The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-11-16


sent minded, and was exceedingly alive to
the presence or absence of Miss Devcreux.
II she were absent, he must know where
che was. If present he made incoherent
replies to everybody else, and was like the
needle 10 the magnet whatever the young
lady's movements were.
If she lounged, he noticed that the sun
shone in her eyes, and closed blind. II
she sang, he turned the leaves of her
music II she walked the piazza, he would
urge that the rooms were close, and find a
seat without.
Once or twice he caught himself up in
negleoting Lucy and attending Nab, but
the spell was too strong.
The fascination which this girl of a wan.
ton heart exerted he succumbed to almost
unconsciously. And the siren smiled
and smiled, and drew him on until their
came feverish light in Lucy's blue eyes
and her cheek grew thin with the fcar she
yet repelled. n..
Yes, 1t was dangerous for all three, this
playing with edged tools. 1t was true that
the love between Allen and herself was not
founded on mere fancy, but in mutual
confluence, esteem and sweet congeni-
ality. If she had known it to be a fancy
she would have no confidence in it.
For three years they had known each
other well, and the tic had even grown
str0nger. She had often unused on this,
and, indeed, made 1t the strong point in
her acceptance OF Allen Stopford ."..
She felt herself very young-but nine
teen-when called to decide this matter;
she had long been motherless. From the
depths of her heart to the heights of her
wisdom she sounded herself before she re-
Piled to him, and the expression of her
face, at that moment, Allen never forgot.
Eye to eye and heart to heart they had
pledged each other, and no-could Allen
forget2
Apparently he had forgotten. She could
not accuse him Of rudeness toward herself
that Was impossible to his nature-or
selfishness; but that he was drawn from
her the most casual eye could see. And
Mab's fortnight had already lengthcned to
three weeks.
"We'll have tea on the lawn tonight,
Lucy" said Aunt Lucretia, the house
keeper at Rosehome. 'It Is such q yery
warm night, it will be pleasant"
"As you please, auntie-it makes no diff
ference to me. I shall take no tea; have
severe headache"
Aunt Lucretia went indoors, but some
one else stood beside the hammock where
Lucy lay. She turned her head and looked
into Mab's mocking dark eyes.
"Confess you are fretting yourself sick
about Mr.. Stopford. Why don't yon send
me homer" she asked.
"Allen does not love you, Nab. He will
never tell you that he does," replied Lucy,
quickly, and with dignity, though there
was sharp contraction of her delicate
features.
Nab saw, perhaps experienced, pang OF
reno rse-for she sincerely liked her gentle
cousin; but she was tull of wicked ex-
ultatton, 80 strong was her passion for
power.
She turned and strolled down the gravel
walk among the cyprus vines. flirting her
pink fan, and Allen saw and came from hls
scat in the avenue, with Sultan, his great
bowling hound, at his heels.
When tea WAS served, he brought Lucy a
cupof the fragrant beverage and The cologne
flask, and then was gone down the cypress
walk with Nab.
The twilight deepened; a whip poor
Will called; the scent of flowers stole up
from the beds and from among tho vines.
Lucy lay alone in the hammock, and a few
tears, which she scorned, would have their
way.
She sat up, at last. Apparently Allen
and Mab had left the garden; no one was
In sight. Its recesses looked cool and
dewy; perhaps they would ease the throb-
bing of her temples. .'
She slipped from the hammock, and
went down the piazza steps, one little
white kitten following and rolling about
her feet, , =
The flreflies starred the cypress vines;
the birds twittered csntcntedly over their
June nests; some beautiful evening bloom
Ing flowers filled the air with heavenly
sweetness.
Lucy dragged herself slowly along with
a half guilty feeling that this beauty was
80 little to her. She was not in harmony
with Its peace; the stiffness lrritated her.
Suddenly 1t was broken by voices, which
stole gently upon her ear. She could SEQ
no one, but she recognized MAIDS tones.
'Ihen you do not hate me2" she sylla-
blcd insinuatingly.
"Hate you3 No. ] believe l love you.
You are the most, ,bowitchihg grill"
Lucy felt the rustic of the cypress vines,
cool and dewey, about her face. She did
not know that she had fallen. But tho
others heard the crash, and Nab called
"Luoyl" guiltily, and Allen came and lifted
the little figure in his strong arms.
'My poor little girlI'' he said. "what is
the matter with your There Is fever at
the village. DO you suppose that she is
coming down with it," he asked Nab.
"Feverl-a contagious fevcr2 Horrorsl"
cried Nab !; and skipping down side path,
she flew up to her room, and began pack
ing her trunk.
Allen was busy with Lucy. Either she
had tainted, Or falling upon the hard
ground had stunned her, or she was very
Ill. She was perfectly unconscious, and
her small white face lying upon his arm
was pitiful indeed.
He gathered her up to his breast and car
rtcd her up to the house.
"There!" cried Aunt Lucrctia, starting up
from her seat at the doorway, II thought
she would faintl She has been miserable
enough all day. Take her right up to her
room, Allen, at the head of the stairs, and
lwili come and put her right to bed"
Allen marched steadily up the staircase.