The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-07-07

he had never spoken to me, yet l was sad
and dlsconsolate when lie was absent.
One evening My aunt and cousins
were going out.
[ was assisting them, when chanced
to drop Miss Geraldine's ivory fan and
break the tiny mirror.
She tapped me smartly on the ear, and,
in bitter anger, said, "You awkward
little fooll Now my fan is in a nice
condition. If you cannot be more care
full hereafter, you had better let things
alone!'
Turning to her mamma, she said,
"Mr. Shields always takes my fan, if
chance to lay it down, and now it's
utterly ruined by the carelessness Of that
thingn'
She looked daggers at me.
Aunt Hester, l thought, might have
given me some sympathy; she only turn
ed and said, "Mona, hereafter try to be
careful; you have irritated Miss Ger
aldine considerably. Do not vex your
self; will get another for you, dear
child she said to her daughter.
When they were gone, threw mysely
upon the sofa and gave vent to my pent-
up sorrow.
No reproaches, however unjust and
harsh, no cutting reprimands, no scorn-
ful looks, could cause me to cry in their
presence; kept control over my emo
tions, and wept only when alone.
L cried and sobbed, and longed for
most any fate that would free me from
this thraldom.
Finally must have fallen into an un-
easy slumber.
The sense that tells us someone is
near aWOke me.
Standing motionless looking down
upon me in silent pity. was Mr.. Shields.
hurriedly started up, mutterng some
Kind OF apology, and very much ashamed
OF my tear-Stained face and rumpled
hair. requested him to be seated, and
he sat down, not on the chair near him,
but beside me on the sofa.
l was confused, and knew not what
to do or say.
l suppose he had perception enough
to notice my agitation. lie was all
calmness and ease.
wondered if it were possible he could
hear my foolish heart beat, and see the
tremor of my lips, when l tried to
answer his questions.
"You are in trouble tonight, Mona?"
l shall remember to my dying day the
pathiZing tones. l thought, as always
have since, that it was the most musical
voice had heard in all my troubled,
dreary life.
'Youwere sobbng in your sleep when
[ came in; what was it? Are you lone
ly? Aunt and cousins are gone, aren't
they? Well, cheer up; l will stay here
until they return. Are they unkind to
you?'
1 could not tell an untruth now, with
the tear-stains still on my cheeks; 50 I
replied "N1iss Geraldine scolded me be-
cause l dropped her fan and broke the
mirror, and Aunt Hester, too"
Here completely broke down, and
cried as If was never going to stop. lie
sat awhile in silence, and let mo sob I'M
disturbed; then he said, laying hls hand
upon my head, "Don't give way to your
grief; come, cheer up; you are hurt by
cross werts and rcproaches, but there is
sunshine after rain. Mona, tonight you
and / are drawing very near to each
other; too, have been stung by ingrati-
tude. have sounded the depths Of
bitter waters and by the perfdy of one
person l was sunk to the depths of des-
pair. But ! am out of this slough Of
deSpond, and am now far happier than
/ would have been had affairs gone diff
ferently. l am in position which per-
haps l should not have attained if had
gained What coveted above all these at
one time. [ outgrew my bitter dis
appointment, and in my work l found a
panacea.
Now l am in very tranquil state of
mind; and Mona, little friend, have
observed you, and am aware you are not
happy.
1--WE will sympathize with each other,
and in our mutual friendship dispel part
Of the gloom"
His kind words, 50 mildly spoken, the
most gentle that it had been my good
fortune to hear since | was an inmate Of
my aunt's house, went to my lonely
heart like a soothing balm.
L rallied and soon we began to talk.
The hours flew by rapidly.
"4ou and L are only beginning to
know each other, Mona," said my new
found friend at last.
eve are going to be capital friends,
and"
No more was said, for aunt and
cousins came in, and our evening to-
gether was cut short.
They were profuSe in playful re-
proaches, and Mr.. Shields was scolded
i'll pretty way for not attending the
party.
He said, "Well. you see, l was de-
tanned by important business until
feared 1t was too late; then [ dropped in
here, thinking perhaps some of you were
at home.
found Miss Mona, and as she was
all alone, L thought [ should he doing
my duty by remaining with her.
$50 l stayed, and we have had quite
a adelightful talk
Aunt Hester made some reply, cal
culated to annihilate me.
They all seemed to want to box my
So just "folded my tent like an Arab,
and as silently stole away"
The next morning had my orders.
was giyep my dismissal.
was soundly reprimanded for my
forwardness, and my aunt and cousins
took turns in taumting me.
Then / was spirited away in the
nighttime to my aunt's farm far out in
the country, eXiled, abandoned, driven
away.
One evening went to aneighbor's to
get a book.
The short winter day was closing in
on my return.