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

make its acquaintance, as have an es.
tate here"
Bridget's face, lost it's sour reproving
expression as a thought came to her
mind.
"Sure, sir, if it isn't too bold, may
ask if you're the lad who's lately come
into the ownership of Castle Flynnp'
'"That's the name of my place."
'"Then you're the own cousin twice
removed OH the mothers side of that
same little child ye've got i'll your arms.
Look up, Alleen, and make the acquaint-
ance of yer cousin"
Ellen had wholly recovered by this
time, and she slid shyly down from
Harold's arms, and sheltered herself by
Bridget's ample figure.
AS she stood thus the slight curva-
ture Of her spine was made visible, and
llarold's admiration was changed to an
inlenser feeling-that of pity for tho
beautiful child's affliction.
81 hope we shall he better acquaint.
ed" he said to Ellen, "and | shall soon
be riding this way again, and will come
to see you, IL you'll tell me where you
live" Then he turned to Bridget:
"COme up to the Castle this evening,
would like to ask you some questions
about the place and the people,"
His hunter had been standing quietly
on the spot where his master had left
him, after simply throwing the bride
rein over his arching neck. Now, how
ever, as Harold approached him, he
laid back his ears, and gave vent to u
restless whinny which showed how i'm
patient he was growing to be off.
Harold patted him, and said q few
soothing words as he mounted. The
intelligent animal answered him with
another low whinny, and darted off like
the wind, followed by Ellen's admiring
eyes.
''Lord save uel' calculated Bridget,
crossing herself reverently; eff that
beast doesn't prove the death Of that
fine boy before he is done with himl"
But Ellen said with little air of
pride:
"Never fear, Bridget. One can see
that my cousin is born to the saddle,
and oh. how grand and noble he isl''
"And he's a civil nice-spoken young
gentleman, too, worthy to be a landed
Irish nobleman, though poor lad, he's
come into barren enough place; for
what good is castle without money to
keep it up? and Lord Lansfels ran
through his fortune as though it had
been wather to pour into the street."
But Harold had been born, as the
saying is, 'with gold spoon in his
mouth" and out of his full Golfers he
soon made Castle Flynn look like a diff
ferent place.
1t seemed like dream OF fairy land
TO Ellen, when summer came, and she
was invited to visit at the castle during
the whole time Harold's mother was
staying There.
She was Il widow, and Harold was
her only child; and as he had taken
such fancy to his young cousin, she
was unsparing of trouble to give her all
the pleasure she could wish during her
stay.
"What pity it is that the poor thing
is deformed," she said to her son one
day. "She would be perfect type Of
a beautiful Irish girl if she only had a
straight back"
81 don't think any girl I've ever seen
can compare with Ellen now," said
Harold, ''but l think that trouble can
be reached, mother. Don't you remem-
Der that eminent surgeon whom we met
i'll London last month"; lie told of cases
he had cured that were far worse than
what Ellen's appears to be-"
YES, l remember something about
it. Wasn't 1t about making his patients
into plaster casts?"
"Hardly that, mother mine," laugh
ed Harold, "but you have hit on one of
the component parts Of his method Of
cure. l wonder if we could get him to
come down into our mild summer home.
He meant to remain abroad several
months, but it isn't likely he has gone
yet"
"Money generally will command q
professional mans service, Harold. l
don't imagine you will find any dihicul-
ty In securing him."
"l'd be willing to spend any amount
to make Cousin Ellen Il thoroughly
strong healthy woman," said Harold
earn silly.
And if his mother felt a momentary
pang as she detected Harold's intense
interest in Ellen, she was u sensible wo-
man and stitled it at once.
81 will do all can to help" she said,
and Harold's kiss and answering words
repaid her.
"Thank you, mother, 1 knew you
would You are the kindest and best
Of all the mothers in the world," he
said.
But when he sought out the great
surgeon, he found that the moving
spring Of his mind was not the idea OF
gain.
At first he declined to accompany him
home III such decided manner that
uarold's heart grew heavy with disap.
pointment. But as a last chance of
moving him, trying all the other argu-
ments he could think of, he threw him
self upon his mercy,
"DoctOr," he said; 81 will tell you a
secret. love the girl whom want to
put under your care. If you don't go
home with me and try to cure her,
have no hope left for the future If
Ellen dies, my heart will die too. Have
pity and try to save her."
"But you have none of the appliances
L shall need, and l don't want to make
a bOtch of my work. IL did, man, all
the doctors in England would DO hold
ing me up to ridicule."
mo one shall know thing about it,
unless you choose to tell them," urged
Harold; and his eager Importantly at
last won the day. The surgeon accom-.
panied him to Ireland.
Ellen'S case was pronounced one that