The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-04-27
forgiveness.

i Assllort winter afternoon was fast !ioep!
ening into twilight, and the snow, that had
been thresteningall day, was beginning to
toss about. tile first Of Its white fayors, Jas a
lady stood at large easement anxiously
gazing across tho valley on the cedar
fringed mountain road opposite.
. She was apparently about twenty live
years Of age, with soft gray eyes and d clear
though pale complexion. Gould she have
been transported to Chestnut Street 2or
Broadway, with the accomplishments of
crimps, rats, turban and pheasant, wing, she
might have passed for scarcely twenty; but
here al home, in her soft lavender dress
which harInonized 80 wellwlth the shining
brown hairs plainly braided back from her
face, and the tiny blue bow at her throat,
the five years seemed rather to be on the
other side. But her countcnance was not
dependent for it's charm on either youth Or
beauty; but one of those quiet home faces,
which as the years pass along, gather by
the side of sick-bcds, over cradles-and 1t
may be over graves-a beauty which the
evanescent glow of youth rarely equals. SO
at least thought DR.. Ashley, when three
years before, he took her from tho village
school, and the tuition Of rough miners
children, to be the light and comfort I his
home. m,E Fn.E. % .s,e>S .y.,,et.. = .
1t is for him that she Is straining her
eyes with looking into tho darkness, and a
glad smile rises to osher face aslsomethipg
moves among tho cedars, clSttcrs acro# shc
bridge III the valley y%hcroFtiie village fights
arc already twinkling, and moment later
the well-known gig rattles up to the door.
He was only rough old country doctor,
this husband of Lucy Ashley. but to her he
was hero-demigo god-the representative of
all that is noble and good In manhood!
And, indeed, we might make heroes of
worse material than of some of those
bronzed and weather-beaten disciples of the
healing art, who, regardless alike Of heat or
cold, day or night, spend their lives in at
tending suffering humanity.
"Wa,chipg, Lucy9" cried the CHEEKY
voice, as having shaken off the feathery
snowflakes the doctor entered the easement
which. she held opon for him. ,s ..
.,i IL was q very plain room deriving the
most of its charm from the white curtains
fragrant plants, and neatly arranged tea.
table. yet pervadcd by an air of comfort
which in more luxurious apartments is
often lacking. nh 8jy.} t..ra &
"A SNlp nj too hn
doctor established in dressing. gown and
slippers by the flrcside "a position he might
possibly hold through out the evening,sbut
from whence 1t was more probably that he
would soon be called to drive fsix or eight
miles over the mountains), Lucy brought
Her low chair and her knitting and sal be-
side him. Evidently she had something Of
Importance to say, for her work progressed
fltfully, till at last throying it down In dcs-
perltion, and raising Sher eyes, she ex-
claimed, hurriedly, as though the subject
was disagreeable and must be gotten
through quickly; ,s!& l.. ..s 4
"Robert, another lottor5camejto.dayfrom
Mrs. Hervey."
ITO you7"
5l"Yes;' at least addressed to me, though,
of course 1t concerns you more nearly l1t
bring it,"
'.No." said he, OBTAINING her. ~ don't
care to SEQ 1t. suppose 1t is only reds,
sertion Of her husbands innocencea"
eyes, principally; she says That t)his.lastI
words were, ask Cousin Robert to forgive
me for these years Of estrangenient, andItcll
him, on the word Of u dying man, that I
know nothing toft the deed Ewhsoh S'hasl
caused, all the trouble .,s, 49,.
''I'ye heard all thatSbefore Had the wos
man sent the deed 1t would have made
difference; but as she won't, why should
she presume to trouble you about it,"
~ suppose she thought that could plead
her cause better than herself, and indeed
Robert, I cannot help thinking that there
may have beer, soWe mistake. gYAnother
reason is, size says, that she IS herself sink
Inc rapidly that che hasno rclqtitepss tts IN ::le :he
world, and ga asks rs, s 70 receive hsr llttlle
boy, who Is your namesake. She adds
that If sho only could get your forgiveness
TO carry to her..s6iuiabaanda wsodid'
he willing to travel on foot lay her baby
y II Nosssass Il ssssla,Ssa ths. s.dSa ehe
peed do nothing more melouramstic than
aendi6s 81 fGs deSd. Ana AZ Tor her huss
bard, 81 $50 hal SSd's forgiveness ~ doas