The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-02-21
Seeing Better Days.

The widow Minton had seen better days.
How far back wasn't exactly certified; but
she had seen them. Bcttcrdays hung mouldi-
ly about her, like the dcfaccd shreds Of all
tiquatcd embroidery.
The sturdy gOssips of the seaside village,
who went about with their skirts tucked up
and their bare brown arms ready and able
for any work, looked askancc ut tho widow
Minton, with her ptful mcagrencss of as,
pcct, her tlckcring black eye, and her
trailing old gown. They nudgcd each other
and SAID, "Bettcr days-Lord save us!"
But the widow did not trouble the neigh
bors much, nor they her. A body who
couldn't do hcartsomc hands stirring was
best left alone TO her broodiug, and the
widows smoky little cabin, solitarily apart
on the scashOrc, was left pretty much to
herself and her boy Tom
Tom was a sturdy, brown-faccd lad, who
pickcdup a living by doing jobs for thcboat-
men, now and then taking day for fish
ing. Tom had probably never seen better
days. The widow shook her head over
hinl-so stupidity content, poor Tom SO
beaming and good natured over beggarli-
ness and hopclcssness. ~ tall, well-grown
fellow, with bare feet, torn straw hat,
and a red shirt, Tom took the world easily,
looking with rcvcrent eyes on his mothers
by-gonc gcntllity, but by no means seem
ing to covet it for myself.
The widow deemed it due 10 her past
responsibility to be seen ut church Of
Sunday evening, and you could see the two
walking at twilight along the sand together,
she with her clean handkerchief folded
over her old hymn book and certain
doubtful hcsitancy Of gait, as if Heaven it.
self might be looking down critically on her
shabby black grown and rusty bonnet. AS
for Tom, patient Tom, he went plodding
slowly after her, with his smiling face
whistling to himself rs he went. Always
patient, always plodding, poor Toni! Pa
ticntly falling asleep during the sermon,
and patiently listening, open-mouthcd, to the
closing hymn, his careless, bright face,
contrasting 80 oddly with his mothers
qucrulous and tear-worn vlsagc, won for
him the sobriquct of the window Minon's
rainbow.
The minister Of the parish, mistaken
soul, deemed it incumbent to made call
on the widow; and, on charity bent, it is
said he unwarily offered to employ her
services in his household for n season. He
deemed it his duty to rouse the old woman
to activity.
Hc did rouse her; and it is averrcd that
he never found time to call at the cabin
again. Did he take her for common
household drudge, or low-ficld hand2 She
thanked God she had too much spirit left
yet to put herself under anybodys feet.
He hadn't far to go 10 find scores of
drudges and diggcrs, but he might go
farther before he knew a lady when hc
saw one.
1t might have been the afternoon after
NNI 10 III go H. L
idly brooding at her cabin door. Her eyes
had wandering, far-away look, and her
face was keencr and thinner than ever.
Beyond the bluff which sheltered her cabin
stretched fair line Of scacoast, the white
sand cleaning silvery in the sun. Far off
group of bathcrs in bright dresses fro
licked between shore and water.
They came from the great hotel down
beyond: she could almost catch the sound
OF their voices as she sat slowly rocking in
her door way. 1t was quiet afternoon :;
the air was soft and soothing, and tho wi
doW's heart, 50 full of bitterness, felt itself
sweeten and soften in the stiffness. This
part of the shore, sheltered by it's over
hanging rocks, was seldom disturbed by
intruders, but presently the Watchers eye
caught sight of q young girl splashing and
frolicking in the water just beyond the
rocks. 1t was pretty sight, the rounded
arms, the curving shoulders, the swaying,
floating figure. And perhaps tho old wo-
man REALIZED with sigh the time when she
was young and blithc too, and had as
CHEEKY voice as that with which the fair
swimmer hailed her companions in the
distance
Gazing abscntly on the smiling scene, a
rcvcrie fell npon her, ami when she looked
again, the young watcr-nymph had disap-
pearcd. She had probably swan ashore
behind the rocks. The widow turned
away, hugged her thin shawl over her
shoulders, and thought that the sea wind
was chilly. Harkl What was that
Surely she heard a cry. No merry shout
or ringing laugh this; 1t might bo the cry
of wild bird on It's way to It's mate.
She couldn't have got beyond her depth,
that young creature, surely!
But, Ia! what Of 1t If she had2 DYING
young body gets quit Of a deal of trouble.
And-Yes surely, that was q scream. The
widow looked sharply out. Would Tom
never Gomez The tide was rising, and
and something certainly was the matter.
She called, she beckoned frantically to the
bathers beyond; they seemed both blind
and deaf.
No one, not one soul, at hand, and that
young thing in peril of lifcl A minute
she stood still, listening "a feeble old wo-
man with haggard, scared face, to whom
no one would have dreamed Of looking for
help.
''Icant stand this,n she said. '.seems
might pull that old scow myself. Toni