The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-09-11
n FAIR FRIEND.

Oaks to meet him, thought what a
pretty picture she made-that slender
graceful young girl standing in the
open doorway of the grand old man
sion, the '1tering sunlight slantng
across hel white-robed figure, and
lingering in a glory Oh her yellow hair
and rose-leaf complexion.
Evidently she was expecting some
one, and Vernon could not fail to see
the look Of inquiry in her blue eyes as
he went up the step towards her, and
the thought flashed over him that she
was like young saint on her shrine,
and he the worshipper.
AS he went up nearer her, valise in
hand, the look of inquiry suddenly
changed into Il little flush and smile of
assurance.
81 am quite sure this is Mr.. Yer
non?"
And so am " "only I am not
quite SO sure who you are"
lie laughed at this informal style of
introduction.
''Oh, am Genevieve-haven' you
ever heard Mr.. Bascom speak of me. /"
II have not seen or heard from my
grandfather for twenty years." he said
graVely, ''aiIu only CUIllv nuw III uLe-
dience to his dying request"
a surprised look was in her face
"You have not come much too soon,n -
she answered. MI. Bascom asks for
you every few minutes, and I told him
L would watch for the carriage and
bring you at once when you came.
Shall l take you to him nOw2 lie is
alone, but for Miss Carlyon.'
Vernon followed her in through the
magnificent hall, paved with colored
marble i'll fanciful patterns, thinking
with Il curious little sensation that it
was the first time in Il score of years
that he had crossed the threshold of
Royal Oaks-tO which he should right
fully be sole heir, but which in all
human probability, he never would
possess, because of Il deep-rooted long
standing grudge his grandfather held
against him-Decause he was his moth
er's child, and she had married Otis
Vernon against her fathers consent
And because young Vernon had his
fathers name and his fathers look and
manners, old Mr.. Bascom had one day
told him he needn't come to Roya!
Oaks any more, because as his mother
was dead, there was no longer any
medium Of welcome for him.
SO-for the first time in twenty years,
Otis Vernon crossed the threshold of
Royal Oaks, and met his fate when he
looked i'll Genevieve's sweet blue eyes.
Everything was so strange to him
this lovely fair-haired girl, whose name
was Genevieve, the other splendid
looking woman who was sitting by the
mans bed, and whom Genevieve briefly
presented-'M Miss Carlyon, Mr.. Vernon
"a creamy skinned, crims on-lpped
girl, with eyes ana hair like midnight.
Old Mr.. Bascom gave him a sniff of
perforce welcome.
"4Ou and Genevieve may leave the
roon," he said to Miss Carlyon, iii his
sharp autocratic way, that remember
ing so well, seemed the only familiar
thing about it all.
Then he told Otis to come up beside
the bed.
II didn't send for you because l
especially wanted to sec you on my own
account" he said abruptly. "You
know [ am not in the habit Of mincing
matters, and l see no reason for doing
any differently because happen to be
on my dying bed."
1t seemed strange, impossible to rea-
lie that these hard imperious words
came from dying man, and Vernon
was at a loss to know what to say.
81 came at once when you sent" he
answered courteously.
"And it is good thing that you
did," the old man replied curtly.
What 1 have to say to you is just
this. 81 leave fortune and estate
and yaluables worth just exactly two
hundred thousand dollars. If you
want 1t you can have it by marrying
Miss Carlyon. If you don't marry her
you can't have it," That's all the TO Is
about it. Its all down in my will
but the will is not to be opened unit
one month from the day die. > "Yor
have your choice" "You can do JUS
as you please"
Vernon met steadily the hard, al
most cruel eyes that looked up from
the pinched pale face.
IL think you know you are asking
an impOssibility." This lady of whom
you speak is an entire stranger to me
In months time it is not at all likel,
would learn to care anything for he
to order"
Vernon spoke coldly, proudly, and a
he spoke it occurred to him that
month, a week would be too long il
which he could be taught to tell littl
yellOW-haired Genevieve he loved her
"Yon can do just as you please 0