The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-08-28
Fred's Speculation.

Mrs. Gorham put down letter she had
been reading, and looking around the
table On her blooming daughters and two
tall, handsome sons, said in doleful
tone:
"Your Aunt Zabina is coming to the
city, and has invited herself here"
'When1" asked Arabella, with an in
tonation of disgust.
''She will come in the train that arrives
at o'clock this afternoon. Will, you will
have to meet her."
''Sorry, ma, but I've promised to drive
Miss Caldwell in the park. Fred can
Co."
Certainly. l will CO." Fred said,
bravely, though there was hot flush on
his forehead. 81 am very fond of Aunt
Zabina."
"Nonsense!" said his mother, "you have
not seen her for fourteen years. l never
went near the deteslable farm after your
father died"
Nevertheless, have a vivid recollac-
tien of Aunt zabina's kindness when We
were there, Of her doughnuts and cookies,
and bowls Of milk with red strawberries in
them"
'Dear me, Fred" drawled Lucille,
"don't be sentimental. l wish the old
thing would stay at home and fry dough-
nuts. l cant imagine what she is coming
here for"
''She is our fathers sister," said Fred,
land Is there anything surprising in her
looking for welcome among her brother 8
children 2"
Mrs. Gorham shrugged her shoulders.
If she had spoken hel thought it would
have been:
Erred is so very odd, just exactly like
his father"
But she only said:
II may depend upon you, then, to meet
your aunt, Fred2 l will see about her
room."
1t was source of great satisfaction to
Mrs. Gorham that her children we've all
like herself, ''true Greers every one of
them excepting Fred" she would say, con-
graduating herself that the plebelan blood
OF Gorham 2'ere was not transmitted in
the blood OF her elder son, Wilbur, or any
Of the three girls.
That Greer pride meant intense selfish
ness; that Greer beauty was of cold, hard
type, that Greer disposition was tyranni.
cal and narrow. minded, did not trouble
Mrs. Gorham. That tho son was "all Cor
ham" was proud to the core with tho true
pride that knows no false shame, that he
was noble III disposition, handsome, in a
frank, manly type, generous and self
sacrificing she could not appreciate. His
hands and feet were not so small as darl-
Ing Willis; he had no fashionable affecta-
tions, and no "Greer" look So his mother
thought him rough and coarse, and his sis
ters declared that he had no style at all.
But outside of the home, where great
shows of wealth wcre made by private
economies, Fred was more appreciated.
When he became man, and knew that
his fathers estate, though sufficient to
give him every comfort, was not large
enough for the extravaganza his mother in
dulged In, he fitted himself for business,
and took position in q counting house as
book-keeper, thus becoming self-support-
ing, although his mother declared that no
Greer had ever been In trade. That the
money she lived upon was made in soap
boiling, the fashionable lady ignored en-
tirely. Darling Will had studied law, but
his fret client has not yet appeared, and
Mrs. Gorham supported him, trusting that
his fascination would touch the heart of
some moneyed belle.
Miss Caldwell was the present hope.
She was her own mistress, an orphaned
heiress, and very handsome. That she was
proud and rather cold in manner, was only
rather an additional charm to Mrs. Cor
ham. Lucille, Arabclla and Corinnu were
enthusiastic in her admiration of Cornclia
Caldwell's quecnly manner.
Nobody suspected that Fred, blunt and
straightforward Fred, hid one secret IN his
heart, confessed to no living being. And
the secret was love pure and true for
Cornelia Caldwell-a love that would shut
itself closely away from any suspicion OF
fortune hunting; that only dropped and
mourned, thinking Of the helress. At 4
o'clock Fred was at the depot in a carriage,
waiting for Aunt Zabina. What little
old-fashioned figure she was, in her quaint,
black silk bonnet and large.fgured shawl.
But Fred knew her kindly old face at once.
though he had not seen it since he was ten
years old.
"You arc Aunt Zabinal" he said, going
quickly to meet her.
She looked at the bright, handsome,
manly face, and then caught quick gasp.
ing breath.
''You must be one Of Johns boys" she
said. "Why. how like you be to your dear
pa"
81 am Fred" he answered.
"Desr heartl How you've grownt L
your ma herei"