The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-05-15

siCh looul HIS stuuJ. 1lS CnamUCr, which
had been somewhat bare and desolate.
suddenly became glowing and warm, and
made sharp contrast with the room on
the lower floor, lined with moth eaten
volumes, aud choking with accommodating
dust. Mrs. Delplaine had begged that a
few sticks might be lighted on the hearth,
and had pleaded that Il quantity OF light
wraps and shawls should be taken from hcr
trunks to soften the glare at her windows,
to add to the scanty covering of her bed;
tolthrow over the grim leathcrn buck of
her chair, and rs Mrs. Delplaine's favorite
of the rose, tho whole atmosphere of the
room took this soft coloring, and the hun
cry soul of the Rev. Paul delighted therein
without knowing why.
He was walking just now in the big
gloomy room below, the scant tails of his
thrcadbare coat tapping In the chill air of
March, but his soul was warm with the
memory of tho last hour he had spent in
that room above.
And Mrs. Dclplaine, having nothing else
to think of in this queer, picturesque re-
gion, being somewhat appalled, by the big
sterile hills and the gray gloomy sky,
which her crimson shawls could not alto
gether shut out having nothing else to
think Of but the tender interest that this
haggard but handsome reclllse of a parson
took in her misfortune, und feeling that II
he had been US hard-hcarted as his house
keeper she might not now have been alive,
and finding life. even so sweet in her Ian
guild convalcscencc, she was constrained to
ask OF this comely but stern negro woman
something of her master. "Was he alone
in the world Had he no kindred 2" Hagar
looked up from her knitting so stolidly
that Mrs. Delplaine added: 'Fathcr or
mother, wife or cllildrcn2''
Hagar deliberately turned the heel of
her stocking before she fully satisfied the
curiosity Of the convalcsccnt. Then she
vouchsafcd to say that he was quite alone;
"no father, no mother, no children, as far
hs she knowed. There used to be wife
poor, sickly creetur-buL she done gone
South years ago, and never come back"
'Dii the poor lady die there ?" said Mrs.
Delplaine.
liagar hcsitateda minute. Then she said
eyes, she died there sure enough"
"And how many years has he lived in
this desolGtc region, friendless and alone 2"
said Mrs. Delplaine.
Hlagar rcckoned it was considerable
time, but gave 1t as her opinion that some
peoples room was better than their COM
pany; and, adding that Mrs. Delplaine
was talking too much, and that she had
better go to sleep, Hagar left the room.
No sooner had she gone than Mr.. Hume
entered. 1t had been customary for him
to relieve Hagar's duties in the sick room.
Unconsciously, perhaps, he had been lis
Ipnlng rui IIaYai's reLicaLlng IOOJsteps. AS
he entered the room his face frightened;
the cavernous SORROWS in his brow seemed
to have Strengthened into joyous benignity;
the very angles of his nature, sharpcned by
the loneliness of his life, took comfortable
rounded shapes to themselves, and he
greeted the pale, pretty woman In the
straight back chair with peculiar and
charming tenderness of tone and manner,
born of this new experience, that would
have frightened and astonished himself had
he been lookcr-on. But Mrs Delplainc
was neither frightened nor astonished. She
was still 80 weak that Hagar's harsh and
abrupt replies had brought foolish tears to
her eyes which still hung upon her lnshcs
as she smiled upon Mr.. Hume. She gave
herself up to the sweet relief and comfort
of his presence She began to believe that
destiny had determined this remarkable
event in her life, and felt an Irresistible
desire to further the designs of fatc. She
had never in her life seen any one so noble
and majestic, yet so gentle ana tender, as
this preacher
81 am so glad you have come" she said;
IL have something to say to you." A
strange, wistful, discon.forted look on his
face disquicted her, and she added gently,
"you will not despise little advice and
rcmonstrance ofminc2"
'1 could despise nothing with which you
were associated" he said.
"Then listen to me-" she continued; ssit
here by my side and listen to me. l am
getting quite strong and well. You have
saved my life-you and your good Hagar,
and the worst of 1t Is that now I must 20
away" Hero she paused and enjoyed the
sudden wincing in his face, and resolved
more and more to spare him the pang of
parting. 81 am going to coax you away
from here" she said. 'Indced, Nj. Hume
may I call you Paul?"
eyes" lac replied, but began to grow
pale.
Indeed, you are quite thrown away in
this place. 1t would be 80 sweet to me to
see you admired and dclf1cd and bowed
down to, as tho world out yonder does to
men like you. They love silver tongue,
do the people. VIII you let me manage it
for you? I promise you, if you will, our
parting shall be brief. have considerable
influence which will WELD in your be-
half. You have but to be known to be ap-
prcclated. See the good you might do,
Paul." she added, coaxingly. Her face
took fire as she uttered his name, but that
of the preacher grow paler and palcr
~ am grateful to you," he replied !;
"more grateful than say; but must re-
main here. Believe me, it Is better
should"
Mrs. Delplaine had somewhat forseen
this refusal. In her exalted estimate of his
character she could scarcely hope that her
hero would step aside from the path he had
marked out for himself to cater to the per-
ference Of woman.
She yielded at once. #..
Because you are stubborn and proud"
she said "because you cannot bend to any
weak frivolity; and If you will not yield
to my wishes, there Is nothing loft to me
but to submit myself to yours. Well, then,