The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1886-09-04


tlence Meade to say yes. there'd he tho
mrlor to furnish and Il few things to
get for tile up STARS :ltmt room.I'' I'D
"Oh. Milo!" cried Fanny, ,rapturously
s'do you think it's possibly that-that
she could like you?''
''lt does seem sort o. presumptuous,
don't it?" said Milo. "But 1 amt 20.
ing to let her 60 for lack OF trying my
luck, that know.' .,ta3rft ,U..a
All the sacredness of home detail was
turned inside out. The old cabinet.
piano was sold for song; the tall
cherry wood clock brought about four
times it's worth; people laughed at the
old. fashioned furniture, and handled
over Mrs. OSmund's cast.off wigs and
curls with many a jeer and taunt.
Fanny Darton purchased q neat an
tlQue set Of horse-hair chairs and a claw
legged table for the parlor at home,
and some pretty chintz curtains, hung
over brass poles, and lot of odds and
ends, which comprised the very half
finished quilt over which the old ladies
Of Darlington had worked that last
afternoon of Mrs. Osmund's life. -
: ut amt worth much," said Fanny,
"hnt 1T came with the towels and the
screen, and l guess we can finish it at
home some leisure time.''
The sight Of the quilt brought up a
thousand "reminiscences. People whis-
pered the name Of Patience Meade to
one another.
II s'pose the heirs could hev her
tried for stealin'l" said Miss Farrar.
THAT there gold thimble was worth
Il deal of money ~ remarked Mrs.
Johnes.
81 dessay If her trunks were opened"
croaked. Miss Pellett, 's'folks would find
lots o. things she hadn't no business
with" f.u.tt ,..N
II really think" said Mrs. Cubebs,
the druggists wife, 'the town trus-
tees ought to look TO itl'
Fanny Darton heard mono OF these
good-natured comments. a,. d. ...
She was busy, with the help of Melin-
da Eames, in taking the Quilt from it's
frames, SO as to make q compacter bun
die for the purpose of transportation.
''Drerful pretty paternl What is lt2"
asked Mrs. Peck, the Methodist minis
ter's widow. tCourt-house steps, or
Jobs troubles?"
Good-natured Melinda unrolled the
gorgeous mass Of co!ors to let her look.
In the same instant something shone
with Kaleidoscope glitter and drop
ped clinking on the floor.
"Lor'p" said Miss Farrar, fumbling
for her spectacles.
"What on earth is thatP" screamed
Mrs. Cubebs @js Hsa
Fanny Darton rescued the glistening
fugitive from under the leg of Il Iheu.
matte bureau.
TITS old Mrs. Osmund's gold thin
BILE, said she-"that;s what it is--roll-
ed up IN the quilt And now," with a
defiant glance at the assembled brigade
of gossips who were gathered around,
what do you all think about Patience
Meadep" ,g.
And she gathered up the quilt and
departed, with unutteiable triumph.
There came very near being litlga.
tion about the gold thimble.
: The Osmund heirs, OF course claimed
1t. Equally, of course, Fanny Darton
declared that when she bid in the quilt
she bid in the thimble also.
And the New York lawyer who was
consulted by his Cousins husband, who
had married an Osmund, said that they
had better let the thimble remain where
1t was; and 80 the Osmunds gave up
the contest. @ " AZ hae
And Patience wears the gold thimble
toithis dayI
Harry Lynde came to apologize to
her for his hasty Judgment; but he never
got further than the top of the hill,
from which he could%see Patience help
ing Milo Darton to weed the young
beets.
''It's true, then.'' he said to himself,
a sharp pang piercing his heart. "They
are engagedl' ~
And LET us hope that will b. a les-
son tolhimT fas well TO the restof the
Darlington gentry-not to decide so
hastily again.
1--WE =. g = --,--------- = : ----F az.
"A Very Raro Piece Of Lace.
One Of ths finest pieces Of lace ever
seen IN England Is being shown at the