The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-02-06
IN A MOMENT.


thoughtful look i'll her dark blue eyes
and usefulness about her little rec
mouth, Isabel jeffrey was indulging il
one of the retrospective memories she
did not very often give way TO.
But to- morrow was New Years Day
and in the old times that seemed so ia,
back, it had been the gayest happiest
day of all tho year for her, when the
elegant parlors in her fathers mansion
Oh Madison Avenue had been decorated
with flowers, and tie windows darkened,
and the gas had been lighted in pink
and sllYer globes, and every luxury and
delicacy been served on the New Years
table by the waters in the jeffrey
livery.
And lsubel queened it over all
young, fair, rich, happy, hopeful.
Five years passed, and how she was q
woman Of ftwenty-three. whose best dress
was a cashmere, whose home was in
three rooms, whose father had been
dead ever since the terrible breakup in
his financial affairs. and whose friends,
whose name had been legion, were scat,
tered she never knew where.
1t had been pretty much the same old
story.
Isabel had had to face the world, and
she had done it. brayely.
She had been fortunate enough to oh.
tain position in store. and OH her
lardly-earncd salary of six dollars q
week, she managed to make fairly
comfortable home for herself, her ,leli-
cate little lady-mother, and her ten
years -old-sister.
Of course it was hard-awfully hard
to stand it but people have to endure
just such things, aid the more brave
and cheerful and philosophic they can
he, the easier it is for them although
beyond the philosophy that Isabel JEFF
rey brought to bear, was her religion,
her sweet patient trusting that helped
her SO much, that kept her very gentle
and uncomplaining all these dark days,
when, more koenly than loss OF pro-
perty, or home, or friends, was the eyer
constant memory of Jack Mcrvin's hand
some face, and bold blue eyes, and
charming voice, and caressing manner.
They had never been, lovers, that Is,
engaged lovers, nor had Jack ever said
much OF anything special to her.
All the same though Isabel had been
very sure OF him.
So sure that she was perfectly content
to wait just as long as fate ordained.
And then, just Mt the time whom he
should have been staunch ana true, ii
his love were worth anything, so Isabel
reasoned, Just as bitterly, ho had gone
with the crowd that had deserted the
Joffreys in their reverses.
And III five years Isabel had meyer
seon him or heard his name spoken.
Poor little soul
The big toars would start to hcrIovely
wistful eyes as she stood there between
lights that New Years Eve. that might
have been SO different.
For perhaps half an hour sho STOOD
there looking down into the brilliantly
lighted street below, with its throngs of
people hurrying through the stinging
cold, tho solemn moonlight shining
high, and puro and holy above all.
'If only Jack had not gone with the
rest !"
"Oh, if only ho had stayed and loved
me -
That was The burden of her thought,
just rs heavy that night, five years from
tho time since she had seen his hand
some smiling eyes, as at tho first.
Unwomanly2
Well, think not-ccrtainly not.
She had carad for him from tho very
first and she would care for him to the
very latest throb of her loyal heart,
choosing-nay, perforce, having to
suffer her loss of him, rather than enjoy
another mans love.
Directly, with little sigh, she dashed
the big slow dropping tears off her
lashes, and oboyed Bessie's cheerful
summons to supper, and went slowly
ont to tho neat frugal little meal of
buttered toast and cold thin. sliced ham
md mustard.
And delicious steaming ten and wee
taste of canned pineapples.
Then she returned to the store, where,
after hours, Dell Amber took her conf.
dentially aside and impaired delicious
bit OF information and an invitation.
"idrandma Amber, up in Jersey yol,
know, Isabel, has sent me the loveliest
invitation, to spend New Years Day
with her at the farm, and she wants m e
to bring somebody with mo.
"You'll enjoy it ever so much if yo,,
like sleigh-riding and want turkey, and
mincepies, and cider, and walnuts and q
roaring big fire in the open fireplace,
aud everything old-fashioned and coun-
tr, fed. You will go with mo, won't
your"
An unusual little thrill Of delight crept
yer Isabel.
Oh, what blessed, blessed rest day