The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-04-14
MAYS MISSION.

Pretty May WinsEone sat in her own
little room Ill her mothers cottage, with
pen, paper and ink spread before her,
and though her eyes were intently gaz-
ing through the open window, she saw
neltaer the bright flowers nor the fieeey
clouds sailing in the blue sky on the
distant horizon, nor heard the low
buzz OF the bee fitting from rose to
rose, nor the loud song OF the robin to
his mate.
The sun glinted her hair with feoks
of gold, the summer breeze caressed
her, but for once the girl was deaf and
blind to all save one great purpose, one
absorbing thought.
A week before she had met Vernon
Rushton.
Picnics were favorite summer amuse.
ment in tho quiet little country town
where was May Winstone's home, and
1t was at one Of these fate had thrown
her and Vernon Rushton together.
He was stranger, spending q few
weeks Mt the small hotel in tho village,
which occasionally attracted summer
guests.
At first something in his light blue
eyes had repealed rather than attracted
her but rs they wandered together
through one of the leafty paths, and
he had told her how rs soon rs he had
seen her he had wished md asked to be
presented to her, and confded to her
now few people in the world possessed
tor him this subtle chord Of sympathy.
she began to believe she had done hIm
gross injustice, and was quite convinced
she ueYer before had met SO charming
man.
OF course this sweeping assertion
did not include Dick Travers, for she
and Dick were engaged to be married.
Indeed, Dick talked of the autumn
as the proper time for the wedding to
take place, though as yet she had not
gwen her consent TO such speed.
She knew now that 1T was impossible,
for in this one short week she ana Mr..
Rushton had held many long, confiden-
Cial talks.
He had told her that he wrote, and
was poet--that every one in life should
have Il mission. and that he Wis quite
sure she could make her name famous
by her pen-that he saw the inspiration
OF poetry in her eyes.
Ii his words were true, she had won-
derful difficulty in getting the said i'll
spiratlon any further than her eyes, for
it was at this task she was occupied on
this lovely July day.
MAY !" called her mothers voice.
"Wtll you come down, dear, and help
me shell the pens /?
cit is wnsb,ng-day, you know, and
Mary has not time"
Shell the peas
Oh, What full from the clouds.
And MAY, usually SO bright tand ready,
slowly put away her writing materials,
and, with d, cided pout Oh the sweet,
red lips, slowly descended tho stairs.
Her task finished, a sudden shadow
fell athwart the window, though which
was thrust handsome closercropped
head and two laughing, brown eyes
survey ed the interior, while CHEEKY
voice broke tho silence
VI have come to take you for drive,
May.
ut is really too lovely day for in
doors.
Come, get your hat, dear, and let
mot to-day, Dick /" she answered
indifferently.
ut was very kind Of you to como,
but I've something Il particularly wish
to do this afternoon"
"Not drive, May Why, what is to
be done
"I will wait for you little while if
it Is important"
"Don't wait.
"I can't go p
eve hardly seen anything Of You
for week. May. 3
"Last night that Rushton fellow de-
hberately outstayed me.
"He'd have had harder work, but
that he made me- mad and jealous. How
can you tolerate him, May
'"There isn't an inch OF real manhood
about him, yet you smiled onthim, AM
encouraged him to stay until I could
stand 1T no longer, and left him free
field"
We saw your temper. Dick.
"You need not recur to it.
''NIr. Rushton said it was greatly to
be regretted you were so rash and no..
headed"
"Mr. Rushton |
"Confound him
What right has he to express an
opinion OF me to you?
IF you loved me, you wouldn't have
listened to it. =
For all reply, the girl exasperatingly
shrugged her shoulders, and roso to
put away tho peas.
When she tdrned back, the face at
the window had gone. @
Fearful Of gifing her another illus
tration l. OF his much-to- -bo-regretted
disposltion, he ihad sought refuge in
mEht and she was once more free to
seek the room w2uoh, henceforth Vernon