The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-01-22
The Heart Of Ice.
lMt-NSr-ueAe7.- IN So

u IS-~s- y lsLNN'"| y - v
The winter day was drawing to close,
and the bleak shades Of a snowy night werc
setting in.
In the silent seclusion of a deep and
lonely glen, far from any other habitation,
ard some length from the public road,
stood a small cottage, known as the Glen
Farmhouse, the property of Ralph Granite,
who resided there with his wife, and had
done SO for thirty years.
lie was cold, hard man--cold and hard
as the name ho bore.
Mary Granite, his wife, was the exact re-
verse, with motherly face and a warm
and tender heart.
On this bleak night Of December, this
night Of storm, wind and snow, Granite
and his wife were quietly seated in the
large, homely kitchen.
AT last Mrs. Granite, dropping her knit
ting in her lap, broke tho silence of the
room.
81 wonder where Alice Is tonight,
Ralph2"
"What DO you care whcrS sho Is ch?"
roughly exclaimed tho farmer, looking up
from his paper with a dark frown.
"a night of storm never comes but l
think Of my poor girl 1t was on such a
night as this that she left our home, and
tonight have such a strange feeling &c
my heart"
"Banish hor from your thoughts as have
done--thc disDbedicnt girl"
ooh, Ralph, Ralph it is unfathcrly to
talk thus Remember that she is your
daughter, my ohld-thn only "hiih n"a
ever gave us."
And tears came rushing to the poor moth
er's eyes.
"What claim has shc on us now2 A
I,tif nj OH
shc2" cried tho father, bitterly. "When
Alice disobeycd mo by marrying that fop,
George Convey, tore her face and me-
mory out of my heart"
calico was never disobcdiont child
never, ncvcri" wopt tho mother. 'Shc
loved O man who loved her truly. Sho
came to you and told you all; he, too,
came, and asked your consent, to marry
Alice. What was your answer3 You re-
fused, insulted him, and thrust him from
your house."
''As I'd do again." muttered the farmer,
between his clenchcd teeth.
"lhey were married in tho village
church," went on Mrs. Granite, land took
the night train for tho city two long years
ago. From thai time to this her fate and
where abouts have been a mystery, and she
has never written to u.s."
eyes, she wrote" said Ralph Granite,
his face growing still harder. "She sent
two or three letters after che went away,
but destroyed them tho moment received
them"
"And you never told me-" Oh, Ralph,
Ralph, that was cruoll'
ssNot more so than her disobedience to
her fathers wishes. Come how, drop tho
subject"
Once moro silence reigned In the farmer,
cottage.
Ten o'clock came and the storm eontinu.
cd with unabated fury.
The farmer and his wife took up theil
candle, and securely fastening tho door
took their way up to their chamber above
tho kitchen.
They had scarcely entered tho apartment
when pitiful cry was wabtcd to their ear
from without.
Mr.. Granite raised the window and pu
his head out.
"Whose thcrep" lie asked, trying t.
penetrate the darkness.
"A poor woman who has lost her way II
the night and Storm" said the sorrowfn
voice.
"Where do you want to gof"
II wan' to reach the village, but Pm no
able to walk any further. Won't you Civ
me shelter. Pray do--only till morning !!
spoke the wanderer out in that awfr
storm.
"Poor thing!" cried GRANTEES vito. 'I'
20 down and opon the door,"
'No you won't"
And tho farmer stayed his wife; the
said to the woman:
'.You follow the road couple O. mil
and you'll reach tho village. Wo don't tax
!. in wanderers"
He shut down tho window, and his vii
fell into chair weeping.
n "Ralph, Ralph !" she cried, through HI
d tears, "your heart is icel The poor woms
II will perishl"
" The farmer made no answer, but retire
h to bed
y Man without heart, sleep on, for 1t
u the last night Of peaceful slumbcr that W
81 ever visit your pillow. The morrow
q dawn will bring to your house a horr
81 which will blight, darken, and shadow yo
"a future on earth 1t will rend your icy heo
Is as 1t was never rent before
E& And the poor woman OF the storl
s& where was shes Out on the lonely roa
; where snow lay in drifts, and the wind to
s hy. On, on, her step faltered, she stoppe
SsB then fell.
z Fierce howlcd the wind, heavier fell t
s snow, and on tho roadside. started up
lS face; white as the snow that surround
1 It, tho face OF tho arrange woman, rigid
|5a death, In her STROUD Of snow.
zz< zs Morning dawned, with blue sky,
M genial sun, and . aasw claa country.