The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-05-11

any OLner come mere. Lhan
God for keeping me from such q
' union.' And Inez left the roo
With 3 bitter feeling in her hear
And it was not strange she shoul
feel thus.
l will 60 back few years, an
tell you how it all came abou
Allen Gray had only one cbilt
and was considered a well.to-6
farmer, and his home was one {
the prettiest in the neigh borhoo
ofN.
| When Inez was sixteen she wa
sent off to school, where she re
manned four years.
During her absence an OIL
friend of her fathers became in
volved in debt, and to relieve him
! and acting on the impulse of hi
| great heart. Allen Gray mort
gagged the old homestead as surety
for bis unfortunate friend.
But the debt was never paid
and when, on his deathbed, the
unfortunate man sent for his only
trae and tried friend and gave in
to his keeping his orphan boy:
Allen Gray promised to be fa
ther TO him.
WILDER was now at College, and
did not hear Of his fathers death
till some weeks after, and then it
was through the friend who had
stood so faithfully beside his dy.
ing bed.
Allen Gray struggled hard to
pay off the heavy debts that he
had so nobly shouldered, but year
after year passed by and only a
small part had been paid off.
The golden Units Of autumn
were just touching the leaves
when lnez and Wilber arrived at
home on the same day. Both had
graduated with honors at their
closing terms and Allen felt justly
proud as be introduced his chill.
dren,' and added:
You are to say brother, lnez.
He is my boy, you know
And down deep in her heart
she felt a tender chord vibrate as
she put up her fresh young lips
for the welcoming kiss.
We pass over a few short
months OF Autumn, and glance in
on the family group as they sit
about the blazing fire on this
bleak December night.
Wilber has just learned of the
state of the mortgage, and a blush
Of shame dyes his manly cheek,
and he reproves then. for allow
ing him to live on in idleness
while they have borne the burden
that he feels should have been
borne by himself.
He has averred his intention to
cave them and seek in foreign
;limes the means TO save tho home
hat is so dear to them all.
1nez sits on the low stool be-
side the fire and listens TO all his
plans, but not a word escapes her
ips.
Occasionally she toys nervous
y with the leaves Of the book ly-
ng on her lap.
And so on the morrow he is to
cave them and, with the know
edge of the near parting and
ong months Of separation, comes
;he new-found light Of a love she
mas kept hidden in her heart.
It is not a brother love she feels
or the orphan boy her home has
sheltered, but a deep, pure, wo-
manly love that is felt but once in
he heart Of woman.
It was late when the old folks
retired, and as Inez rose TO leave
Wilber spoke to her.
Stay a moment, sister. I wish
% speak TO you,' he said, rolling
he low lounge before the fire, and
lrawing her down beside him.
A feeling Of the utter loneliness
n store for her overcame her as
le did so, and she burst into tears,
IS be took her hands.
oh, Wilber why must you leave
is? The old home will be 80
lreary to US all
'Inez,' he said, as she withdrew
Ter hands, do you ask why | 60 ?
DO you not think it time l was up
md doing when your own home
S in such danger Oh ! sister, I
hought yoa would understand me.
It is hard 20 leave you all harder
han | World WILLINGLY bear were