The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-11-10
THE HOUSE Opposite.

At the death OF her brother WIlfred
Viva le Forest felt broken hearted
He had been her only near living rel
ative The news of his death had com,
to her with fearful suddenness. Called
to u Western city for the purpose ol
superintendlng some business connected
with the estate of his late father, vii.
fred (who sometimes, though rarely,
had periods of dissipation) was slot in
q barroom quarrel.
Poor VIVA had suffered terribly.
The funeral was over now, and the dull
quietude of her present life had mo
notony which almost made her long for
the more exciting painfnlness OF the
previous week.
A distant cousin of hers, an elderly
lady, had come to live with her ju the
large family mansion, which was now
Vlvia's exclusive property. But old
Wlnifred Carr was rather doleful com
pany.
10. day it had ralned dismally from
dawn until late in the afternoon. VIVA
could not fix her thoughts very long on
the books she was reading. In spite Of
herself they would somehow wander
back to recolIections of her dear lost
brother, CT their childish life together,
and of the untimely death which had
parted them now.
Several times during the day Viva
went to the window and looked out
upon the rainy street.
In the house directly opposite was
one special window, where, ever siuce
morning she had seen girl of her own
age.
Ihe girl was very pale, and wore an
expression of undoubtcd wolriment.
Some times Viva thought that she
gazed toward her own window, with O
wistful, appealing look.
.Ohe Dnd known Ill years past, the
preVlons occupants Of this house, but
1t had recently passed into other hands,
and she had never known tho name of
the people who had taken it. Now
and then the pale gil whose sad looks
had to-day attracted her notice, had
been before seen by Viva. while as
cending or descending the stoop. But
she had never seemed as troubled rs Mt
present.
81 wonder what her trouble is
thought Viva. "Ah, 1 am sure it is
not as bitter rs miner
She started while this thought was
crossing her BRAN, for the girl oppo-
site had made with one hand quick,
beckonjug gesture, that there seemed
no mistaking. And after having made
such gesture sho had hastily left the
window.
In about ten minutes she returned
again, however. Viva was waiting
for her. If ever girl had kindly
heart in her breast, that girl was Viva
de Forest, She now made signs which
plainly Indicated:
''DO you wish me to come over?'
An eager nodding of the head gave
emphatic affirmative to this silent
question.
''She is in trouble" thought VIVA.
II may do some good; I will go!'
The rain had stopped. 1t was now
almost nightfalI. Viva threw dark
shawl about her shoulders to defend her
against the raw December wind, and
ran acrosss the street. She had not to
ring the bell. The door was opened as
she reached the top stoop. The pale
girl opened it herself.
1T was good of you to come," she
said, white her dark, sad eyes swept
WAS face rs they stood in the hall
together.
II hope l can be Of some service to
you," Viva answered. "You seem to
be in trouble. I know myself what
trouble is. Pray tell me how I can
help you."
They were presently seated together,
and the girl had taken one of Vivia's
hands between both her own.
II have q brother here in this hous @,
she said, "who is pursued by the police
He wishes to escape. Once in foreign
land, he can elude the laws vigilance
I am quite alone, being an orphan, an,
only having Hugh to love and care fol
out OF all the world. I wanted to fly
with him, but that, he says, IS impossi
bic. He will not hear of it, though ht
promises to write for mo to join hin
after he is safely beyond pursuit.
"And what cr,me has he committed?'
asked Viva,
ooh, it was no crime," answered tn,
girl. "He has been falsely accused O
murder"
"Falsely accused" murmured Viva
chow terriblel Have they convicte
him?"
''No; he has not been tried yet. 81
was in st. Louis only a.short time age
when friend of his, from whom h
had but recently parted, was ioun
killed in his hotel. Hugh was arreste
on the charge of having murdered hin
but escaped"
"And why should he not have face
his accusere?" questioned Viva. "Ws
he afraid to do SOP"
''No," said q voice in the door way.
Viva looked in the direction whent
the voice had come.
A very handsome young man, thong
worn and haggard-looking, had ju
entered. It was Hugh,