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

the quick step or the horses hSOfs. His
rider drew rein at her side.
$50 am to find you at last" he said.
His voice sounded the same as Of old; the
bright, CHEEKY tone was unchanged.
"Ilave yol seen Lille, lately2" she at
last found courage to ask.
''No," he answered, and then she saw
the frown gather on his brow, and an ex-
preston Of pain comes about his lips. 81
see. as little Of your cousin as possible now.
You know, Miss Loring, am no longer a
subject of congratulation."
eyes, l know" she said. ''l-"
"Don't pity me-, he interrupted; II can't
bear that quite yet"
II did not mean to pity you," she re-
piled.
ooh, If Lillian had not spoken of the
heart caught in the rebound" she thought,
when week after week Oscar Dering would
find his way to the rectory garden or the
rcctory parlor, to spend long hours with lts
fair young mistress.
She understood so we'll why he ca,Ae, be-
cause now and then IIillian's name trifted
into the idle talk, and because, as he grew
stronger, he dared speak of her ani of the
love he had borne her. 1t was mingled
pain and pleasure to listen. II only she
had not learned her own heart the pain
, would have been less. But she was de-
stined to- learn it moro fatally, yet, as one
morning strolling through the woods to-
gethcr, the sharp report of a hunters gun
close beside them startled them both. The
next instant her companion sank white and
scnselcss on the sward beside her, while
the atfliglted hunter, whose misaimed
charge had entered his arm, hastcnen for
ward.
"Bring assistance quickly" exclaimed
Edith, while she raised the heavy head to
her lap: "Oscar, speak to me, "shc moaned.
"Oscarl Oscarl"
Over aid over again she repeated his
name in the same accents Of desparing love,
until they had forced their way into the
life-puses Of his being and aroused them
to ACTIVITY.
He opened his eyes in haIf-wandering
look, as though delirium had overtaken
him,
At this instant the hunter returned with
assistance, aud half hour later the wound
ed man had been borne to the rectory, the
wound dressed, and the knowledge given
that it was merely flesh wound, painful,
but not dangerous. Yet his recovery was
a tedious affair.
He grew moody and distracted. 1t gave
him more time to think of Lillian ana his
loss, Edith thought, even while abe wcn-
dered why his eyes followed her with such
a strange questioning look. Once she en-
tered his room with some freshly cut flowers
in her hand.
"Whcre shall I put them, MIR. Dering9"
she inquired.
''Mr. Dering2" he answered. "Did l
not once hear you call me Oscar, or was it
sweet fancy waited from dreamland2"
Again the crimson tide dyed her face.
''Don't |" she said as though he had
hurt her, and fastened from the room bear
ing with her the flowers, and it seemed to
him the light and sunshine.
Had he been blind all this time, and was
he just beginning to sect
A grand ball was to be given at Ames
court. Lillian insisted that Edith should
be present, and the invalid also was sum-
moncd to the feast
On the evening of Miss Ames's ball She
picked up the paper sent down by the after
noon mail from London. She was sudden
ly startled at seeing the name of tho man to
whom she so lately had been betrothed.
1t was published decision of the court
that owning to some disability, the title
could not descend to Oscar Deriny's COUSIN.
Hc was, then, Lord Dering still. Fool
that she had been. But to- night, while he
still thought her in ignorance, she must win
him back.
1t was late when he entered the spacious
drawing rooms.
'l have been waiting for you,' she said,
in her sweetest, lowest tones.
"You honor me too greatly, Miss Ames,"
he replied.
''Lct us 90 into the conservatory" she
added, 1T is cooler there"
lie offered her his arm.
From distant corner of the room Edith
saw them. 80. /
II will not begrudge him any happiness"
she said to herself
"Have you forgotten tho last time we
were here together, Mr.. Dering3' Lillian
was asking at this moment.
mo, " hc answered gravely, looking into
the beautiful face beside nm.