The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-05-11
her head buried in her arms, she

was silent.
+ He raised her fearful face K
r his as she lay there.
( A strange shiver ran through
l his frame as he said
And while / am away some one
may come and rob me of my
| sister, Inez. How can l leave you
yet?'
A sob was his only answer
and he sat silent for some mo-
ments while there seemed to be a
struggle going on in his heart.
At length she raised her head
and turned TO him saying:
No, Wilber; when you come
back you shall find mo as am TO-
night. No one will ever take
your sister from you
Listen, Inez' he said. I must
speak I can no longer keep hid
den the secret Of my. heart. I
| love you, Inez, fa", far, more than
a brother ever loved an own and
only sister. I love you as my
very life and-you do not turn
from me-can | hope for nearer
place in your, heart than that of
brother
The blue eyes looked straight
into his own, as she answered.
Yes, Wi!ber, more than
brothers love you have. And
when you return you will find my
welcome to the same old home
you are leaving now
Thank you, lnez, for those
words. God hasten the day when
we can again sit around this fire.
side and call it our own
And he had gone forth from
the roof that held the dearest
treasure the world holds for any
man. A true woman and her true
love. Gone forth so hopefully,
determined to win in life's battles.
But this was four years ago,
and tonight they mourn him as
dead.
What a crushing blow it was to
the hopes of those in that old
home when intelligence reached |
them of the wreck Of the 'Vestal,
and how they had hoped, against
hope, that they might hear of his
escape.
But, in vain. All lost was the
only word that came and now the
home was to be sold at last.
it was hardly sunrise when
Inez rose next morning, and has
tily dressing went for last walk
among the flowers her own hands
had so tastefully arranged.
Every one brought back mem
ory of Wilber, and the memory
now was ouly a pain. And
Chase Roe had offered to buy her.
Yes, be had said it was foolish to
think Of Wilber now. And be
could save the home and her old
father and mother would not be
turned out in their old age And
she had almost yielded for their
sake. But providence had mer-
citully thrown in her way one Of
his wrecks and she had been
warned before the fatal vow had
been said. All day she busted her
self in the preparations for their
Her father returned
tfffoom N. in the evening, and she
hastened to 4aeet him and learn
who had been tbe~purchaser Of
her home.
Chase lost it, my dear. There
was q young stranger there from
New York who beat them all. He
has bought up every article sold,
though to save my life | can't see
what be wants with a lot Of old
furniture.
oh, I'm SO glad,' was Inez's first
exclam alton. Any one except the
man she so justly desplsed.
About dark a servant brought
note To her father. 1t was to in
form nim to be in no hurry to
leave the place, as the purchaser
would not take possession under
tWo Ueeks.
On the following Friday Inez
sat On the broad door steps, her
hands tightly clasped on her
knees.
The sun was shedding a last
glow on the pensive figure as she
sat thus, when light buggy halt
ed at the gate and tall, dark
man alighted, after having spoken
a few words to his companion as
oEh