The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-09-20
TRYING HER POWER,

81 can hold him against the world. -
The speaker was Il tall girl, with
dark face, from which eyes Of witchery
looked out. She had lips which we're
slightly compressed, as she finished the
sentence.
II would not be so sure, if we're
you," was the response from the other
person, who stood on the path which
led to the road from the country house
behind them.
The two girls had strolled down the
walk in the crisp winter sunlight, and
they looked as unlike as two people
could well be.
Julia Stallo turned her head with a
quick, imperious movement, as she ex-
claimed:
"Why would you not feel sure, since
l am sure? Do you think would give
my promise to a man who did not adore
me?"
"But men may adore at one moment
and be indifferent the next" returned
Miss Branch, stopping to twist more
closely about her head the blue, puffy
mass Of wool which protected her from
the cold.
",The man whom 7 love will not do
so,' was the quick reply.
Miss Branch, who was four or five
years older than the magnificent brunette
beside her, looked ut her curiously, in
silence for time.
Miss Branch was small. One at & rSt
would have said she was plain, but one
might discover that her face possessed
wonderful power Of expressions; there
might be concentrated spark in her
eyes that would possess force in what
ever way she chose.
After a pause, she said, quickly:
II should imagine it might be easy
for Il man to be faithful to creature
like you. Is Mr. North coming to-
day2''
"Yes."
81 think you make great mist AXE
in loving man so much. All! what is
that?n
The exclamation was caused by the
sound Of something rushing through the
shrubberry of the eYergreens at the
right Of where the two girls were stand
ing.
Julia Stallo shrieked a little and
.shrank to one side, and at the same
moment. huge, dark-colored dog
dashed out from the cedar hedge. His
head was down, his mouth scattered
foam. and his eyes emitted sparks,
While Julia, who had sprung away,
had gone directly in the path Of the
infurated animal. Miss Branch, who
had remained where she had been
standing, was several yards from him.
The brute was going on with that
answering leap which Is 50 terrible to
see, and had passed Miss Branch, who
had not moved, toward Julia Stallo,
who seemed petrified with terror in the
spot where she stood.
"FOr Gods sake, jump out Of the
way?" cried Miss Branch, shrilly, che
will not t,lrn!''
II Julia heard her she gave no sign;
she was incapable of moving.
Miss Branch could not stand quietly
There was dash of physical courage
in her which enabled her to spring for
ward, slipped off the crimson shawl
from her shoulders as she did 20, and
then Haunting it full in the face Of the
wild-eyed animal, who moved to one
side, and wavered in confusion, while
Julia Stallo sank to the ground In a
heap, and her white face was like the
face of the dead, save for the protrud-
ing eyes Of horror.
The dog, bafllcd for the moment, and
uncertain, now turned toward Miss.
Branch. Useless for her to try to
run. She clasped her hands and stood
still.
Only for a breath of time, however.
The sound Of a footstep on the frozen
gravel might have been heard by the
girls, If they could have heard any.
thing.
The footstep was that Of some one
running flriously. The figure Of a man
appeared. lie had pistol in his hand
and though there was a terrible fear in
his mind that he might not aim correct.
ly, he could not hesitate.
The flash, the report Of tho pistol
and the dog rolled over on his side, with
a moan, his teeth set fast in the skirt OF
Miss Branch's dress.
1t was to Julia Stallo's side the man
sprang, hardly glancing at Miss Branch
who coolly drew penknife from hel
pocket, and STOPPING, cut her dress
away from the grip Of the dying dogs
teeth.
'That, I suppose, is Mr.. North,
she said to herself, looking at him at
tentively, as he bent on one knee over
Julia, whose senses had come back tt
her sufficiently to enable her to recog
niZe her lover. "Yes, evidently he