The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-07-02
An Opal Ring.

Leopold Aston, with his happy blonde
face and immense fortune, had brought a
letter of introduction to DR.. Sherwood, of
the Elms, and Doctor Sherwood had taken
Leopold Aston by the hand and introduced
him to his two pretty daughters.
Now 1t happened that the latter had
never been thrown in the company of two
pretty girls in domestic life,~and he found
the household habits aud dainty white
aprons of these young ladies very charm.
ing.
In the first dazzle of pleasure, they
looked to him very much alike; but by
and-by he found that Arabclla and Mildred
Sherwood wee very different.
He was to stsy at the Elms during the
summer. In the autumn he was going
abroad.
''To England, to Germany and to Italy,"
said Mildred.
Eyes, and to Paris, y responded Arabclla;
and she shut her thin, scarlet lips tight
over some resolve.
When Leopold came in from fine,
breezy walk by the river, Mildred was
dusting the ornaments Oh the mantle, and
Arabclla was arranging some flowers upon
a table.
lie came straight to the table.
olOCk- Dluc anu lllac, ana crimson anu
white gladiolas. What superb flowers you
have here at the Ems, Miss Arabcllal"
"Do you think SOP And do you like
Glove pinks2" she asked, handing him one.
eff this concentration of the topics is a
Glove pink. yes, do"
"Thcn let me give you button-hole
bouquet" and taking the pink from his
hand, she twincd it with bit of smilax,
md fo II In hio lu,tfopbolo
And he, looking down, saw the curl of
in her black lashes, and took the fragrance
Of her breath.
was difference in the sisters. Arabella
was prettler than Mildred.
81 an going into the garden for more
vines Tor my vases. If you like to come,
will show you my geraniums," said Ara
bella.
Leopold took up his hat which he had
laid down, and they went out into the sun
shine.
Doctor Sherwood, reading upon the
piazza, lifted his spectacles from lis news
paper; then took them Off, and looked up.
Arabclla-perhaps father is not the
best judgc--but Arabella, it seems to me,
is a very attractive glrl!" he said to him
self.
Meanwhile, Mildred had put away the
dustcr and gone down into the kitchen to
help her mother make llorentines for tea.
Mother" she SAID, absently, after
awhile, "l should like to go to Italy"
swell, probably you never will, my
dear. Beat these eggs minute longer"
At the table, a lew nours later, MIR.
Leopold Aston found thai the eggs for the
florentincs had been thoroughly beaten.
"IIow nce!" Mildred heard him say,
to Arabclla. "It seems to me that you
can do every rything!'
Mildred was about to remark that Ara.
bella never cooked, because iC made her
head ache, when something IN her sisters
look checked her. She swallowed her tea
in momcntnry confusion, anh rose from the
table with bewldcring thought pressing
upon her.
Cast it off as she would, it was a thought
which persistenty returned as the summer
days went by. Mr. Aston seemed to find
her sister very attractive.
Was it possible that this young man of
fortune, with all the world before him
where to choose, had fallen IN love with
Arabclla--that he would wish to marry
herr
She knew so well all the family affairs
how the Elms was mortgaged---how hard
they all cxcrtcd themselves to keep up the
appearance of prosperity and comfort. 1t
would be splendid thing for Arabclla-
for them all But could it bc2 And then
Adam Ncclcl
One night, when Arabclla's voice, sing
ing to Leopold in the parlor, came down
the stairs, the doctor remarked:
"lt seems to me that Arabclla spends all
her evenings with Mr.. Aston.n
"Wcll, let her, if she likes am sure
his company is agreeable" returned his
wife, with apparent cnrclcssness.
But something in the tone prevented the
doctor from saying more. He mfoldcd
the evening paper tho'ightfully, and held
1t upside down for several moments.
Mildrcds quick glance went from one
face to another. She thought of the mort
gage; she knew her father and mother
were thinking of it, too. But she went on
silently shcling peas. She had taken tho
dish from her mothers tired hands a lew
moments before.
Pretty soon Arabclla danced by the door
up to her chamber. A moment after, Leo
pold came out upon the piazza and lighted
cigar. Pretty soon he saw Mrs. Shcr-
woods lavender cap ribbons, and came to
the dining groom window.
Mrs. Sherwood, am called to New