golden haired child for
ever. She would return woman, grown
cold, naughty and proud, perhaps, refusing
| to, cast even a smile across the vast social
gulf yawning between them.
One morning-he had been absent few
days on business he returned to find q
difficult piece Of machinery about to be ad-
justed i'll one Of the mills which required
his superintendent. Directing the men,
he saw that not only his eye but his hand
could do better work than the others,
and so, seizing u workmans blouse hanging
near, he slipped it on, and in another mo-
ment had his shoulder to tho wheel.
A half hour later, solled and begrimmcd,
he heard the rustic Of sillSen dress, aud
the silvery ripple of woman's laugh
He glanced up quickly. A gay party
were passing through the works. with one
among them seeming princess surrounded
by her followers The gold still tleckcdh her
hair, and the dark lashes swept the check
Of purcst ivory. Time had but made her
more beautiful.
She glanced idly, indifrcrcntly, among
formed one.
i'll the old, sweet soft voice. and passed
on.
She had come home then, during his alb
| scnce. lie had seen her. The seven years
waiting were over. What had they brought?
The machinery slipped into its place, but
Alex Vernon, with strange palor upon
his face, went out silently from the mills.
Not, as once before, to find relief in tears.
lie was man now. He only knew that
something was bursting within him-a Bit
ter disappointment, to which he could give
no name, but could only bring out into the
air and sunshine, lest it stille him.
Far out into the open country he walked,
with great strides, knowing neither fatigue
nor consciousness that it was unnatural that
lie should not tire.
Suddenly, Oh the road behind him, came
horses quick hoofs. He stepped aside
for it to pass, but the rider drew reign at
his side.
sit is Alex, ," said sweet voice, close in
his car 81 know that l am not mistaken"
And, as in u dream, he saw held out to
him tiny gauntletcd hand. He looked at
his own. Not even had he washed away
the traces of his recent toll. He would soil
by his touch even her glove, although the
fair whitcness of her skin was thereby pro-
tcctcd.
She saw the hesitation, aud drew back.
cam l wrong2" she questioned in a
little hurt surprise. 81 thought you would
be glad to sec me-"
''Pardon mel" he answered; 'tmy hands
are staincd.,'
"Ohl" she said. Then, after Il mo-
mcnt's pause, she said: "When you have
washed them clean, come and sec me-"
And, cutting her horse with her silver
handled whip, she dashed past him out Of
sight
The next week he was invited to dine at
her fathers table. Mr.. Hawthorne would
accept no excuse.
ut is in our country al honor to be
sclf-madc man. | have no guest of whom
l shall be more proud"
But when he entered the elegantly -ap-
pointed drawing-rooms, Miss Hawthorne
gave him simply courteous bow of recog-
nltlon, and made no effort to approach him.
Once or twice during the meal he found
her eyes fastened on his face, as he was
drawn on to speak on this or that topic, as
1t was presented. while one and another
mingled in the discussion, dcfcrring in his
opinions as TO those of man who under
stood himself.
The ice once broken, he met her often,
but never once had their hands touched.
He was admitted even into her circle now.
ilc went only that he might see her, listen
to her voice.
With her, he never forgot the cold night
the driving snow, the scnselcss, inani-
mate form she had brought back to life, and
light, and consciousness. He gave no name
either to his pain Or his exquisite happi-
ness of being near her. lie was in the
maelstrom; let it toss him where it would.
1he summer came, and On its wings it
brought the whisper that Miss Hawthorne
was to be married in the autumn.
The day lie heard it he went out, as once
before, to walk of the sharp pang that
made his former pain seem nothing. Was
1T fate that, as he turned into path leading
through the woods, he deserted ahead tho
slight, willowy, graceful form he knew but
too well :?
She was coming toward him. In another
minute they must meet but even in that
minute something came between them.
There was sudden rustling in the bushes
iic heard low cry from her lips, as a large
dog sprang into the path, his blood shot
eyes and frothing lips betraying his mad
ness. The creature sprang toward her but
the man was quicker. He had thrown him.
self between them and grasped the dog
firmly by the throat.
''Run for your lifcl" he said, feeling his
strength could not hold out long against
such odds; but to his utter .anlazcmcnt
| she stood still.
You shall not die for me-" she said.
Then he remembered that in his pocket
was pistol, he had carried for protection,
when at night he had been intrustcd with
money by the firm. He told her where TO
find it,
"Hold him minute longcrl' she said
The next, sharp shot rang out on the
air, his hands relaxed, and the brute fell
bleeding at his feet.
lie turned toward her. She was very
pale, and the pistol had fallen from her
hold but her eyes were fixed on lis hands,
lie looked down. For the first time he
saw that they were bleeding.
care they washed clean 2" she said.
lie held them toward her.
"Ycs, " hc answered; ''though l have
saved your life for another man. l, who