The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-10-16
After Long Years.
"What Is this, Burt2"

a$9 "What Is this, Burt2"
$sS ''rhat Is the mortgage of an estate called
1.-the Derby Place, MIR. Faxon, forccloscd
Eshlore than a year, ago, l believe"
E swell, it's what I've been looking for.
III will take charge Of the papers, and attend
ITO the matter soon. Down East, is it3''
RS Eyes, sir"
M Mr.. Faxon put the papers into the breast
SBpocket of his coat, Came down the Office
lSstairs, and stepped into the glittcrlng, pur-
Tple-lined phWton, beside his wife.
% The delicate Arabian, Mrs. Faxon's
Sshorse, sped away out of the city confines,
9and soon tossed his ictty name along
.8thc open roads, lined with gardens, ornate
3colieges and villas.
n "Noing away again tomorrow, dear2"
q asked Mrs. Faxon, suddenly lifting her
fair countenance, as she interrupted her
husband. ''You seem to be away. all the
Z time lately. Take me with you"
4 "Not this time, Violet"
s And Violet FaXon's husband fell. into n
fit of abstraction, from which her smar,cst
( chatter failed to arouse him.
They came at last to the Faxom man.
\ sion, grand and simple, and fulfilling it's
Y promise of beautiful interior.
8 Amid the white lace and crimson silk of
& her chamber, Violet was brushing out her
S long, far hair, when her husband paused
.sin the doorway, and looked at her sharply.
Il Then he came slowly across the room, and
lifting the oval face in his hand, looked
&closely at the roseatc check pcarly ear and
sscurved lashes.
A "What is it2" asked Violet-"a
gfreckle2"
Y "No," he answered, smiling family and
!, frNl IIton . 1, NJ,
E}likc my sister thcn-that was ALL"
81 "Your sister, dcar2 You never told me
!. about her, )" said Violet.
NO he answered, and said no more.
4 MIR. Faxon bore no resemblance to his
sSdelIcate patrlcian wife. A little less than
fsthirty dark, strongly built, active, vigor
ssous, he impressed one as astrong character.
IF, with a remarkable rich comeliness OF
\ 8countcnance, there were sensual lines, there
6 was also certain evidence of strong, good
I sense and a look of deep experiences Mr..
\ Faxon looked like a man who carried
weight
NJ lie was up and away at daybreak the
&next morning. An early train bore hun
4 eastward, and nine o'clock found him
Slanded at little station called Seabrook.
L The dismal little building was set in g.
B field Of clover, around which road wound
\ away among the mounds of verdure.
After glance around. MIR. Faxon took
this road, and walked slowly along. The
4 robbins hoped across it; the bobolinks sang
Z in the trees over it. The unassuming white
clover among the grass pcrfumed the cool
morning air.
$ He passed only few houses but he ob-
served them attentively. They were all
K old and humble farmhouses. Apparently,
this property which had, by the foreclosure
%of mortgage, fallen to Mr.. Faxon, was
%not situated in very rich or enterprising
{neighborhood.
& When he had walked nearly mile. he
Ecame to a green dooryard, among wide
spread apple trees, with weli-sweep
among them, and residence, though plain,
Smore pretentious and comfortable than the
sothers.
q There was n narrow, wcll-worn path
Samong the short grass and buttcrcups to the
Sporch, where bitter-sweot twined its
sstrong arms. In corner, under the YER
sdurc was an m-chair, with book on the
&seat, and cane lying across it-a gnared,
twisted cane of hickory, that Mr.. Faxon
Slooked twice at The book he saw was
Nthe Bible.
". There was an old lady with a sweet,
faded face, and snowy cap-strings tied un-
der her double chin, knitting at window
near by. but his quiet step had not dis
: turbed her.
He had put his hand to the knockcr; he
took it down again as he caught sight of
this placid face. He stood there quite still
{ for several minutes. A gray cat came and
rubbed against his leg. Some apple bios
SONS, floating down touched his check.
At length the gentle lips moved
"Fathcr," said the mild old lady, "you
/ had best lie down and take rest"
"Suoh old pcoplcl And have come to
s take their home away" said Mr. Faxon.
Il There was strong pain in his dark face
RnoW rs he stood looking down at the porch
sfloor.
After q moment, he stepped off the
Sporch on the farther side, and walked away
under the apple trees.
When MIR. Faxon came back from his
brief stroll, his presence, as he crossed the
yard, was observed
to the open door and taken up the hickory
stick, turned back hastily, with a few hur-
ried words, and tho aged woman dropped
her knitting and rose up with palencss
dropping over her face.
But while Mr.. Faxon hesitated on the
porch again both came to the door. Sad,
startled faces they both had, but they were
civil. Their greeting was kindly, as to a
friend.
'My name is Faxon," said the visitor, "I
n -
"We know who ye be SIR" said the old
man, eve know who ye be, though we
never seed ye before. viii you como in9"
Mr.. Faxon stepped across the white hal;
floor into the quaint, cool and comfortable
sitting-room.