The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-04-08
The Second Love.

You must permit me to offer you m,
congratulations. MIR. Rcnaud will, ne
doubt, be more happy than most of til,
Benedicts, having distanccd so many com
petitors; and he is also greatly to be cnviet
In hndlng Beatrice SO artless and 80 un
touched by the world and its vanitics. Fol
myself, the woman ! shall marry is moi
born. When she appears, l will let yor
know; until then, believe me your very
sincere friend. ALTERED FIELD.
Thus wrote Alfred Field to his former
Nancee, Miss Ellie Severe, on the receipt OF
her wedding cards, few days before he,
marriage. He had loved her in the old
days two years before but Ellie was an un-
dcniabic little flirt, and Alfred having been
severely tried once or twice by reports of
the havoc caused by
''rhosc sweet eyea. those low replies"
he had forced himself to forget her, and
sternly deny to his longing eyes the sight of
her faithlcss, but still beloved face His
victory over himself he had thought COM
pletc until the sight of her wedding cards,
with the formal "Aliss Severe" and "NIr.
Ncnaud' in such close and significant rcla-
uon, seemed to bring back some of Ills old
feelings He suddenly resolved to 20 to her
wedding; and arrived Just in time to wit
lie followed the bridal party home. and
entered the old familiar home with the
throng, who crowded around the happy
pair to offer their Joyful congratulations.
At his approach Eflic gave Il violent start.
"Etlic,' cried Alfred, in low, intense
tone, 81 would give my soul could believe
this day were all dream!"
You threw away your own happiness, ;"
returned Efilc, in tone deep with sup
pressed emotion. ''And now you are left
to look forward to felicity with the woman
who Is not yet born"
:, Aears passed away, and Alfred Field still
fingered in the realms OF bachclordom. The
sunDeans glanced on many silver thread
amcng his chestnut curls as he sat on the
deck OF steamer one fair spring afternoon,
about nineteen years after he had witnessed
Ellie Scvcrc's wedding.
lie was on his way to look after little
ward whom fate had thrown upon hishands
in a rather curious manner.
Years before, he rescued the child and ,ts
nnrse from burning house; and, no trace
OF the little orphans parentagc ever turning
up, he had generously maintained her ever
since. The nurse had become insane from
the fright of that terrible night; and, after
lingering for years in this condition. was
now about to die.
He was looking forward to meeting Quite
a little girl when he arrived at his lonely
villa just outside the town; but as he en-.
tered the gate, and advanced up tho wind |
ing avenue which led to the home, he held |
his breath in wonder at the apparition that
appeared to greet him.
Was his old love risen from the dead past2
LII a bower Of orange trees stood the living
image of Ellic Severe, leaning forward with |
eager expectancy written in every line of |
her mobile face.
Nl1rcu WIS speecness 1@ WlvIi Ss eiivl1I vslR1nInslhs
"Spcak to your little Gertrude, will you
not, dear guardian 2' pleaded the sweet |
voice.
1t was.long ere Alfred could command
himself sufficiently to talk coherently to his
little ward. The likeness was indeed Won
drous; and as day by day flew by, and the
old Nurse still lay in an unconscious state,
Alfred remained in that fairy villa, having
ample opportunity to find out how much in
mind, as well as in person the fair young
Gertrude was like his lost Eflic. Soon
again Alfred Field loved, with all the in
tcnsity of his nature.
At last the old nurse died. Just before
her death she rcgaincd her mind for brief
space, and in broken accents told them
where to find a pocket bible. which had be-
longGd to Gertrude's mother.
He took her in his arms, held her close to
his beating heart, and never let her fre,
until she had promised, with her sweet face
hidden in his bosom, to be his love, his
darling, his WIFE,.
AS he unclasped her from isarms, a book,
which had been lying in her lap, fell to the
ground, and from bctwecnits leaves dropped
letter, old, worn. and wrinkled.
"Where did you get this2" no gasped
cit was my mothers Bible, and that let
ter was tied inside" answered Gcrtaudc, in
great surprise.
"Ah, bclovcd7" returned Alfred, folding
her once more in his arms. "Your mother
was my first and carly love; you are my
lust and eternal Affection"