The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-11-08

low answer assured him that his pas
sion was returned.
And hour after hour passed hecdicssly
ny, ana the moon cast many an admOr-
lshlng glance backward at them as she
retired to rest behind the hill-tops, ere
they realized the latencss Of the hour.
ana the happy Peter, who envied not
the angels, once more seized the oars
and pulled his precious freight shore
ward.
But the reaction came us soon as he
once more sought his pillow, and he
moaned i'll agony as IN. thought of the
cruel gulf that lay between himself and
The girl whom he worshipped; for the
thoughts OF Dcttoring himself by the
alliance lal all given place to the one
cngrossing idea OF possessing her.
One device and another was hit upon
and thrown aside aM:mpracticable,
and when morning camc he seemed NO
nearer TO solution than before; but
during the day, he conjured up a path
way out of the dilemma, which, though
not honorable, he felt assured would
at least bring matters to crisis.
That evening he told her Il story of
how his parents were set upon his
marrying girl for whom he had never
entertained the slightest affection, and
then, as his well-nigh hopeless love
added fervor to his words, he urged
her to marry Inn immediately, SO that
this question might be settled beyond
all dispute; and the girl, who was
trembling with emotion, to his infinite
delight consented.
Their arrangements were of the SIM
plesC possible character, and twenty
four hours afterward the guests assem-.
blcd i'll the hotel parlor to witness the
impromptu marriage, though all day
long horror of what he was doing had
been creeping over Peter Fillmore, chill
ing his heart and paliny his usually
ruddy cheek.
And now, as the hour drew near,
and he went to meet the guilclcss, con-
iiding girl, he felt more like a con-
demned fel0n going to his eXecutio
than a prospective bridegroom.
His eyes devOured her hungrily.
lie noted her dimpled shoulders that
cleaned like ivory above the dainty
muslin drccs she wore, with the knots
of flowers and simple adornments that
so enhanced her beauty, for no jewels
shonc upon her fair person; and then,
at the last moment, his manhood as
serted itself, and be begged for mo-
ment's private conversation with her.
n look OF horror cleaned in the
brown eyes of the girl rs they stood
alone in il side-room. She seemed al
most faintiDg, and graspe,l chair for
support as he leaned toward her, with
set lips and the impress Of death upon
his face.
"Miss Orrington, T. cannot marry
set c d distiinGdt' ''am '. hjs a!Ia l}S6 g}S6p]]QGM p]]QM
while the deceived girl sank into the
chair and sobDcd pitcously.
81 would have made you a good
wife," she mOaned, as Peter gaSpcd for
breath and tottcred back and forth
before her.
"But | am only blacksmith and
have nothing but my trade to depend
upon. 1t would take nearly my last
dollar to pay the clergyman" nc Said,
at length, pauslng before the weeping
girl, "and l. cannot wed one SO far
above me-"
Miss Orrington spr;,ng to her feet
and bounded forward. Her arms were
about his neck, her tcar-bedewcd face
was pressed to his, while The words she
uttered seemed to come from the depths
of her tender, girlish heart:
"Oh, Peter, Peter! am SO glad! |
am nothing but a ladies' maid, and l
thought would try to do this summer
us my mistress does; but il we love each
other what DO we care for money? !
thought you were going to cast me off
because Of my povcrtyl"
Never a happier bridegroom than
Peter Fillmore led his blushng bride to
The altar, albeit the guests had become
somewhat impatient at the delay; and
the honest blacksmith is as proud of his
tidy home and pretty wife as ever was
il prince Of his gorgeous palace and
bcjcwelcd consot.