The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-08-06


The slight suspicion af his hearers
melted away before the simplicity of his
distress
Dustan Cass had never been heard
from and on New Years eve Squire Cass
gave large party. That night Godfrey S
wife was walking with slow, uncertain
steps through the snow-covered lanes of
Raveloe, carrying her child in her arms.
Soon she felt numb with cold and fa-
tigue, and then nothing but q supreme
immediate longing to lie down md sleep.
The complete torpor came Mt last; then
fingers lost their tension, the arms un-
bent; then the littlo head fell away from
the bosom, and the blue eyes opened
wide OH the cold starlight. Suddenly
its eyes were caught by bright gleam-
ing light on the white ground; i'll an in
slant the child had slipped on all fours
and held out one little hand to catch the
CLEAN. But the CLEAN could not be
caught, and the head was held up to see
where the cunning gleam camc from. 1t
came from a very bright place; md the
little ono rising on its legs went OH to
the open door of Silas Manners cottage,
and right up to the warm hearth where
Silas coat lay Oh the bricks to dry. The
little one squatted down on the cont,
presently tho warmth had n lullmg effect
and the little golden head sank down on
the old coat asleep. But where was
'Silas Mariner? He was in the cottage,
but he did not SEQ the child. He had
gone to the door to look ouf, and put
his right hand Oh the latch of the door
to close it-but he did not close it, hc
was arrested by the invisible hand of
catalepsy, and stood with wide but sight
less eyes holding upon his door, power
less to resist the good OF evil that might
enter.
When Marncr's sensibility returned,
he closed the door. and turning towards
the hearth, where, to his lurid vision, it
seemed as if there were gold on the floor
in front Of the hearth.
Gold! his own gold brought back M
mysteriously as it had been taken away
He leaned forward at last and stretch
ed forth his hand, but instead Of the
hard coin, his fingers encountered soft,
warm curls. Could this be his little
sister come bnck to him in dream? He
had dreamy feeling that this child was
somehow message come to him from
far off life. But there was n cry on the
hearth and Silas fed and soothed it. He
found it had on wet shoes, which sug-
gested to him that sho must have come
from out doors; SO he raised the
child, and went to the door
door and the little one cried ont nanny
Bonding forward he could just discern
marks made by the little feet: and he
followed their track to the furze bush,
and there he found human body, with
the head sunk low in the furze, and half
covered with the shaken snow. Silas
knew that all the town was at tho grand
party Mt the Squire's, so he carried tho
little one there in search of them. The
doctor, Godfrey, and q few others go to
tho stone pits, and there find that the
woman is past help-dead. They urge
Silas to part with the child, but he
presses it to him, and says;
"No, mol can't part with it. It's
come to me-I've right to keep it"
1t was bright autumn Sunday, six
teen years after Silas Mariner had found
his new treasure on the hearth.
The bells of the old Ravcloc church
were ringing the cheerful peal which
told that the morning services were
onded. He called her Eppie for his Sis
ter, and that morning, rs they walked
home together, in low, ,murmuring tones
Eppie talked to him.
"Father, if L was to be married, ought
to be married with mothers ring2'
"Why, Eppic, ,havo you been thinking
Of it?"
"Only this last week, father" said
Eppie, ,ingenuously, since Aaron talked
to mo about it."
"And what did he say?" said Silas.
"Ho said he should like to be mar
ricd, because he was going on four and
twenty, and had got q good deal of gar
dening work, now Mr.. Motifs givcn
up"
"And who is it as he's wanting to
marry?" said Silas: with rather sad
| SMILE
"Why, me, to be sure, daddy" said
Eppie, with dimpling laughter, kissing
her fathers check; rs if he'd wanted to
marry anybody else"
"And you mean to have him, do you?
said Silas.
eyes, some time," said Eppie, 81
don't knew whcn."
"Everybody's married some time,
Aaron snys.
"Bnt told him that wasn't true, 70,
I said; "Iiook at fathcr-hc's never beer
married."
"NIy child" said Silas, "your fathc,
/ -.