The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-01-03
TRI-WEEKLY EDITION


Minnie continucdher daily tasks at the
millincr's shop until the two weeks had
nearly expired. Two days before the time
had elapsed @hc tli"patcled to her lover the
following notc:
Mr.. RoBY If you still entertain the
| sentiments you professcd at our last inter
view, will give you lny reply this evening
MINNIE AKLlS.
Walter had heard the rumors, and en-
dcavorcd to ascertain the truth. lie trcm-
bed lest they were trUrc, for he felt that he
could not make Minnie Arlin, if poor, his
bride. lie was quite undecided what to do
when he received Minnc's noto but he i'm
mcdiatcly sailed forth, determined if pos
| siblc, to satisfy himself as to the truth of the
rumor. Stopping in house of a physician.
with whom he was on terms Of intimacy,
he said, after a few moments conversation:
"What is it, doctor, about this affair of
Mr. Arlin? Is he really so reduced that
Minnie is obliged to become shop girl 2"
"Wcll," replied his friend, 'T thought at
! first there must be some mistake, but
heard the old gentleman say this morning,
when some one spoke of Minnie being SO
industrious, that Minnie Arin would make
see her father reduced to poverty and not
some effort 10 assist him. So | presume
! there Is some foundation for the reports
But, my dear fellow, Minnie is noble girl,
without her property although she has
not so pretty face as some young women. "
"Oh," replied Roby carelcssy, ~ hope
YOU don't think Pm committed there. l
have been somewhat friendly with Minnie
il is true but nothing serious, assure
you. No trouble about the hcart,' and he
laughed; "althoug," added he, 81 should
rcvcrses.n
lie soon after took his leave, and return
ing to his Office, seated himself at his writ.
ing desk and wrote, sealed and dispatched
the following note:
My Dear Miss Arlin: During the time
that has elapsed since | saw you last my
| feelings have become somewhat changed,
or rather have analysed them more close
ly, and l fear We can never be happy to-
premature in my proposal, though I still
entertain the warmcst feelings of regard
and friendship for you. Your cody reply
to my proposal led to suppose that your
feelings were not much interested in my
self-and perhaps It were best for both that
the affair should terminate here.
| remain, most respectfully, your obc-
dicnt servant, WALTER Rory.
Minnie she'd tears when she received this
cool cpistle, for she hoped, as maidcns
sometimes do, that her lover might 'bc
tried in the balance and not found want
ing But brushing the tears away, she
went to her father and handed him the
note, saying:
"Ah, father, you've lost the handsome,
accomplished young lawyer for a son-in-
law. He doesn't think your honcly, poor
Minnie can make HIM happy"
Leaving the room, she caught up her
straw hat and went out to ramble in the
woods to favoritc haunt, hoping the sweet
influence of nature might scothc and calm
her somewhat troubled spirits
The scene was lovely, for it was the sun
set hour, and the dreamy golden light
glanced down between the interlacing
boughs upon the soft green moss, making
dancing lights and shadows in every green
wood path. Tie air was soft and balmy.
No sound broke the stiffness of the forest
shades save the signing, plaintive wind
harps, or the occasional carol of a bird
Yielding to the lulling influence of the
scene, Minnie seated hslself upon fallen
tree, and was soon lost in roverie. In her
musings, she thought how pleasant it would
he to be loved for ones felf alone; and a
voice seemed whispering in her ear, with
soft, thrilling tone, loves cwn cadence,
and dark eyes were gazing into her own
with tender, loving look. She had wan
dered thus far into loves fairy drcam-land,
on tirly unconscious of all around, when
the cracking of dry twig startled her,
and she sprang up in alarm but pair of
dark eyes looked into her own, and q, fa-
miliar voice reassurcd her. She laughingly
greeted the intruder, saying:
"Why, Herbert, how you startled met"
lie smiled, and, advancing to greet her,
replied:
II am sorry I frightened you'll did not
think to find you here ; but you are looking
pale, are you feint2" and he gazed at her
with so much anxious solicitudc that poor
Minnio's equanimity was entirely over
thrown, and sinking again upon her scat,
sho covered her face with her hands, and
burst Into tears. The feelings so long pent
up, and the tears that had been gathering
for several days, had at last found vent.
Herbert Clayton had grown up with
Mimic from childhood. IIe had always
loved her, but he felt that deep gulf sep
arated him, poor widows son, from, tho
only child of the wealthy Mr.. Arln, and,
therefore; he felt compelled to "worsllp
from affair."" He, too, had heard the rumors
of Mr.. Arlin's losses, and he supposed that
this was the cause of Minnie's agitation.
He could scarcely rcpress the hope, sweet
and feint though It was, that Minnie might
now be his; but checking this feeling, hc