The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-01-06

slalternly at that, although she was as trim
and neat a girl as you could sec anywhere
before che was married. SD fGt 80. . ....'
"The first, year Of their marriage they
lived in q neat, well-furnished cottage, and
they held their heads as hign as anybody;
and well they might, for Charles salary
was hundred and sixty pounds q year,
and Is no more now; but Nancy added
nearly fifty to their income the first year,
but not a shilling since. What has been
the result
"Why they were obliged to give up
their neat cottage year ago, and cell of
their best furniture at half the original cost
to pay off the eheavy,expenses attending her
first sickness, and Row they occupy three
rooms IN the fourth story of third-ratc
tenement house. And what makes matters
still worse, Charley has become discour-
| aged at his lot, and has lately taken TO
drink.
'''This Mrs. Fulsomc told me in conf
dence, with the tears standing in her eyes;
and she furthermore assured me that she
very n>uch feared he would lose his situa-
ton i'll consequence of 1t. Charley Full
some, when he was married, was strictly
temperate, and looked forward to the
future with as much hope and confidence
as you are; and yet, in little more than two
years, all his prospects in life have. been
blighted through the united and ill-advlscd
Judgment of the thoughtless couple.."
And with these clever arguments Laura
would effcctually silence her importunate
lover for the time being.
NOW 1t was great puzzle to everybody
how old Jasper Flint, with his penurious
habits, could have died and left his chill
dren so destitute. Some suggested that he
must have hidden or buried his money, and
every part OF the house, cellar, and back
yard were carefully examined, but with
out its resulting in any such discovery.
One day Fred Allston was surprised by
the appearance of Tommy at the office,
bearing brief and startling message from
his darling Laura. 1t contained just these
words, and they were very suggestive for
they were first she had ever written him:
''DEAK FRED: Come to me quick.
"LAURA."
When he arrived she met him at the
door, aud he noticed that her mar ner was
very strange and excited.
"What is the matter, my poor Laura
What has happened 1' he exclaimed, pant
ing. " .-......., ....f.,./
Something very odd has happenedl"
was her hurried and tluttering answer. ,s'l
have just made strange discovery, and
have sent for you post-haste to enlighlcn
mel" 'J =. 10
She led the way into the house, and
once inside she went directly, and without
speaking, to an old bureau in one corner
and drew out carefully preserved pack
age of papers, and placed them in her
lovers hands. 5,...- u.,. ..,
Fred gazed at them for moment in be-
wildered astonishment, and then exclaimed
excitedly, "Good heavens, Laura, what
dues this mcan9 They are government
are thousands, tcot" ...'.
"Are you sure OF that2 Can there bo no
mistake 7" demanded Laura, excitedly. -
mo mistake i'll the world, my darling
They are genuine government securities.
But where III the Iiamc of oil that Is Won
derful did you get them z"
You remember tho old desk with one
broken leg In tho room which my father
used to occupy9 Well, got short Of kind
ling wood, and thinking 1t no longer an
object either of utility or ornament, I
ordered Tommy to take it to the wood-ahed
and cut it up. He went out with it, and
began to cut 1t. In a few minutes lie
came running in, bringing handful, of
these bonds with him. Iguessed from
their appearance that they must be valu-
able, and 80 sent Tommy directly for
you, ,tninking you might be able, with your
knowledge of business, to see into this
matter more clearly than I. l was almost
sure that such important looking docu-
ncnts could not be worthless paper"
mo, my sweet Laura, you were right
there !" cried Frod, gleefully; for he saw
that with this unexpected mine of wealth
in her possession, she could not reasonably
withhold her consent longer to become his
bride-not if she really loved him, as she
had 30 often assured him IN their tender
moments. ''Therc is no better paper in
tho country to-day, or in the world, than
these same bonds"
In q word, the miscr's children, who
had been struggling 30 hard the last year
and half for bare subsistence, while
there was an ample provision for them
hidden away in the house, now found
themselves independent. -~
"Anq this was what 50 troubled my
father after his attack of paralysis, sug
gestcd Laura. "Hc could neither speak
nor write,i in any way make himself under
stood. Poor father he must have suf-
Tered terribly, not to be able to reveal his
secret to his children. But he was very
odd, and when we'll would admit no one
into his confidence" Z .nr
''As you say, he must have suffered in
tense agony in the cnd.' returned Fred,
thoug,'tfully. 'But now, dear Laura, you
have grown SO rich, you will hardly rcmem-
Der your promises to a poor fellow like
me-
She looked at him reproachfully. ~
"Can you think SO meanly of me, dear,
darling Fred, after all the proofs Of affcc-
ton l have given you, you naughty, I'M
grateful boy3" r
Forgive me forgive me, dearest I,aural
But now there is no longer the, obstacle in
the way, will you not be merclful enough
TO end this long suspense; and name the
happy day9'
cit is now the middle of November"
said Laura, archly. 'Let us say at Christ
mas '' 20
"You are darling angel |" cried Fred,
rapturously, and they were married at the
appointed time.
il Aana ua-as.sss....-...s....,..AArsSs. ~