The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-10-06
HER COUSIN.

A lane as green as emeral, and as soft
to the feet rs velvet. Wild roses in
.ig slant bloom, almost hiding the
I. sh stone wall which bounded it Oh
either side; briliant-hued wild flowers
wed with them in beauty; and to add
to the charm of the rural scene the sky
was free from even a passing cloud.
An old woman who evidently belong
ed to the peasant class, and child
whom she carried laboriously within her
aims, were the sole human beings with
in sight, although the wild denizens of
the four-footed kind abouldeu.
Rabbits, secure from molcstatiOn by
law, so as to be kept for the rightful
owners Staying during the hunting sea
son, which was even then beginning.
squirrels and chipmunks We'd III their
noisy chattering with the feathered
songsters, and if not SO musical, sue
ceeded in producing az much sound; {;
and mingling rs it all did in Natures
vast chorus, filled out the chord of har-
mOny even as the rasping voices OF
some of the inferior Instruments supply
certain tones to u trained orchestra.
"Here, darlint: We'll jist occupy this
purity place for awhile. Old Brdget's
arms are that tired it seems as though
they'd break off entirely. Uow's the
wake little back now2"
ut aches, Bridget; but don't mind,
now that we've got such a nice place.
III lie here under tue big tree. and see
if l can't catch sight of the same cum
ming bright-eyed little squirrel | was
watching 50 long the last day we were
here"
"That's swate girl, to he 80 nice
and contmt-like. I'll sit}a tritlebeyant
yez Oh that stump, where the light'll be
better for my old eyes, and knit on the
stocking I've started to keep your wake
little feet warm when the frost comes
by-and-by."
Ellen Connell looked up into Bridget's
tinleworn face with grateful bright
ness in her great Irish-blue eyes.
"What makes you SO good to me,
Bridget, when you are SO cross to
your own grandchildren-Teddy and
Kitty?"
"Sure, Miss Elen," said Bridget,
brushing a tear away as she spoke,
"they are 80 strong and well, and hasn't
the Lord afflicted your And thin, too,
when the mistress died, bless her swate
soul, didn't she say to me with her last
breath, Bridget, take care OF my child.
She will have no one to protect her own
blood, and there's a promise in the
Bible for those who take care OF even
one OF the Lords little ones. And
tould her AZ quick as could spake fol-
the crying; Sure, and I'll take care Of
Miss Ellen for the love of you and of
her, and not for what it might bring
me- and with that she shut her eyes
and dropped off to sleep and niver again
woke up.'
The child had listened eagerly as
Bridget spoke, and when the sol nd of
her voice ceased she leaned her head
against the tree whose majestic branch
es shut out the glare OF the sun from
her eyes. But she did not remain silent
very long.
''bridget, tell lIle again Of my motif
er. l could hear you talk about her for
ever"
but it's the one thing have to tell,
Alanna; and that is that she was the
purtiest lady | ever laid my eyes on,
and that she was as delicate as the posy
Oh that WALL"
Before the words had fairly left her
lips sound OF trampling h0ofs struck
on the ear, and a magnificent thorough
bred bore his master over the wall, Just
escaping the stump upon which Bridget
was sitting.
Ellen gave frightened cry and sank
back in faint.
The young huntsman lost no time in
dismounting and trying to repair the
damage he had thus unwittingly done.
lie caught Ellen up in his arms and
carried her to u spot not far distant,
whore the clear waters of Il ripplng
streamlet babbled cheerily on over its
pebbly bed.
Until that moment Harold Lancaster
had been indifferent to womlnly beau
ty, although having Il keen eye for the
fine points Of fayorite horse or hound.
Girls had been avoided by him from
babyhood up TO his present height of
six-foot-one. But as he gaZed down at
the white still face lying against his
breast he was struck by its exceeding
refinement and wonderful, classic love-
lineSS.
He bent and dipped his rand in the
cool water and dashed some of it in her
face. by this time Bridget had reach
ed the spot.
"Give the poor murthered lamb to
me-" sine said sharply, land ye'd best
mind where ye're after jumping yer
quadrupid the next time"
PPM sorry, my good woman, and l
hope my carelessness will not do any
lasting harm. The child is only In a
faint from fright. See, she Is opening
her eyes now. Do you feel better, little
girl2''
Ellen looked up at him wonderingly
for an instant, then thought OF what
bad happened, and understood why she
was in the arms of the young gentle
man.
III must have frightened you as much
as you did me-" she said with a smile,
but her trembling voice contradicted
her attempt to make light of her feel