The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-04-15

The days passed very, very wearily.
| s Aunt Cordelia preached only sermons to
Myra upon extravaguhco and various other
female weakness, till the poor little woman
wished she was rs homcly and i'll looking as
her tormcntor herself.
"You never see me with such dress in
the house rs that" the spinstcr world say
with complacent glance at her dyed
skirts.
81 buy clothes to wear" NIyra rctortcd.
''lf had as much money as you, Aunt
Cordelia, I'd be ashamed to 60 about in such
dresses"
And the spinstcr would shake her head
and groan audibly, pitylngly, ''poor, doar
Ernest"
You never see me, was her ever open
ing address,
And Myra grew to hate tho words in the
ship. .g# 34h + "
For Ernest did not return.
Spring, summer, autumn passed away,
and December was opening, yet still he did
not come.
Every month formal letter reached
htyra, inclosing check for expenses of
such liberal value as to prove Ernest was
making money; but each one informed her
that her husband was just leaving tho place
from which he wrote and made no mention
Of his next destination.
Hcart-sick, penltcnt, and oh! so lonely,
the little wife spent only what was neces-
sary for tho house, and fairly loathcd the
sight of the money that was accumulatmg
in her hands. -
| Letter after letter she wrote and destroy
ed, not knowing where to direct them.
She was growing SO pale and worn, 80
quiet and subdued, that Aunt Cordclia 8
most hateful speeches went often unan-
swered.
She was sitting in the drawing room one
cold December morning, when Dir. Agncw,
Erncst's employer, came in.
81 am sorry to disturb you Mrs. Mathcr, {"
nc said, but wish to inquire of you if you
have heard from Ernest this week."
"Not since the first" she replied.
"He wrote us OH tho fifth that he would
remain in Cumberland until the first of the
year, and was to send some papers on the
seventh. These have not come and we arc
embarrassed for want of them. I tele-
graphcd yesterday but have no reply. How
ever, If you have not heard lie is i'll, he is
probably better.
| 'Ill," she taltcrcd
"Wcll, judged from his last letter that
he had not fully recovered from the fever
he had, although he had resumed business
If you hear to-day will you be kind enough
to send us word?"
'Certainly," Myra managed to gasp in a
choking voice, and Mr.. Agnew was gone.
"Illl A feverl Sick at hotel and she
not near! Ernest. her Erncstl"
All the love III the little woman's heart
rose to protest. She astonished Aunt Cor
della by dashing into that'lady's room cry
ing:
''Take care of the housel I'm going to
Cumberland" and dashed out again as
abruptly.
The trunk was packed.
Myra never knew what went into It.
She huggcd her heard of money.
Carefully she put it in the bosom of her
dress.
She cried and laughed and acted general
ly like lunatic.
The afternoon found her in an express
train, rushing to Ernest as fast as steam
could carrySh her. &" so5
In wide, pleasant room, Ernest Mathcr
lay upon his bed dangerously i'll.
He had been for months trying to quiet
his sick, restless heart by over working his
body, Keeping such business hours, such
cares and labors in his work, that the firm
at home never ceased congratulating them
selves Oh their choice of a traveller.
He made money fast, supply Myra with
a generous hand, and yet saved consider
ably.
For WHAT F Il
! Bitterly he thought that when he was q
very rich nun he would go home and try tc
make NIyra contented.
Hc tried to fancy that he had ceased to
love her; but tho unceasing craving of his
heart for the sight Of her face and the sound
of her voice contradicted 1t.
Work, work, work!
That was the medicine for his mental
pain, till tho overwrought brain gave way,
the ovcrtaxcd body succumbed and he lay
i'll with fever for two weeks.
Up again before his strength was half re-
stored, and now the relapse had Frustrated
him and he lay suffering, apparently dying
too i'll to send for Myra, too Ill to give di
rections, too Ill to do any moro than liz
helpless at the mercy of strangers.
The long night was passing, and the cold
gray dawn announced another wintry day,
when vehicle drove up at the door of tllt
hotel. and in dim, confused way Ernes
heard the hustle Of the now arrived travel
' crs.
: He was vaguely wondering If any FRIEND
q would come to him, when the door Of hi
room opened vory softly and ho heard tht
} waiter say:
''Mr., Mather Is here"
4 A soft little rustic followed, and then twt
cool hands fell upon his hot forehead, tears
} and kisses followed, and Myra was sob
bing:
b tt~4Oh, Ernest, darlingl thank God, nav'
} found you'll Oh, dear, forgive mol"
J He was too sick to talk much, but h,
J made bis wife fullyunderstand his business
and then sank bff TO sleep In the sweet con
sciousness that love had come to him, .
| nurse and comforter, a s} n
twas long, tedious illness, but in til,
years that followed II Ernest and Myrs