The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-02-10


! if were criminal, ''you have
aptitude for business really no aptitude.
ut may do very we'll for ladies OF
fortune to have whipls and fancies, but
you are too sensitive, Dorothy really
too sensitive"
| "Isuppose it is kind in him to invite
plain body like me to share his Christ
mas cheer, and sit at the table with his
fashionable wife and daughters but
still he is hard--the world is hard, life
is hard, and don't know what to do"
BY this time the blue knot was fast
ened, the hair that was inclined to curl
a little Oh the forehead brushed smoothly
down, and Miss Dorothy was ready for
her visit.
AS she glanced out of the little win
dow she caught sight of q faint ray of
sunshine that hickered O moment on
the sill and then vanished sway.
| The sight Of the unexpected visitor
seemed to cheer her,
| Il know what I shall do" she said
answering her own query.
'.I'll pretend just for this one day
thatl have found my youth again; that
l am not poor and lonely that some
friendly heart Oh tho earth will grow
glad at my comiug ; that there Is no
such phantom as buried hope--and the
morrow L will leave to Heaven"
The great parlors of Sllas Pink's
stately mansion were thrown open, and
that august parsonage himself, stout,
well-dressed elderly gentleman, with
fat hands and a beaming smile, stood
before the costly marble mantel, warm
ing himself in the glow of the Goals, and
chatting and laughing with a group of
kindred spirits.
On velvet couch was seated tho lady
OF the house-haughty, severe, and per-
| fectly attired-while her daughters,
frcsher pictures OF herself, famed them
selves with languld grace, and perform.
ed the graceful duties of elegant hos
pitallty.
Pictures adorned the tinted walls ;
| silver mirrors flashed back the sheen of
silk and the glitter of Jewels.
Heavy Hower-strewn carpets hushed
the sound OF dainty gliding footsteps,
and the merry sound of music and
laughter filled all the scented mir.
Sitting alone--as she thought the
library, with the cold marble eyes OF
the dead and gone leathen philosophers
looking unwinkingly down upon her,
and row upon row of gilt-titled books
staring her out of countenance, was
Miss Dorothy.
The wealth and elegance displayed as
lavishly about hor brought no plesouro
to her beauty loving nature.
Her day-dream was shattered and
broken. -.
She had no place in this little world
OF beauty and fashion.
They were ashamed Of her shabby
dress and lack of ornament.
No faces had frightened ut her ap-
proach, no voices grown lower and tell
derer in kindly greeting.
She was more utterly alone than in
the little chamber under the sabIed
roof, or i'll the tiny shop with its meagre
stock Of dingy feathers and flowers.
81 will go home." she said aloud.
"When 1 have seen Sllas and told
him of my inability to pay my debt, 1
will g. home.
II want no rich viands, no ruby
wines. l will 60 back to my lonely
ireside and ENJOY it while I may, to-
morrow may see me without roof to
cover ny head, era spot whoroin 10 resi-
my weary feet"
In dusly corner, turning carelessIy
the leaves OF portfolio of rare engrav-
ings, was seated a figure, entirely hid
don from view by the high-backed cush-
Toned chair against which he leaned in
idle, luxurious enjoyment.
When he heard the voice, he started
and rose to his feet, and Miss Dorothy
saw advancing towards her portly
grey-haired man, clad in u suit OF black
broadcloth.
"Pardon," he began hastily, "but
did not hear you address yourself as
Deacon Pink's daughter ?''
"What can that matter to q perfect
stranger 2" answered the little figure III
the shabby silk, looking towards tho
open door as ii to escape.
"She did not want to meet any ono
who had known her in youth-the youth
that she had that day buried from sight
forever, poor. lonely, sensitiye, heart
sick Miss Dorothy.
"Naught to stranger, but much to
friend" answered her questioner,
bending his face q little nearer.
And Miss Dorothy, looking up sud-
denly, found herself gazing intently in
to pair Of deep, earnest grey eyes,
VIII ose glance held her, spite of self,
completely fascinated.
"Yes, L am Dorothy Pink" she
managed to stammer, feeling as if q
cruel hand was clutching her throat,
''and yon are, Richard Woatherbee.
This man, whose simple, Ioyel nature
gold and it's possession had not spoiled,
looking down at the face of the woman
he had loved in her fair girlhood, read
printed there in clearost type the story
of her life, and realized that care and
not time had wrought the wondrous
change.
'"The same Dorothy of old ?" he
asked with meaning in his tones, but
with tho smile she remembered 50 we'll,
the smile that alone made him seem
different from other men,
"Nay, not the same" she answered,
dropping her eyes she scarcely knew
why, while the hot blood surgcd into
the cheeks that had lost their roses
years before.
"In the old days was proud, and
vain, ana boastful.
"NCw anl----"
"What ?" he asked, with little tre-
NOR in his deep voice.
''What you SEQ, she answered, drop
ping her face in her hands with q bitter
orv of lOneliness md main