The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-12-06
used to look at her with such gentle
and admirinQ fondness. isEt,S &..e

uSeu w lOoh dC uoE VIII SUCH SelCl'
and admiring fondness. 5tzsl$ Lii
One day MIR. I.angmore with his VIII
and daughters cana back in haste, al
unexpectedly, In a fly with two pos
! horses, just a week after they had so
3 out in their splendor, the admired Of al
4 ;beholders. : ,q~ h..
Dismay was upon the paternal face
temper visibly depicted OH the mothers
and gloom and discomfort in different
stages on those of Rose, Edith, anC
Alice. They took no notice Of Enle
beyond handing her all the things which
they wanted carried In; and 1t was only
IN broken fragments that she found out
the reason Of this sudden return. II
was not told to her, but she gathered ii
bit by bit from their remarks.
"Only to think now. that that man
was nothing but al lmpostor after alll''
cried Mrs. Langmore, sinking into a
chair;;''and living in such place rs Cray
land Towers, too. No wonder, indeed.
that we were taken in by him; and then
to find out that he is actually ruined u
"And what is more to you, I'm ru-
ined, too," growled Mr.. Langmore,
plunging his hands frantically into his
trousers pockets. "Why ma'am are
you aware what you have spent enter
tanning him?" "..
"Don't put it on me-" cried the wife;
II never invited him, and that you
know" '' '' ..',.
''No; and you never wanted to marry
him to one Of your daughters either, L
suppose" sneered the husband.
eve wouldn't have had him." cried
the. girls Indignantly. ''The ideal''
''Sour grapes" snarled Mr.. Lang
more, maliciously. ''.ft.
Clancy the bailiffs in possession of
Crayland Towers" sighed Mrs. Lang
more. "And I really did think one Of
you would have it,
Its u horrid place." said Rose.
"gloomy and full Of ghosts; but lmust
say Mr.. Raby has behaved very badly"
elias he lost everything ?"asken;Efie,
the color coming and going in her ia ce
'ls he very poor now?"
They all looked up at her in surprise.
She never, as a rule, ventured to speak
till she was spoken to.
eyes, Miss Impudence,'" was the re-
ply. "Ie hasn't a brass farthing left.
and the worst Of it is, they say he has
defrauded his creditors"
II am 80 sorry-S0 sorryr'a said Effie,
gently. Poor Mr.. Rabyl'' and she
cEept,away, her eyes filled with tears.
Three weeks later Etle was sitting
upon the green, shady banks Of the
pool thinking Of Mr.. Raby.
Presently another face mingled with
her own upon the surface of the water.
She uttered glad cry, and in another
moment she was clasped by two strong
arms.
"Etliel my little Efliel haye you for
gotten what boon you told me you
would ask tho fairies if you might have
your choice2" Mr.. Raby asked, tenderly
looking down into her changing face.
"Yesl I remember" she whispered
gently.
"Would you ask it still, Enle9"
eyes, till-evor-always."
Gwen though your lover were poor,
Eflie, very poor?"
And her lips framed eyes"
He stopped to hear it, and her soft
breath upon his cheek answered him.
"Eflle, my Child, my darling, you
have your wish. The fairies have an
swered you. I love you, little Efle.
Win you come to me2 Will you be my
little wife, and love and comfort me
alwaysp"
Across her face there spread halo
which he never forgot, and without g
Word Of promise she nestled like tired
child into the arms he had opened to
receive. her. He went with her back to
the house and saw Mr.. Langmore, who
heard him scornfully, and with laugh.
ter said : !,.,.,I..,<
ut was one beggar asking for anoth.
er, but if the girl had mind to marry
he'd no objection it would save him
something. When would he like to
take her?"
There was lurking light of mischief
In Mr.. Raby's eyes, but he answered
demurely.
He must strive to prepare a little lit.
tie home, first Of course; about Christ.
mas ne hoped to be able to claim her. >
EfIie's engagement was now the con
stant joke; commented upon with many
a taunt and jest, as they struck it like q
shuttlecock from one to the other; hut
EMe had a glad warm Joy that filled he,
pure young heart, aud no unkindness
would harm her. The arrows of malice
glanced aside. The roses bloomed sif
her cheeks, and new born radian6s
filled her eyes. .S#
1t was Christmas morn when the,
were married in the little church tt
which Efie had stolen away alone, sim
day after Sunday, whenever opportunity
offered. %'
No one went with her to the wedding
Her lover waited by the garden gate t,
lead her over the slippery ground, ant
she walked with honnv hlnoboo h,, III