The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-11-30
My Punishment.

My Punishment.
am not yet thirty years old, but my hair
is streaked with gray, my heart lies like
Ice In my bosom, and my life seems only a
long, dreary waste-a punishment.
All, II my sin was great, wss sorely
tempted, and my punishment will only end
with my life. 7' .u. ',.. Fl
When was 1t first loved my cousin
kate2 1t might have been when aunt
Barrie offered her soft cheek out of
bundle of flannel for my boy lips to kiss
the baby.
I was wealthy, my father having left mo
q fortune when was Blk years old, that
had hrHp nursed carefully by my conscien-
tious guardian till it nearly trebled in value
when l. came of age. ....
Aunt, my mothers sister, had only the
smallest income from her dead husbands
estate, and lived in cottage not far from
the great house that would be my home
whenever choose to occupy it.
My own mother had died when was
baby, and all home affection in my heart
ccntered in aunt and cousin Kate. .
Yet 1t never was brotherly love gave
Kate after 1 was old enough to think of my
own home and future happiness.
knew that my beautiful house would be
to me desolate and empty If Kate refused
to share it with me, and although she
laughed at me If 1 made love to her, l new
or ceased to hope until Girard Hopklnson
came to Barton.
He was, without exception, the hand
soonest man ever saw. Yet he was with
out dollar in the world excepting Ills sal
ary as clerk IN my guardians manufactory.
the Gordon Mills.
had been all winter visiting my grand
mother, who had written me most IN
ploring letter, begging to see me once more
before she died, and seeming 80 heart
broken whenever proposed to, leave her,
that l remained until she died early in
May. -
had loft Barton In November, and Just
one week after my departure Girard Hop
kinson came. to take a position IN my guar
dian's counting house.
There was nothing of the sneb about
John Gordon, my guardian. and finding his
new clerk to be gentleman, he invited
him to his own house, and introduced him
to Barton society.
Everywhere he met Kate the belle of
Barton by universal consent. '
When came home in May aunt told me
that Girard and Kate were engaged.
/ will not dwell on what I suffered.
My whole life seemed to me u blank, but
had no word or thought Of blame for
Kate. re- Aa r.u
l hid my pain as best l could.
Aunt knew all, for my heart had been an
open book for her loving eyes all my life,
and when we were all together she accepted
0f
ing the lovers to take care of each other.
To aunt only confded my plans for
opening my own house In the winter, and
she consented to come and share my home
after Kate's marriage.
In October went away to nerve myself
by absence for the wedding, and to pur-
chase many additions to tho modest trous-
seau aunt was making for my cousin.
1t was IKE thunderclap to me when
my guardian wrote to me that Girard had
robbed him.
'It was very clever forgery ho wrote,
land it has been traced directly to Hop
kinson. Evans, who has been with me
thirty years, has my perfect confidence,
detected the forgery, and traced 1t up. OF
course Hopkinson denies 1t, but 1t Is too
clear case. Still, for his fathers sake,
shall not prosecute him. He is tho son OF
one of my dearest friends dead many
years-and pared this disgrace. have
discharged 0irard, of course, and he has
left Barton, but shall keep the whole af
fair secret. have told your aunt and
cousin-no one else."
Kate knew then. ,.
My heart ached for her, for knew she
loved Girard, even as loved her.
lokko ~rk
letter, telling mo Of Kates's grief, and hei
firm faith in her lovers Innocence.
The weary winter passed, and Kate
health failed, III her pain and humilia
Gon.
All Barton knew of her engagement, bu
no one knew tie cause of her lovers deser
tion, 80 that there was tho bitterness of ap
pearing TO be Tilted IN addition to the bur
den of knowing the truth.
I was shooked when returned to Bar
ton to see the shadow of my bright beauti
full cousin In the pale languid girl VIII
greeted mo with sisterly affection.
consulted our old doctor privately, an
he strongly advised change of scene"
'She rs fretting here" said he, ''an
sverythings reminds her OF her faithl@
laver. If she went away for year, sh
WOulu COnc UaCh uoI6ell aSalh'
Armed with this opinion laid siege
aunt, and the result was that we wen
abroad, no time being set for our return.
It was labor of love with mo to wi
my cousin back to choerfulness, and If
was lover like in my attentions was {
least sincere In my devotion.
believed Girard to be forRer, one wi,
., had robbed not only his employer, but b.
friend, and honestly held the opinion ths
Kate's happiness would be best secured
she could forget him.
,.n; With this conviction and my own low
hold myself blanleless that tried to wi
Kate's heart, even though knew l new
could BIO first there.
Yet It was two years before l, venture
to ask Kate to be my wife, '.'