The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-09-13
HER BIRTHDAY.

HER BIRTHDAY.
"By-by Dolly, don't sit up for me
maYn't be home till late,"
And handsome Dick Everett, seal
capped and overcoated, bent to kiss his
pretty little wife.
''Must you really 60, Dick?" implor-
ingly:
unjust really go?" he repeatca,'
"What dreadfully solemn {sI must IT, *"
you ridiculous darling; 7 ~ A''''
''Why9' perssjjso,ff sof an:an enoaoement
.!hiot break, dearl" u trllie guilt
~, Good gracious! what MI inqisi-
little mortal it Is, to be surel Don't
trouble your pretty head with business
engagements; and once more, my pet.
goodbye. And-oh, l say, Dolly"
turning lack and putting furry head
inside the door. elf you're in search Of
IL ]. b, just wish you'd mend my other
overcoat. I noticed big tear in it for
the first time tonight Win you?"
Aud to hls rather disconnected speech,
Mrs. Dick nodded, and smiled u bright
ucQuIcscence.
The door slammed behind Dick, and
she glanced round the cosy home-l like
room.
IF Dick had not been obliged to go
out--and such cold night, too."
The gus burned brightly.
The CHEEKY fire in the crate was a bed
Of golden Goals
The French clock OH the nlantel tick
ed musically.
Towards the crimson covered table,
'n which lay pile OF unopened maga-
Zinse, looked two wistful blue eyes.
But tho bride of Blk months shook
her dainty, bronze brown head with
resolute determination.
The rosy lips repeated the haokneyed
formula
duty first, pleasure after"
SO, accordingly, the little white hands
!isbor:o.a!, lugged md lIauled Dicks
big overouut into the room, turnrd 1T
over, and commenced their wifely occu-
pntiOn.
She smiled softly to herself, for her
thoughts were pleasant ones as she sat
and sewed.
~ rarely pretty picture In tho parlor's
iirelit glow, the childish figure in tho
Hoft dark dress and snowy muslin apron,
the busy hand flying brlskly through
their task.
'To.morrow will be my bin thday, and
Dick hus forgotten it. l know. How
SOFT, he will be whom l tell him to.mor-
row."
Aud ns it broke merrily into "Comn'
Thro' the Rye" the French clock on the
low marble mantel struck ten.
Her task finished, she turned the coat
over to see ii it needed other repairs,
and Us she did 80, II small, square sheet
Of creamy paper huttered from an inside
yof FOL Ina
She pent forward i.ii,t picked it up
with II low laugh.
(Which OF Dicks friends is sufficient
.ly fopplsh to perfume his love letters. L
Wondel?"
Then she turned it right side up and
Yooked ut it.
And she saw--what?
Nothing very alarming.
Only f. thick sheet of embossed paper,
stamped with a monogram, in blue and
usually are,
A womnn's letter, decldedly, written
in pretty, sorawling. Irregular hand,
Enthusiastically Il wOman's.
The bird-llle song died on Dolly Ev-
erett's lips.
The soft, bright color faded slowly
out Of her face.
The blue eyes grew wide and startled,
as deliberately, though almost involun-
tarily, she read the few words OH tho
page before her.
The note ran--
''DIoK. DARLINa,-I have missed you
drcadfulIy OF lnte Come. Exercise
diplomacy tonight, aud slip away. I
hate her tor keeping you from me. Be-
sides Gelst"r is in town. Is the hint
too broad? In spite Of all, Dick, ever
your
EDlrH "
That was ALL.
But it Was enough.
For few moments Dolly's eyes, bla-
zing, terrified, stared straight nj the fn-
tai sheet, ~ though they would shrivel
it up with their blue fire.
Then she flung it shuddering from
her as though 1t were venomons thing,
and could sting her.
Who was the woman that dared write
in that manner to Dok--.her Dick?--
yes. she told herself, with an air Of de-
.tia' t. proprietorship, hers only.
She crushed her hands tightly togeth.
,er, till tho diamond next the PLAN gold
,circlet cut tho white flesh cruelty.
Then, as horrible suspicion loaped
ITO life III her brain, with low moan sllo
slipped from tina chair and crouched
shivering against the great shaggy over
coat.
Her fears took shape.
What If ho had gone to meet this wo-
man?