The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-08-24

as Ellen looked at Annie, she felt that sle
should be glad to see her in her coffin.
Yet the end of her visit approached. Sho
must go, since she would have no excuse
ior lingering, and in her absence might not
tho wife win the heart of one who already
respc'te and admired her, though his pas.
sion was another's2 Surely.
So, with the flend's whisper in her ears
Ellen Harland one day walked out alone
making the purchase of some little trine in
the village an excuse for a solitary
| hour.
For while she battlcd with her hate for
Annie, knowing her to have none but
friendly feelings to herself, but it over.
powered her at last.
I'll that little thing were dead, " she said,
II should have Wilford for my own-I should
DC The lady OF the hePark-honored, admired,
beloved. Now I-walk here alone. while
she fills my place. If she would but
de!"
Then, suddenly-su-cly,S Satan was wllis-
perlng in her ears--shc remembered that
she mad heard of drug, which, though al
Almost instantaneous poison, left little trace
and was tastelcss. For moment she trem-
Dled and flung the suggestion from her; but
Satan is strong. There was a drug store
in the village, and the proprietor had left q
young, emptypated clerk in charge.
The poison which would not have bcen
sold by the Older man to any stranger with
out doctors prescription, was dealt out
without thought by this boy, and Ellen
went home with'thc tiny package hidden
in her bosom.
Annie was watching for her looming
from the vcranda. She came forward to
me ct her guest with sweet smile. s'fs4i>
"The others have had lunch, said She. .'t
"but l waited for you. l have haa.our-
little table set'in the bo%-window;i with
cosy time."' "S -, - ~ 80
Then she led the way to the dining,room,
and tossing her hat and mantle on a sofa
the young hostess poured the coffee and
handed cup to her guest, taking one for
herself. At that moment some one called
from the hall:
"Ceme, both of yon; something to
see." ......ls
Ill was only great pleasure barge
going up the river with a picnic party.
Ever ready for anything amusing in those
IDLE hours, the household always made a |
gay prctence of deep interest in these par
finr ..s ... .....
A nn;o 1oft tI,o i,ttlo roo,,, Illlo,, dolo,,o, |
a minute before she followed. In that lit |
tie space of time she had empticd the poi
son into poor Annie's cup OF coffee, and |
thrust the crumpled paper that had held it. |
back into her bosom.
Annie returned first. AS she seated her
self, she happened to notice that the cup
she had passed to Ellen was over-fled. 1t
looked untidy, neither had yet been tasted,
and with tho natural impulse of a careful
hostess, Annie changed the cups.
Little did she guess what she was doing.
She only desired to set before her guest that
which was neatest. And little did Ellen
know what had happened in that brief in
stant t
She looked to see her rival turn pale.
She watched for some token that the poi
son had begun its work. Instead she her
self felt strange faintness creeping over
her, was conscious of a sudden agony. 1t
was brief The fate she had dccreed for
the innocent young wife was to be her own,
and it came to swiftly too leave much time
for thought.
Before the man who had ridden fast and
furiously across the country to find the
nearest doctor, had performed his crrand.
all was over,
Dying, Ellen Harland understood only
that in some way Providence had outwit-
ted her. '...
''Pray for me-" she whispered to Annie.
~ dare not pray for myself"
And with her hands held fast between
Annic's, with Annie's tears falling fast up
on her pillow, Ellen died.
They found the crumplcd paper with
sspoison" written on it, in her bosom. The
coroner's jury gave verdict Of suicide,
and rcmorse filled Wilford Dumont's
hcart-for nc believed that Ellen Harland
had killed herself because she could not
live without him.
In his trouble he made sort of a con-
fossion to his wife. No man ever made a
full and true one under such circumstances.
What Annie gathered from! 51it was that
her own attractions had made him forget
those of Ellen Harland, and that the poor
| girl could not endure the sight OF their mu-
tual tenderness: and 80 to this day she be-
licves, and often goes with her husband to
the church-yard where Ellen lies, and with
her own fair hands plant iowe rs upon tho
grave Of the woman who would fain have
done her to death that she might win for
iher own the husband who, tliodgh not as
Etrue and perfect as Annie leleyes him. now
loves her very fondly; loves her, though
he remembers, with pang, tho passionate
creature, who, as he fancies, died for love
of him. Ol