The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-04-07

thinking she would be here last night to
give me welcome home but you know
now why my heart was not at your party,
tiL though l was glad to meet old
frlends."
Mrs. Hale had no words to express her
deep sympathy. She pressed her lips soft
~ upon the handsome face, shadowcd by
her story, and Frank, returning the mute
carcss, rose and left the room. 1t was
agony to wait now. Better to have tho
final wrench aud 20 on his way again with
out the lott hope, He nerved himself to
see slatternly woman III squalid house.
ana ny The time he reached the cottage to
which LILY directed him, he would scarce
~ have been surprised if he had met
Kuth in rags, solng matches or begging
Pennies.
But the little cottage before which he
paused, at last, though Il sufficiently strong
contrast TO the Wexford place where ho
had last seen Ruth, looked cosy aud home
ike. The garden was noatly kept, and
well filled with late fall flowers An old
woman uns~ cred the knock, and ushered
him into tiny parlor, where the plain
furniture, cheap carpets, and inexpensive
ornalncnts were in exquisite order, and
whclc little cottage piano stood open in
one corner. Before he had waited mo-
ment, little hgulc in print dress and a
ilnen collar, With short, glossy curls, and a
1alr, sweet face came into the room.
Lie forgot his sister, tho painful story,
everything but the fact that Ruth was
there. A graver, paler Ruth than the one
he had lett, but the one woman in the
world who could STIR his heart to the core.
"Rnth," he cried, sprlnglng forward,
and then drawing back, tor there was no
welcome IN the lace he loved, only look
OF suppressed pain.
"hulh, ale you not glad to SEQ mc2" he
cried.
'dlad," she murmured, and then tho
forced calmness broke down, and the tears
ralncd down her cheeks. Glad" she
cried again. 80, Frank, have lost every
lrlcnd, and you will 60 too, when you
know ALL"
II have heard" he began.
You have head of my stingiuess, my
mlscrly hablts-yes, l see you have, anu
yct you alc hclci"
because am sure you have some good
reason tor your conduct. Tell me you alc
not changed, Ruth2'
~ scarcely KNOW"
w Len we pulted " he said, "you know
inc nope Ill my henrt, Ruth. IplI me
now' II the love you promised me Is
mlnc."
Ht is all yours, Frank but" and She
drew ack from tho embrace he 'woulu
have glven- ''you may throw it away
When } ou Lear NY scclet. have hidden
lr-hl every ole but you, but to-day am
llccu hom bondage OF six long years,
anu you have right TO hear what | shall
cohhGc 10 no Ole else. You will not be-
tray my sorrowtul secret, Frankf"
w hate'er trust you put in me shall be
sacred, Ruth" he answered. gravely, awcI
ny solemnity upon her tace and in her
voice.
There was silence III tue little parlor for
sonic moments before the low, sweet y,,ice
was heard again. Then steady, without
1altering, Ru IL told her story:
When you lelt me- Frank, a careless.
happy Child, the shadow OF what | mast
tell } GU now had not fallen across my life.
1 knew tLaL was an orphan, and that nv
| mother died away from her home aud
friends. But was still mere LaDy when
Uncle Wellfold came tor me and took me
nome. They called NE Ruth Wexford
| and never thought OF my right to tho
name till my uncle died. Upon his death
Ded DC told me tho story of my mothers
lie. She was married against the wishes
VI ner family to man whose only crime
| then was poverty. Her father refused to
own her, and her brother, many years her
senior, was stern aud bitter in his resent
| ment.
'Thcy were proud of thelr name, their
position, and tLeir wealth, AND :L.., never
lorgave their only daughter and sister that
| 81 nIat ffn Inc
| age and without means to support her as
lLey had done. My father at that time,
was clerk i'll a dry goods house in New
| Iolk, will small salary.
II would not wrong my mother; but nv
uncle SAID hhe grew pcevlsn and soured by
The contact with poverty, anG constantly
1rctted Tor the luxurics she had voluntarily
resigned. My father worshippcd her. 1t
| might have Dcen his loving desire to graf
ny her, or sudden glccu Tor wealth, |
cahnot tell; but he forged his employers
check tor twenty thousand uOlals. Nv
| hIother was too little acquainted with busl-
ness 10 question tho sudden influx OF mon
cy Dut lhe Crime was detected, my father
arrested, tried and convicted, and sent to
the states prison Tor term Of years. lie
dled there IN Six months; but my mother
had already proceeded him to the grave.
| "der last Wish, her last appeal, was to
my grandfather and uncle begging them to
pay the money and clear my lulDer's name.
| lhcy refused. After she died they took
me home, and never knew want; bat
they igholcd ana Iepuuiatcd my father
| though my uncle believed he died truly
pcmlcnt man.
I'm my unclc's desk, after his death
1ound The papels relating to the forgelies,
and my poor mothers passionate appeal to
MN 10 pay the money 80 wrongtully taken.
ohe LOOK all the blanc upon herself, re-
penl1ng' when LOO late, her replning dis
content and her cxtravagant expenditure
OF the stolen money.
My first Impulse was 10 yield to her
pray er even Tor so many years, and pay at
once the amount OF the forged check still
III the hands OF the firm who employed my
iather, but my uncle probably Knew what
1 would desire, tor he SO will.d his money
70 me tEat can never toucn the principal.
fIuhk, with NY mothers letter butore me,
! | lf.h ff,N