The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-12-21

"Poor man," che aays, ''buy somethin
TO eat with the gold dollar" and as he zoe
away Into the night she leans her curl
mead out OF the window, and calls afts
him IN her sweet voice:
"Don't ever try to steal any more -
Years afterward, when the child Eva ha,
grown into beautiful woman. and whe
the apples dropped upon her fathers grave
anu the whitewashed house in the orchar,
had passed into other hands, she was pre
sent at brilliant assemblagc.
| She was among them, but not of them
she Was there not to be amused. but I,
amuse; she was not guest, but only ,
voice.
"Who Is she 7"inquired the DISTINGUISHES
statesman In whose honor the assembling,
had net. o
'Only my governess, " answered the vel
vet-robed and diamond -deckcd hostess
''But she has wonderful voice. she add
ed, ap'loogetically, $50 had her come IL
to sing"
''rhe statesman looked after her witt
strange intentness.
'What Is her name ?" he asked.
EVA, Errom, answered the lady depre
catlngly, as If she thought somehow the
name might be offensive, and should there.
tore bc spoken apOlogetically.
The gentleman was looking Mt the black
robed fig Ire Of the girl at the piano, whose
wonderful voice was thrilling through the
room, and he made no response for u min.
ute, and at the emu Of that time he was the
centre of admirers and satellites that were
always eager to gather around him
Later on, when the marvellous voice was
hushed, and the black-robed form had van
ished, as was expected, with it's sound, the
political star with his circle of satellites was
standing near an open window looking out
upon tue fiewery lawn. over which tho
moonlight lay like silvery mist. AS he
talked to those about him in his cold, proud
way-for 1t was said of him, that he was
all Drain, but heartless, 80 far as the tender
passions were concerned--he glanced oc-
casionally out In the night. And in one of
these glances, perhaps, he saw the figure
moving like q dark shadow among the
trees.
Five minutes afterward he was making
his apologies and adieus to tho regretfui
hostess who bewailed the pressing business
when called him away; and then the star
1aded from lis satellites, and the very walls
seemed TO mourn the light withdrawn.
Miss Errom, the governess, wandering
alone over the lawn, hearing step behind
her, turned to find tho star shining upon
her obscurity.
Tic stood before her in the moonlight
with his barred head bowed in a kind of
rcverenlial manner that bewildered her.
Alter startled moment in which she had
lnvoluntarily halted, she bent her head
slightly in acknowledgment of his presence,
and was about to pass on.
Pardon ME, Miss Errom," he said dc.
tanning her with gesture; ii have follow
Ofance wnfUtr .niolt- .dripa.-- ~ .'--~-----~.-
mo. of the great debt Of gratitude l owe
you"
"You owe me no Acknowledgements
she said, interrupting him, and speaking
colGly, while she drew her slight form up
in the moonlight If my mu-
sic has entertained you, have given it be-
cause was hired to do so. I AMI paid
governess in the house and of my own free
will would not have entered the parlors to.
night" and with naughty inclination of
The head, she again made movement TO
pass on, and again he detained her by an
almost lmploring gesture.
.'Miss Errom, he said, 'I beg that you
will not misconstrue my motives In seeking
you to- night. have sought you for five
years, 'and he looked steadily into her face,
as she stared In kind of dumb bewilCer-
lnent at him.
"Whatever am--whatever may be of
good, under God, owe to YOU"
His voice was low and vibrating, and he
stood, as he had stood throughout the inter-
view, in a revcrcnlial attitude before her,
with tho moonlight silvering his bowed
head.
Il don't understand what you are say
ing" she stammered.
probably not" he responded. "The
little drama In which you took part with
me years ago. and which lifted me out of
darkness into light-out Of vice into virtue
naturally make deeper impress
sion upon me than upon you, a little
child.'
Still she stared in dumb bewildermcnt at
him.
He reached up and drew from his bosom
strip of narrow, faded blue ribbon, on
which cleaned small gold coin.
'Do you remember this?" he asked,
holding 1t towards her.
She stared from 1t to him, and faint
recollection seemed struggling into her
face.
II don't know" she said confusedly.
"l seem to remember something about a
gold dollar which gave to"
"Exactlyl" he said, (which you gave 10
midnight robber. 1t has been my tails
man ever slnce." And he touched it rev.
ercntly with hls lips, and replaced 1t In
his bosom.
'But how. Where did you got 1t 2
she asked, in amsZement.
1t was to me you gave It," he answered
"And you we're" she commenced, anc
halted in tho speech, working her fingers
ncrvously together.
81 was the would.bc.robber, he said
'and but for you, would now be filling .
fclon's cell or felon's grave" and HI
dropped before her as before presence
not of this earth.
For full five minutes ho remained stand
ing silent and bowed before her, while sh
stared at him with the bewildcrment slowl.
passing out of her face. When she spok
It was In her own natural tones, unbrokei
by embarrassment:
at has been dead secret, as 1t were,
she said gently, ''all these years. Let