The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-11-09
Cousin Edith.

Lillian Ames stood leaning against the
easement of an open window leading on to a
sloping lawn, at whose base flowed sunny,
rppling stream of water.
1t was one of England's fairest daughters.
Even at this moment, spite of The fact thai
her brow Is gathered in frown. and the
red, full lips are Enthusiastically pouting, her
beauty is undcniable
A fow bold spirits had declar, d that there
was little soul in the face but the large
hazel eyes. could melt OF flash at will; the
dark lashcs shaded cheek as white as Pa
rian marble, with rarely even touch of
color upon Its vclvety surface; and the
lthe, graceful figure even unconsciously
assumed new grace in each unsteady
poise, until one forgot the question of soul
in its perfect outward flesh and blood ia
bernacle.
Near her, reclining on u low easy chair,
sat young girl of about her own age.
AT first glance the exquisite soul-loveliness
of her face paled in Miss Ames's brilliant
beauty, but there were more to love its pos
SCISSOR, and fewer to envy her. Something
like imagination was in her voice, as she
addressed her friend.
II cannot believe that you mean IT, Lii
lian," she said ''You have been engaged
to Oscar Dering for year, and how can
you say so carclcssly that your engagement
shall be broken"
''Beg pardon!' interrupted the other, in
low, ironical tones, IL have not yet been
engaged to Oscar Dcrng twenty-four
hours. 1t was to Lord Oscar Dcring gave
my pledge"
"Oh, but Lillian, because he has lost
titlo and estate must he also lose the woman
OF his lover Think a minute. You surely
will not give him up 50 easily9
Nonsense, Edith am 2l-no longer
girl of an age to live upon sentimentalism,
bit to look upon every day realities of life.
w len en- "a sed mys ,lf to Lord D ug; /
was the subject OF congratulation among all
my friends. Now that the cousin who was
supposed TO be dead crops into life in some
remote portion of the 81 'be, and that Oscar
insists upon renounclng the property in his
content 10 let these same congratulations
lapse into pity"
"Oh, Lillian, do you think anyone could
pity you for possessing so royal a gift as
the love of such man2 Think better Of it,
dear; know you care for him. Do not so
lightly renounce young life's happiness"
"You plead his case eloquently, my dear.
Really did otknow possessed rival in
my fair cousin. Perhaps heart caught in
the rebonnd-yeu know the rest, OF course,
and can point the moral"
"Lillian, you are ecrucl-cruell-I-" But
the late speaker had passed through the
window out Of hearing, and advanced to
meet man qnickly approaching on tho
green sward, while tho young girl left be-
hind fell back in her chair, the great tears
coursing down her cheeks, on which the
crimson color signal famed.
1t was as though some ruthless hand had
snatched the veil from her own heart, leav.
ing exposed its most cherished secrct-a
secret she had not known herself until now
betrayed by her shame.
81 must leave this place. cannot meet
him again; must go home. But, Oh how
can she give him upl'
Edith Loring and Lillian Ames were
cousins, bnt the one was the daughter Of u
Clergyman whose rcctory was some ten
miles distant from Ames court, and one of
,the nobest estates of England, and of
{ which Lillian was sole hciress.
2 The girls, however. had been closely
united, more by the tlo of friendship than
cousnship, since tho latter was a distant
bond, and Ames court was almost as much
Edith home as her own. Now, however.
the homelier charms Of the rectory were
very grateful to her. Here no ono could
prove tho discovery 80 new to herself--to
trace the scarlet blush which seemed so
often to burn her cheox, until she wondered
that 1t did not leave its brand. :
She had been home six weeks, and twice
Oscar Dering had driven over to see her,
but she had always donled herself to him
Oh some household pretext, until one mcrn-
no overlook her In the road.
She had been busy with thoughts of him,
wondering how he had borne his rupturcd
troth, and reproaching herself tor the cow