The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-03-31
WHOSE FAULT. :


,.. WHOSE FAULT.
4. :. - "A --G Tl}\t g.. ..
Fred Dayton assisted his wife's cousin
Jenny Searles, into the carriage tina
was waiting for her ut the station.
She had been his wife's bridesmaid
and he sighed rs he looked in her smil
ing face.
It was three Years since that so-ca.led
happy event occurred, but though she
was a t1ifle more staid and dignifed
she had the same happy smile, neat,
trim appearance that he so well remem.
bered.
''You will find Fanny good deal al.
tered" he said, taking u seat by hel
side.
Jenny cast somewhat surprised
glano at the grave face OF the speaker.
" Why, how Has she been i'll ?"
"Well, no L can't say that she has
been il, ," wns the hesitating reply; "but
she-sbe's changed. Marriage don't
seem to have agreed with her vely we'll. ,
Jenny looked earnestly into the frank,
kindly face of the speaker. -. -,
Was it his fault ?-for there must be
a fault somewhere
The house, as the carriage stopped
in front of 1t, looked as il it was all shut
up. Ii Jenny had expected to see her
cousin in the hall she was disappointed.
Fred looked slightly disconnected as he
glanced around.
"Fanny's IN her room. Isuppose I'll
hunt her up"
"Ah there you are, Fam"
Here dowdily dressed woman made
her appearance at the other end of the
hall, whom Jenny would have failed to
recognize had it not been for the warm
embrace and eager greeting.
After leading the way to the dark and
rather uutiuy sitI1nB room, nanny's
animation all at once forsook her, and,
throwing herself upon tho sofa, she
burst into tears. much to JenDy's sur.
prise and CONSERVATION.
1.-THE sight of you reminds me 80 of
the happy past2" sighed Fanny, as she
wiped away her tears,
''And the present Is not less happy, I
hope ?" suggested jenny, feeling Tor
her cousins husband, who looked fool
ishly conscious that he was in some
way considered to be at fault.
':Fanny's only reply was mourniul
shake OF the head, which, rightly inter-
preted, meant that she never expected
to be 80 happy again as long rs she
lived. - ~.
Putting his hands in his pockets Fred
walked to the window, whiatling softly
to himself with an i'll dissembleu air of
unconcern. fr..
ell you knew how that noise goes
through my head, Fred T. demonstrated
Fanny, rs she rang for Ann to take
away her cousins things.
Fred ceased whistling, taking himself
out Of the room at the same time.
Fanny gave her cousin q look, rs
much as to say ); "You sec what I have
to put lip with ?" g j.
Jenny now had opportunity to oh
serve her more particularly. :.
1t was nearly dinner tine, and still
she had on the calico wrapper she had
worn at breakfast not much soiled, but
still faded and wrinklcd.
In asking and answering questions
the time passed rapidly until it was
nearly time for dinner.
II had no idea 1t was 80 near dinner
time, snid Jonny, rising to her feet, as
hardly give you time to dress"
con shan't make any change in
my dress thercM be nobody,Y>ut hus-
pttASA GU uA1N Jou NOu
X "No, certainly, sha'n't mind"
There was more than this on Jenny's
lips, but she checked herself. f.ss'
There could scarcely be greater con-
trast than those two presented at the
dinner-table, both of nearly tho samo
age, and both endowed with more than
usual personal attractions.
at tho time OF her marriage, Fanny
had been called the prettier but it was
quite the contrary now, and all the diff
ference lay in the dress and expression.
1t was imposs IDLE for Fred not to no.
tice the difference, and mako mental
comment on it not very tlattering to
the wife Of his choice. The contrast
was too marked to escape her notice,
though it was easy to sec that she as.
cribed the change to their different
conditions.
''Ah you won't think IT'S worth
while to fuss so much after you're mar.
ried, Jen," she said, with laugh.
Perhaps Miss Jenny will think hei
husband worth dressing for" retorted
Fred.
'lf she does. I hope it will be for {
husband who cares enough for her sooi
ETY. to spend one evening at homo on
Of the"s
jenny hastened to change the subject
being aided in her endeavor by tho ad
vent Of baby. It was q lovely child
and one would suppose would be o.
additional tic to bind their hearts to
gether, but instead OF that it was
constant bone OF contention,
Thus matters went on for some days
Jenny observed with pain that Ere
was III the habit Of spending most {
ms evenings out. For while afte
she came he stayed i'll, but mortified {
wen rs irritated by his wife's slovenl
appearance and fr0tful complaining, /