The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-07-24

pllScu W -llnu now well INFORMED she
was. She had q passion for reading,
and fortunately had been able to crafty
1t, for the library of the old clergyman
who lived near the Hope homestead had
been placed at her disposal.
When they reached the house supper
was already OH the table. Mrs. Hope
expressed no surprise when the number
OF guests at her table was increased by
the arrival Of the strangers. She made
them welcome and showed them their
| places. Fresh, homemade bread, cold
| boiled ham, corn cakes and Hulda's g
| blackberries, washed down with creamy
milk, engrossed their attention for a
reasonable time, then the men sought
the doorstep with their pipes, and
Hulda, her aunt and the hired girl
went out to milk.
Slas Hope was q shrewd, middle
| aged Yankee farmer, God-fenring and
sober, smart and far seeing, and Nor
ley and Carleton soon became interes-
| ted III his conversation. lie asked them
no questions that bort1ered OH the in
quisitive, but still learned that they
we're strangers III the neighborhood-
Carlton, al English lawyer, come over
to look for a lost heir; Morley, also q
lawyer from New York.
"I've almost giving up hope of find
ing the man L am in search Of" said
the Engishman. 81 lost all trace of
him since the war. He was a music
teacher in Boston, and joined the army,
was taken prisoner by the rebels and
escaped from the Southern prison.
Libby Prison."
IAN Englsh-musc teacher-served
in the army. May l ask his name
sir?n
"Certainly. His name was an un-
common one-Stanly Earlwood. He
was the younger son, of II younger son,
and when he left England had no ex-
pectation of ever coming into the title
| OF estate"
Silas Hope took his pipe from his
mouth and rubbed his chin thought
fully.
"Supposin' the mans dead sir. Sup
posin' he married out here and left
children. What then?"
"1f those children can prove their de-
scent they will inherit the title and es-
tate."
eff they are boys, maybe; but what
would they git if they are girls?''
eff they are girls they will inherit
large fortunes, but the title will pass
into another branch of the family. I
wish could find any trace of Stanley
Earlwood. I shall return to England
next month, but 1 have done nothing.n
"You can find a trace Of Stanly Earl
wood, sir,''
"Where?'' cried Carlton, startled
out Of his careless attitude by the
marked significance Of his tone.
"Y Yonder," replied Silas, pointing
aorose tho meadows, where, LII Llie
early autumn moonlight the white
tombstones Of the churchyard glis-
tened.
"What here2'
eyes here. Stanly Earlwood mar
ried my only sister, Maggie, after the
war. He met her in Boston, and they
went to Portland. He was siclkly and
couldn't get along, and they came home
here for six months; then they went to
Baltimore for a spell but got worse and
worse. Now and then they would come
and stop with the old woman and me,
but poor Earlwood was mighty indie
pendent and didn't like to )e a'burd4s1
Well, he died five years/ago,. .3he is
buried in my plot, and us hes$2call his
there-you can see itl992ff{il ll9l9f{i in his own
papers is in my sittsSaghter, Hulda, is
out there WITH
orlndte S .,' coYssct oYSssct of the search was ac-
- 30 tnsd in al unexpected manner.
Eoilil1kt ,,okt day the grave was visited, the
iHs9s Xamined-fortunatel Earl
BOD had been a methodical man, and
n his desk all the necessary documents
% prove his daughters rights were
found.
Hulda was surprised to learn that she
was a member of an old aristocratic
family. Her aunt said she always knew
her brother-in-law belonged to good
Silas took the matter very
calmly and only seemed sorry at the
Of losing his niece, whom he
loved like daughter.
"I'spose you will GO to England and |
live among lords and dukes?" he said,
placing his arm around her and draw |
ing her to his breast.
''No, | will not, Uncle Silas. l don't |
know the lords and dukes. Can't I
stay in the States if [ like, MIR. Carl
ton?"
"Certainly, Miss Earlwood. I think |
your wish is natural. Still it might
Ue UcLIcI W So llOll0, JiSp W loilI Ilic
acquaintance Of your fathers family"
II don't want to know them. They
never done my father any good. Uncle
Silas was the one who always helped
us. I'd rather stay"
Morley did not leave the Hope home
stead till he won Silas' consent to re-
turn. He told him that he admired
Hulda, and besought him to give per-
mission that he might address her.
''No!' replied Silas, sturdily. "The
girl is too young. Go back to New
York, and come here in years time.
Then we shall see.
Morley obeyed, though he was 10th
to do so. He. took a long walk with
Hulda, but faithful to his promise,
said no word Of love. He was wealthy,
but worked hard during his probationary
year to better his fortune.
1t was Il glorious moonlight night,
and Hulda stood beside Silas, who
smoked his pipe on the stoop. Hulda
was simply dressed in a flowing robe of
thin tcxture-of pale shade of silver
grey. She was beautiful and the past
year had been well employed by her,
for she had used her new-found wealth
to improve her mind, with the assist
| o,,oa of a o,noI 1oIu nf rra