The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-10-16

0SSuPlCO VIII OIucT IuOuKuCS.
We've been long expcctin' you, sir, {"
said the old lady gently.
Her hands crossed on the spotless pinp.
ham apron upon her lap, trembled little
but the serenity of her manner was not
much changed.
But the old mans eyes swan in tears.
He rested both hands on the hickory stick
between his knees, as he sat in a corner,
and bending his forehead upon them, par
TALLY hid his face.
''Ycs, yes! but it comes sort of sudden
now." saidthe old man.
MIR. Faxon sat in speechless sympathy.
After little pause, cid Mr.. Derby look
ed up and met his eyes.
''Of course, it's all right, sir. We don't
question your right to tho place, but we've
been sort of unfortunate. l think 60
don't you, mother2"
The old lady lay back among the cush-
ions of the dimity-covercd chair. She had
look of physical weakness MIR. Faxon had
not observed before. She did not speak.
Her husband looked at her attentively. A
sudden flush went over his thin face.
''lt Is not for myself care-it Is herl"
he cried striking his cane violently upon
the floor. ''She helped to earn this place.
when she was young. There was no kind
o work but what them hands you see lyin'
so weary now in her lap, sir, was put to.
She was up early an late, always a-doin',
adoin' fur me and the children. God new
er made better wife an msther. An
now, sir, it's hard that she should be
turned out of her home in her old agel"
"Hush, hush, DanielI' said the old
lady softly. 1.-THE Lord will provide; and
it's not long we have to stay in this world,
"Will youtell me the history of the place,
Mr., Derby2" asked B1r. Faxon. "How
did you come to lose it2''
cit vas mortgaged, SIR" said the old
man, at last, ''to pay theboys' college bills.
You see, we had three childrcn-Selwyn,
Roscoe and little Annie. Mother and
didn't have an cddication, but we said all
along that our children should have; an
they went to the distric' school an then to
the academy-an' by-an' by we fitted them
on for college. Bright, smart boys they
were-everybody said my boys had good
parts, Roc was always n little wild.
think mother, there, loved him better for
that. He was more trouble, an she clung
to him closer because others blamed him,
at times. Annie, his sister, waS always a
pleadin', too, for Roc. lie played truanr
and he whipped the boys who told On hini;
he was always putin his bones in peril,
an twice he was half drowned-yct in
spite of all he was ready for college when
Sclwyn was, though Selwyn was steady as
clock. Mother and had been scrapin'
together for years and at last we fitted them
off. ''0
owe went on denying of ourselves, for
it was just the one hope of our lives to
lave the boys graduate with all the honors;
an time went on, but many Of the crops
failed an there came disappointment here
and disappointment there, an failing to
get together the money the boys sent for
especially Roc-we mortgaged the farm for
five hundred dollars.
"They were nearly through, you see,
an mother an Annie thought that Selwyn
might be principal of the academy or some
thing when he came homo, an Roc would
be lawyer, cause he could argufy an
speak 80 smart in public, an the money
would be paid back easy.
''But from time to time there came
rumors didn't like, as to how Roscoe was
up in his old wild ways; and at last it
came like a thunderbolt-Roo was sus-
pended and had run away to foreign parts.
Well, pass over that, sir; l tried not to
be too hard on the boy. Then Sclwyn
came home. He had graduated we'll, but
he had cough. He didn't complain, but
ho was thin and pale, and soon mother an
l saw that the child we had meant to rely
on was an invalid on our hands. The
thought struck me dumb. But mother was
oil energy. We travelled here with him,
we travelled there. We saw all the noted
doctors East and West. We borrowed
money on the old place, and we never paid
any back. had made one or two pay
mcnts at first, but they were but drop in
the bucket. AT last we brought Selwyn
home to die"
"Don't Daniel," said the mother softly.
''I1e wants to hear the rest. There's
only little more, but it's no better. An.
ME was like Selwyn-good and patient
and dellcate-llke, too. We didn't mind
it at first, but her checks grew thin an
too red; cough she had from child grew
harder, and though the best doctor We
could get came early and late, 1t was only
q year after Selwyn died before we LAID
Annie down among the SHOWS. Thank ye,
sir, for your pityl Mother and have shed
most of our tears" .,.
MIR. Faxon put his cambria handkerchief
back in his pocket.
"Your other son, Roscoe, Mr.. Derby
did he never come homer"
"Nevcrl It's nigh eight years since VIC
have seen Roc. He knew he disappointed
us; but that was nothin', was it mother9"
I'll never think Of it," said Mrs. Derby,
shaking her head. "Perhaps--I don't
know-we took the wrong course with
Roc. He was restless an active. He was
wild, but he was lovin'-
Her voice broke.
"AIrs. Derby" saidMr. Faxon, 'T find 1
know something of your story already.
Your son. Roscoe Derby, who ran away at
nineteen years old, is probably living, and
1t may come in my way to obtain some in
formation of him for YOU"
Thc old people had risen eagerly from
their seats; but he went on, quickly.
''Meanwhile, be at no inconvenience re-
garding your stay here in yonr old home.
Your right to occupy it is unquestioncd in
my mind, and let me assure you that you
will never, during your lifetime, be re-