The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-11-22

which puzzled her on both their parts.
His love seemed ever to tremble on his
lips, but he did not speak it; she know
surely, at times, that he forced it back.
And she could never bring herself to
speak to him of Little Haven, much
less to tell the tale Of that other John
Renniman, which should have been all
SO natural.
She was pondering its strangeness
even in his company one evening, when
letter came from Jacques. She OPEN
ed it for q mere glance at the contents,
and her eyes fell on Il bit Jf news
which made her quite forget herself.
Raymond Renniman was bankrupt; by
the rashest speculations ne had lost the
entire wealth which had but just accru-
ed to him.
"11o has done this!" she cried aloud.
'Raymond Renniman has done this.
Thrown away III chances the money
which came to him only from a dead
mar. What---" she spoke as if to
herself, but suddenly she paused re-
membering, and startled by The look in
her companions face. 1t was look
Of surprise, not unmixed with pain.
"You know Raymond Renniman?n
he broke i'll hastily, "And you say
that he has done this folly? i-''
His look changed; a smile, much the
smile Of that other day, crept over his
countenance. II am very glad," he
finished, grasping with sudden venting
passion, the hand which held the letter,
$50 glad, little ReDie, because the news
rids me of all perplexity, and makes all
things right between u.s."
What did he mean? She could only
stare at him; whi,o a bit freed from
that first blissful thought that had so
sngrossed him, lie looked back, all, al
tenderly, but again surprisedly at hor.
lyon have known all this, and you
never suspected me2' he said. "But
how could your 1t is Il strange tale,
little Renie. A few months ago was
in London, and decided to return home.
My stateroom was engaged; 1 had
written to Raymond when would sail;
but, almost at tho last moment, the
freak seized mo not to go. a poor fell
low had long known was anxious to
go over, and to him proffered the pas
sage, trusting to him some important
papers and my baggage, thinking to
follow at my pleasure. Ten days after
read what you know. The facts
moved mo strangely. He had been
taken sick a day out, and dying in deli
rum, none had ever learned his nalno.
There was naught in his belongings by
which the truth could be traced; he
was not unlike me in appearance.
Moreover he was u friendless man; to
no one his death would matter. 1t all
flashed on me, and l was an unhappy
man, Little Renie. | had often wished
I 7 io /
matter as it was. L knew Raymond's IS
troubles, and determined TO let him
have my fortune to live, where L did
not care, somewhere away from him.
drifted out into this new country; /
lived on-ah, the dull, dead life till that
day saw you, Little Renie. Darling,
the touch of your little hand brought
back something more than life to me
And [ have been loving you-loving
you ever since that blessed moment
but with always the thought in my
heart how could come back to life
and do what was right by Raymond
But how, poor Raymond L am sorry
for him; but, oh, my way is open
Darling-darling, do you care so mucl
for this lost money, or can you do with
me?''
She had listened III amaZement, but
his arms had closed around her; now
the tender kisses were raining on he1
ips.ahWhat moro for Renie Endicotti
Shyly she looked up at him.
"With joy," she murmured, fondly.
The smile of other years beamed
| again on John Renniman's face. Life
had paid the debt it owed him.
1t was a strange tale to go back tt
Little Haven.