The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-10-25
IsESSIE'S BETROTHED,

81 n low, irregular line of houses strag-
#gled somehow into the square, with
Shere and there a jutting gable frowning
sSforward, as if resenting the attempt at
Mregularity.
s. Gothic, Tudor, and Saxon seemed to
.%haye had All equal part in this strange
8medley Of buildings; while, as if to add
gSto this chaos Of construction, the Rec
Ntor's house looked down upon the
$group from the hill above, and brought
8your minds at once to the forward
igfrets Of the great queen.
IN Strange how the mind Of a people
Evil stamp itself upon even sticks and
&stonesl .....:'
~ ibis square, which was mildly
crowned upon by the Rector's house,
$$was the abode Of some fifty gentle
wives of clergymen,
8t eing Of good repute, whom We Count
gess Of Glencower hath minded herself
Sto DO Gods service, by affording them
shelter, and food, and raiment, until it
gshall please the Almighty to take them
sunto himself"
A In the valley below, there stretched
from the hillside a waving mass of
@larch and pine, and rustling sycamore,
folding in their emerald embrace the
dark fells and white-frothed coursing
fOf nimble rivulet.
vs. AS you turned this winding road to
the right, up the hill towards the rec
tory, the old church, with It's ruined
architecture, raised its spires before
$y6n, calling To. mind tho tin,o who,,
against the black Raven Of the North.
vii
which had scarce changed in all the
rolling years; and one might even have
supposed the wOrm-eaten gate leading
to- the church-yard coeval with the
times afOre gone, since post and rail
Seemed to have long gone past their
office.
Leaning against the rail was a
maiden of some eighteen years of age,
her bright, plquant face half turned
against the setting sun. A light, dull
gray cashmere gown, fitting closely to
her figure, was relieved only by faint
pale rosebud at her throat.
Most women are pretty in the eyes
of men, and all can captiyato if they
but rely on that softness which is their
mature, and not seek to win a tawdry
appearance by aping the masculine.
sSa Man yields his admiration to this for
8amOment, and resents it in his heart
much us u woman resents it in the
astern sex any approach to effeminacy.
Bessie Lee was woman and child,
she scarce knew her own heart, hardly
Ecomprehended for what else the SUI
apreme Being had formed her, save to
Sbe dainty i'll all her ways, and drink in
8each day the sweet homage of man.
sfSN Sha loved fO,. Nynn,onto rot,1ro &c fc
s$love, and the excess of that divine pas
sion, as yet unfulfilled within her, out
poured itself upon every one with whom
che came in contact.
3 She could not help loving. 1t was
I. her instinct, and she obeycd it. Tho
aged gentlewomen of the home, full of
abye-gono years, and bitterness for the
present, felt their gall turned to honey
sas she ministered to their wants; and
the laborer ceased to think of tie deadly
toll which hungry mouths caused him,
8glf Bessie Lee came but near to warm
Shim into better manhood.
This was her instinct, her better
snatue. She could not help doing
good; but books had taught her other
sfhings, and beyond all that she had
3cDnceiyed an idea Of love from the
Life is not made of romance, Bessie
had woven her future of roses and
Sunshine.
THUS much for her character. Her
form and face were perfect. She was
the daughter of one Of the inhabitants
$soft the refuge.
by her side stood tall, grave man
of some seven or eight-and-twenty,
I speaking in low, earnest voice upon
some theme to which the girl seemed
tOpay but petulant attention.
Life has romace enough in it for
all Of us, dear Bessie" he said, ''if
we but gild each morning with the
Sunshine of an honest endeaYor."
ag$ 81 know-I know, dear" she re.
piled; 'but life fannQt be all bread and
sgheese, and solemn word and solemn
gihode. Oh, Ralphl / SHOULD die if I
sscouldn't have excitement, and you
&have drawn such gloomy picture.''
# us it gloomy, then, dear, to be the
lSassociate and helpmate of one who,
God being his help, honestly endeavors
4 to do his duty. cannot paint the life
%Qf o poor London doctor to you III
s&glpWiHg colprs, BESSIE. i'll did I would
sEhs untrue to you myself"
~ "You are trying mo very hard.
#Ealph," she said, turning her face
that he might not SEQ the angry
Etssar which rose to her eyes. :.
M lie looked at her Wistfully and
sadly, slightly releasing tho pressure he
Ss5had placed upon her tiny hand.
Z After all, he thought, was this dain-