The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-10-02
A Runaway Match.

"A Runaway Match.
s''sNothing ever happens here or ever will
1t seems to me-" murmurcd Edna Bruce
looking over The damp, gray fields and
leafless woods, which stretched themselves
as fur as eye could reach around the bare.
looking old FARM house owned by he1
grandfather, Enoch Nailor.
1t was lonely region, with houses scat.
tered at intervals of quarter of a mile,
and about nine miles from the nearest viii
lage III sparscly populated Northern New
York. When, five years before, Edna,
then a tall slip Of fourteen, came to live
there, some little attention was paid to
her
'That strange gal from the city up at
Pop Nailor's" was formally inspected and
and criticised by the ncighboring gosslps
at the little white Methodist meeting
house on the hill her manners and gar
ments monopolizcd more than their meri-
ted share of comment from the younger
and gentler portion OF the good pastors
rustic congregation.
In few weeks however, all the nov
city Of the new arrival wore off, and tho
orphan girls life settled down into dull,
unvaried routine of helping her grand
mother about the house every morning,
and reading to her grandfather. whose
eyeslght was falling, every evening. True
there was maiden aunt, the soured VIC
tim Of an early disappointment who as
sumed the task of finishing Edna's limited
education, and who made her life q bur
den by requiring her to darn the famiy's
hose and tablc-linen with great exactncss
and t0 nr0rtinn fNzorrn,,p,
hours daily on the ancient cracked cottage
piano, upon the possession of which the
Nallor family greatly prided themselves.
AT the few social gatherings permitted
by the long distances and hard agricultural
work, Edna was by no means Of shining
light.
Lacking in actual beauty and the pretty
talent of vivacious, meaningless small talk
aShorring dancing and caring little for the
opinions of the rustic bellies and bcaux of
the neigborhood, it was no wonder that,
though naturally of cheerful, contcnted
spirit, the monetony wearied her far more
than the toll engendcrcd by self-surport-
ing life would have done.
''Draw the curtains and close the shut.
tcrs, Edna, and don't stand dreaming any
longer. You know your grandfather
always likes his toast Drowned by the time
the tea is ready without waiting for
It," screamed Aunt Sarah from the pan
try's mysterious recesses. Edna listlessly
obeyed, and soon the ''quiet humdrum
family as she mentally styled her rela-
tives were taking their evening meal. A
roll of carriage wheels heard approaching
the house caused a slight stir III our party,
which was increased by three sharp sue
cessive raps on tho hall door. Miss Sarah
Nailor quickly responded, and came face
to face with tall dark-eycd young man,
bearing in his aims girls mufflcd and
dripping form. Behind these two figures
bluff, hearty voice rang out:
''See here, Pop, the bridge at Rock
point Crink, just beg ond, here has given
way-busted-clean gone; and these here
parties being strangers, and KNOWN moth
ing of the occurrence, came rushing along
horse little to fresh-and pulled up Just
in time to find themselves splashing about
the cold shallow river.
81 reined up this side of the erik, and
helped this young fellow get the lady out.
We wrapped her up in my buggy robes,
and fastened the horse behind. l thought
it more likely you would be able to give
these half-drOwncd creatures house. room
they live nearer the scene of this here acci-
dent"
"Why, why, why, Squire Phelps" re-
pcated Grandfather Nailor, 'tyou don't saw
the bridge has gone after all the taxes we
been paying the sclcctmen to keep the
roads and public works in proper repair?
Last nights storm, suppose; tho the dear
knows we never hear anything here. No
hoo oo1lDI M h,>ln
might as well live in Terra del Fucpo as
in this desolate, isolated place." querulously
rambled the old man.
Meanwhile Edna and her aunt had as
sisted the gisl to the antique, high h-back
setter which filled almost one side of the
common living apartment, which was half
dining room and half kitchen, as Is the
custom in most country houses in the
North and West.
Speedily they removed her shoes and
wet stockings, and turned her white feet
to tho blazing fire. Miss sarah's hurried
whispers to her, father which the keen
eyed, middle aged man styled Squire
Phelps by old Enoch was quick to notice,
resulted in the withdrawal of the male Dor.
tion Of tho assembly from the room.
Quick the wet garments were removed
from the young stranger and dry ones sub
stituted, while she, at the polite instance
Of The sympathetic old grandmother,
managed to swallow some hot aromatic
herb toa hastily concocted.
BY this time the gentlemen rc-entered,
the man who accompanied The lady being
clad In some of Popo's baggy, clumslly.
made babilments, while his partner herself
looked no less comical dressed in combin.
alton of grandmothor's and aunt Sarah'e
spare clothes.
My first duty, Mr.. Nailor, Is to thank
you for your hospitality, upon which ]
have 80 suddenly trespassed; and my
second tn iNtroC},,oe my, r,,>n,,o, ~, =