The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-12-15

until the carriage drew up before
an old.fashioued brown farm
| house, between four and five
o'clock i'll the afternoon.
Here a dinner tea beginning
with stewed chicken, and ending
with berry shortcakes' piled high
on immense china pIatters, await
cd them.
They ate like famished crea-
lures, all save Lily, whose aching
heart was causing her a mar,
tyrdom Of pain.
The horses were stabbed in the
farmers barn. The picnic party,
enjoying every moment OF their
novel pleasure, danced upon the
green before the low, brown
I house, to the farmers violin.
Miss Harold waltzed once with
Herbert, in token Of her gratitude
for very pleasant day, she said.
Then she sat apart, near Lily, and
watched the brilliant scene.
They started home by moon
light. But ere long the SKY dark
ened, and a wild western wind be-
gan to wall along the lonely road.
The horses seemed q little restice
over the sudden change. Herbert
alighted to soothe them and to
rearrange the harness.
Lilly ! whispered Eva, my neu,
ralgia is coming on again, on this
side of my face and this wind
makes it worse. Change places
with me, will you, dear?'
1t was done.
The clouds lowered more and
more, but the horses trotted
swiftly on. And beside Herbert,
Lily was not at all afraid.
Suddenly in the dark usss, she
felt a band Oh hers. Herbert
leaned toward her, whispered
darling 7 in the old, fond tones,
and left small package in her
hand.
Breathless and almost bewil-
dered, with the sudden change
from gloom to perfect joy, Lily
sat silent, till they drew up again
near the hotel.
Every one rose at once. Every
one seemed to try to spring out of
the carriage at once.
In the confusion, Lily knew
that she WIS helped out by a
stranger-not by Herbert.
But what did that matter while
that whisper rang in her ears, and
while SIZE held that precious pack
age in her hand?
She left them, telling their ad-
ventures to au inquisitiye circle
in the drawing room, and followed
fast on Eva Harrold's steps, as
she hurried TO her room for the
night.
The door once closed upon the
" orld, Lily opened the package.
1t contained a small velvet
casket. Fhe casket held beauti-
ful emerald ring; and with the
ring was this letter:
II cannot tell you here all that
is in my heart for you. May |
speak with you to morrow after
noon, in the dear old parlor ?
Wear this ring, tomorrow, as d
token, if you consent
The dear old parlor' Yes,
that was where they two had
spent so many happy hours-just
at frst-betore Miss Harold
came.
Wear the ring? Aye, that she
| would! With q sob Of thankful,
pious joy, the poor child slipped it
on her finger, said her prayers,
with Herbert's name in them, and
sank TRANQUILITY to sleep.
The early morning sta & C
brought a new guest, q handsome,
Ianguid Southerner, who seemed
to think it a great exertlon even
to live.
Beside him sat Miss Eva Har'
rold, bright, radiant, sparkling, as
no one had ever seen ber look be-
fore.
Before aoon the truth came
out. The Southerner was the fu'
ture husband Of Miss Harold
and the next day the party would
leave for Baltimore, to celebrate
the wedding.
Lily wore the emerald ring in
vain By nightfall, she heard
them jesting over the sudden
fight of Herbert Hale. He had
left the hotel without attempting g
to see hcr-without even waiting
for answer to the question he hac
asked.
Lily lived through it, but the
shock rendered her harder, colder
more suspicious than before.
Six years passed by. She, too
was an heiress, but she was alone
in the world. Miss Harold wa
the wife of the Southern gentle
man; and Herbert Hale was Still
a bachelor, when be and Lily
happened TO meet once more, a
that same hotel, in the course c
their Summers tour.
They stood, one evening,talkiDi
coldly and quietly of those othe
days, when the moonlight fell full
upon LiIy's hand, and upon th