The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-01-30
HIS RACHEL,

".doing away! All, thank Heaven,
going awayr'
1t was q Joyous cry of ineffable glad
ness and relief, and Cleo Lynn, talking
half to her bounding heart, apd half to
The damp painting before her, to which
she Ind Just given the finishing touch,
clasped her tired brown hands at the
back Of her head, her eyes seeking the
pnle white-flecked strip of sky above
eyes misty with unshed tears.
1t was curious place for a studio
the tumble-down disused barn-loft back
Of Mrs. Blacks ugly farmhouse, sup.
posed to be habited only by mice and
spiders, while, instead, "the girl" spent
every stolen moment there at her easel.
revelling i'll her own creations. 80 pre-
clo1s because SO dearly won, and so
entirely her own, starting at every
souhd, commnning with her heart and
the little mice that came out OF their
holes to watch her curiously.
She dressed badly, shabbilY; none
knew it better than she, who hated and
loathed the ragged untldy calicoes, and
coarse shoes; but on this particular
morning she laughed at herself and her
dress triumphantly, Until the pretty
StraRgiing cur]s all about her wide
white brow bobbed comically.
ono more hard drudgery."
"No more harsh words and bitter
hurllngs of poverty and dependence
against my teeth, under which nay spirit
chafes."
"Better to beg in the streets of the
great olty I read of, than longer endure
this ife-than eat of the bread 50 grud-
slngly given"
"doing away! Oh, thank Heaven,
going away!"
"Oieo, hat are you saying"
The girl sprang to her feet rs If to
shield her picture flom unklnd curious
gaze, standing as q loness ut bay, her
eyes flashing angrily upon the speaker
through their toars.
Swinging himself up through the
small opening into the loft. William
Black advanced toward the girl, start
led look on his face, that; though clear
cut, oven pntriciun iii features, under
Inc large slouch hat, portrayed no
emotlon-was cold, stern, and indiffer-
ont usually.
he was Mrs. Blacks brother--a man
who roamed about always, but was
seen very rarely at his own house.
You are going away, Cleo, little
why, ] shall miss you when 7 come
home."
He looked at the girl wstfully, lifting
his hat from the long thick hair on his
brow, white md strangely in contrast
with his bronzed cheeks.
All the pent-up bitterness Of tho
miserable life passed beneath his roof
broke forth madly,
Yes, William Black, going away
from life of heo"tache and misery.
ION no, you never thought, You
never cared all these years for the child
left you by dying patients.
II have been tempted to curse NV
own dead father for consigning mo to
your care
',Why do they not hang, shoot, tho
orphans when parents die2'
1T would be meroy."
"God III His mercy grant when
leave you here. that / may, never look
on the face of Black againi"
With one hand on her heart as if she
would still it's mad suffocnting throbs.
she stood III M attitude of pale scorn
and defiance.
William Black had recoiled "a if
shakon by mighty wind before this
passionate anathema, and now stood
Watching her III silent wonder and
panied amazement.
Why, Cleo, little Cleo, T never thought
but You were happy.
"-"
"Stopi
"Make me- no excuses; you come
with them too late.
"All ask of you Is to leave me-to
keep out OF my sight, to which Black
is hateful.
II hear your sister calling mo to car.
ry the farm hands dlnner.--for the last
Time, thank Heaven
"ro-morrow l go for ever T.
'Stop"
Stepping hastily forward to bar her
eRress, William Black laid his hand
heavily on her shoulders, and the pas
sion that leapt up into the chill face
started the girl into obedience.
"You shall not 60, for, Cleo, little
one Il love you better than my hope of
Heaven
II did not dream OF it until now
until l was about to lose you.
"Walt; I am not poor, and will take
you away, now. tomorrow, to the great
cities you long for.
"Foreive my neglect all these years
---bs msrciful, little Oleo."
he had thrown his arm around her