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
u streaked with gray, my heart lies like
ico IN my bosom, and my life seems only a
long, dreary waste-a punishment.
An, II my SIN was great, was sorely
tempted, and my punishment will only end
with my life. .s....f - :
When was 1t I first loved my cousin
katef 1t might have been when aunt
Barrie offered her soft cheek out of a
bundle of flannel for my boy lips to kiss
the baby.
was wealthy, my father having left mo
q fortune when I was SIX years old, that
had' been nursed carefully by my conscien-
tlous guardian till it nearly trebled In value
when came of age. ... 4 !.
Aunt, my mothers sister, had only the
smallest income from her dead husband 8
estate, and lived in cottage not far from
the great house that would be my hon
whenever choose to occupy it.
bly, own mother had died when was a
baby, and all hume affection in my heart
centered In aunt and cousin Kate -~-
Yet 1t never was brotherly love gave
Kate after 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 1t with me, and although she
laughed at me If made love to her, nev-
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 his SAL
ary as clerk IN my guardians manufactory,
the Gordon Mills.
had been all winter visiting my grand
mother, who had written me most I'm.
plorlng letter, begging to see me once more
before she died, and seeming 80 heart
broken whenever proposed to leave her,
that l remained until abe died early in
May. -
had left Barton in November, and lust
one week after my departure Girard Hop.
kinson came. to take position In my guar
dams counting house. ... t.o . .-
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.
hy whole life seemed to me blank, but
had no word or thought of blame for
Kate. Y s5q :, IN p
hid my pain as best 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
my attentions as q matter of course, leav-
Ing tho lovers to take care of each other.
To aunt only I 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 mo that Girard had
robbed him.
'.It was a very clever forgery" he wrote,
"and 1t has been traced directly to Hop
kinson. Evans, who has been with me
thirty years, has my perfect confidence,
detected the forgery, and traced it up. OF
course Hopkinson denies 1t, but it is too
clear case. Still, for his fathers sake, ]
shall not prosecute him. He is the sen of
one of my dearest friends dead many
years-and pared this disgrace. l have
discharged Girard, of course, and he has
left Barton, but shall keep the whole af-
fair secret. have told your aunt and
cousin no one elso."
Kate knew then.
My heart aohed for her, for knew she
loved Girard, even as loved her.
wrote to aunt, and received letter after
letter, telling me Of Katess grief, and her
firm faith in her lovers innocence.
The weary winter passed, and Kate's
health failed, III her pain and humilia-
ion.
All Barton knew of her engagement, but
no ono knew tie cause of her lovers deser-
tion, 30 that there was the bitterness Of ap
pearing to be Tilted IN addition to tho bur
den of knowing the truth.
was shocked when returned to Bar
ton to see the shadow of my bright beauti-
full cousin in the pale lanquid girl who
greeted me with slsterly affection. "
I consulted our old doctor privately, and
he strongly advised 'change of scene"
|''She rs fretting here" said he, "and
everythings reminds her Of her faithl, IS
laver. If she went away for a year, she
would come back herself again.
Armed with this opinion laid siege to
aunt, and the result was that wo went
abroad, no time being set for Our return.
1t was labor Of love with me to win
my cousin back to choerfulness, and If
was lover like in my attentions was at
least sincere in my devotion.
d, ;, believed Girard to be a, forger, one who
had robbed not only his employer, but bis
friend, and l honestly held the opinion that
Kate's happiness would be best secured If
she could forget him.
mi With this conviction and my own love,
I hold myself blameless that tried to win
Kete's heart, even though knew never
could be frat there.
Yet 1t was two years before I, venturod
to ask Kate to be my wife. @* .@s
We wore in Paris when she put her hand