The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-04-14

| tOr-Mr. Rushton WAS below.
Very. very pretty May looked, as,
with flushed cheeks and bright eyes,
she ran down to meet him.
His light blue orbs dilated at the pic.
ture.
81 have come to ask you to take a
stroll with me- he said, in his weak,
low voice.
"Such days as this inspire one, and
am sure III every bush and tree you
will find lurking some new and beauti-
fuI thought"
Ah, if Dick had but asked her to 90
out to seek inspiration, she might have
responded with as much alacrity as
nowl
So it happened that, returning from
his hastlness, and ready to blame his
own jealous and impetuous temper for
unjust suspicion. he saw directly in
front Of him two figures, slowly stroll
ing along.
He was not long in recognizing them
both, and great, hot wave of indig-
nant anger surged up to his face.
| He was wonderfully tempted to leap
out in front of them, and by vigorous
application of his whip, teach this
miserable pretender lesson he would
not soon forget.
But he resisted the temptation and
drove ON, deigning them, as he passed
neither word nor glance but May,
catching look Of his face, felt sud
den fear.
She had never seen Dick, dear old
Dick, wear that look before, and Mr..
Rushton, for the rest OF their walk.
found her very silent, aud it is to be
feared that neither from tree, nor shrub,
did May gather inspiration.
And though Mrs. Winstone's delicious
there were far more inviting that the
repast spread ut the hotel, he was not
bidden to enter in and feast.
Yet May had condemned herself
thereby to long, lonely evening.
II Dick had come in, all might have
been explained but Dick, white and
miserable, was bonding over his desk,
writing letter which though sayoring
nothing OF poetry, cost him as infinite
labor as all her inspirations.
Many q sheet he began aud never
finished, before, at last, Il few curt lines.
which almost hid the pain their birth
had given him, were left to stay and
reach their destination.
Next morning May found them be.
side her breakfast plate.
These wero ali tho words they con-
tanned
Il have been blind, May; but I see
now. know now why you could not
drive with me yesterday, and why you
let mo go away the night before. You'll
forgive me that didn't recognize the
truth you have tried to toll me in every
thing but speech, and 80 the sooner
have given you back your freedom. If
you'll keep the few things have sent
you, should be very glad, fur they
are hateful enough i'll my sig Int, and the
weather. is somewhat too warm to build
fire for funeral pyre. "DIcK."
This was all.
But for the last phrase, born of the
great bitterness OF young heart. May
might have relented, and sent back
few lines which would have brought
her lover to her feet; but these harden
ed her.
Within an hour she had gathered to.
gether every token of his love then
slipping from her finger the pearl ring
which had betoked their engagement,
she put them with the rest, and de-
spatohed them to him without word.
MIR. Rushton says every woman has
es AiASoASut sHAo lO1o l6SU BOO
should fancy her heart ached.
'Nothlng now neodinterfere with my
work.
IL shall write poem.
IL can make my own experience its
foundation, and so send it into the world
to teach other women mans perfidy,'
When Mr.. Rushton called thai even
ing, she said
81 have broken my engagement, Mr..
Rushton -
1t was too dark for May to see tho
sudden flash of triumph in his light,
steely eyes.
1t was strange, she thought, as the
days wore on, but Vernon Rushton's
attraction for her had fled.
Somehow he wearied her.
She wished he would not come quite
so often.
She did not care to offend him. for
he'was to give her the name of the ed1-
tor to whom her precious poem, now
rapidly approaching completion, was to
be entrusted.
AT last she had put to it the final
correction, the last stop, signing her
initials with infinite precision and care.
She had tnsted some OF the first fruits
OF future triumphs, whom she had read
1t to him in its completed form, anu he
had listened with upturned eyes and
bateu breath.
Your mission soon will he fulfilled"
he SAID to her ''but, oh, what might
we not accomplish together-two such
poetic minds
IL would not separate you from your
mother, dear, ii You would become my
wife but here, in This pretty cottage
we could be happy together.
MAY hope, my love? Will you
cast your lot with mine p
But May had fed shuddering from
his extended arms, and few hours la-
ter there followed HIM to his hotel the
hastily.scrawled note, which he read,
cursing his fate, since tho pretty nest
he had 80 carefully striven for, he learn
ed, all luxuriously feathered as it was,
never might be his. AZ,
Penniless and love-lorn, he must
again return to daily toll for daily bread,
too much time having been squandered
i'll q vain pursuit for food and shelter,
with the necessary accompaniment OF q