The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-02-08
DAISY.

A clear and ringing whistle rose and
fell and rose again, q pleasant sound to
hear, upon the evening air; but the
girl who stood knee deep in clover be.
side the meadow fence looked sombroly
down as the joyous notes struck upon
her ear.
"Poor fellow! dear fellow!" she said
to herself. ''It Is SO hard to go against
him when he is rs light-hesrted as
that"
Amomentmore,a and Ralph Armstrong,
her dover, vaulted lightly over the
intervening bars and stood beside
her.
Straight. sturdy, brown, something of
the contrast between himself, with his
superabundant life, and tho wee woman
waiting there, seemed to strike him.
"Why, my little Daisy" he said,
with playful touch, turning up her
chin until he could look into the soft
eyes, that straightway filed with tears.
"Why, Daisyl" ho repeated, in OH alter
ed, vexed voice. 81 thought when I
saw you out hero that you were glad to
have me come: Never mind; you will
be when I tell you the news. l have
paid of the last lnstalment on the farm
and there's to be AL end OF your drudg-
ing your life away. No moro cooking
for dodgers, or sitting up half the night
to look out for Rick. Is he mp to his
old tricks again? Is tina: what has TAX
ell the color all out Of your facet"
Gle was away all night" Said Daisy,
in a low voice. "Ho never got homie
until noon to, day. He is asleep, and,
oh, Ralph! L am afraid to have him
wake. 1t IS 40 much worsc now that
Miss Winter is here"
"Didn't tell you how that &oulr 49,
reminded Rnlrh, NOT worry kindly. 't!out,
luckily, Mu u>l't m:.:er; you can get rid
of her rs soon as You please, aud we will
have the wedding -when2 1 won't be
put off very long, my dear"
Daisy turned her face away to the
gathering dusk.
ooh, Rulphl" she cried, piteously.
''Be contented to wait"
"To wait What for2 For Rick to
drink himself to death? For you to grow
old before your time with the hard work
of taking care of yourself and him?
Daisy, once and for NIL, you'll have to
choose between your sot Of brother
and me. II you ere bound to put him
first now and tor oycr-~-"
The unfinished threat fell upon other
ears besides those it was intended to
reach. A dogcart rolled almost noise
lessly past on the thick green turf of the
iuue upon which the mes,iow uuIs gave,
and Dr.. Lloyd, lifting his hat to Daisy,
slot heen glance at the young fellow
standing sulKiIy at her size. He was
gone i'll u moment, but somehow Ralph
Armstrong experienced feeling of
shame which kept him for the time from
pressing whut he had been about to
urge. He turned and walked towards
the house with Daisy.
1t was shackly, tumb>e-down cot
tage, with moss and lichen breaking out
i'll patches oyer the decayed weather.
boarding, and crcaking porch from
which tue rustic benches had long ago
rotted away. The picturesque aspect
of the old place had taken Miss Winter
fancy, and SO little, fair-fnced Daisy had
found the weekly addition to the sum
which she earned with her dressmaking
was all that now went into her shabby
purse.
There WAS a nnflled cry of "DaisyI
DaisyP' as those two approached to.
gether; then once, twice, tho report OF q
pistol, together with the sound Of shat
tered glass, was borne to their ,rs.
''Its Rick" cried Daisy, breathlessly
II locked him in his room. DO 20 and
talk to Miss Winter, Ralph, till I gel
him quiet again"
She was on rs she spoke. Miss Win.
ter had come to the door, halt in alarm
and looked inquirinely at Ralph rs he
approached
''Do you think he is doing anything
recklcss?' she asked.
Nothing worse than smashing q win
dow or two; It's his favorite way of coll
ing his sister. Pity he can't put his
balls to better use."
Il wonder that you leave her to bt
the victim of his whims," said the lady
with q straight look at HIM.
'l2' said Ralph, with q shrug OF his
broad shoulders.
Perhaps he did not mean to discIain
such an intention on his part, but il
looked like it. How could he tell Miss
Winter that tho only reason lie had no
taken Daisy away months before wa.
because Rick had outweIghed hor liking
Tor him? 1t was sore subject will
Ralph Mt the bost, not ono lie would
choose to parade to the word at largo
Two hours after that, Daisy stole on
into the moonlight. utterly wearied will
tho scene through which she had passed
All her efforts had been fruitless to Oh
tlce Rick back to his bed. He sat on
bench in the kitchen, limp and stupi,
after that tit Of violence, and Daisy stol
out, as have said, to breathe tho hoav,
sweetness OF dying roses, and brush thei
dewy leaves with her heated face. Th,
shadows lay thickly upon the porch
but there was stir there, and Mis-
Winters voice said. softly:
'Good.nightl"
"aood.nightl" returned Ralph. "I'l