The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1888-09-13
an order for different brand Of wine,
which compelled that stately individual

an order for q different brand OF wine.
which compelled that stately individual
/ to leave the room.
"Do you ride, Miss Darkep,, asked
Rex, the amused smile still In his eyes.
She tells herself she hates him for not
joining fl her laughter to cover hor
mortification.
"Ilike q Gentaur," she answered, in
grim airiness. bound that she will con-
verse with him as little as possible. III
! "Indeedl'' the amusement extends to
his deep, rich, nonchalant voice now.
81 am glad Of that. Time will hang
less heavily on your hands. Would you
like to go OH a tour Of inspection after
dinnerp We would have plenty Of time
for a canter to the sea. And I have
some excellent horse-1esh.' ~
/ 1t is difficult to repress tho eager ex-
element in her eyes, but she bites her
tongue to keep from accepting, and
answers in a voice Of cool, languid in.
difference:
| mo doubt. am an excellent judge
of horse-nesh, and some time will give
myself the pleasure Of trying yours.
Mr.. Vaneka. But shall be engaged
| all afternoon in: :letter-writlng. My be.
setting sin is q good memory, else
worldlincss would teach me to forget
the old friends. wish you e pleasant
canter to the sea. Perhaps you will
bring me back sob from the ocean
surf l'n
II will at least try" he answers,
politely sarcastic. ''Your slave, lover,
or one Of those well.remembered old
friends could do no more, could theyP"
Unaccodntably she bushes, and rises
from the table, with O careless little
laugh.
Rex wonders as he courteously holds
the door open for her If the credit Of
blush and impatient exit is not due to
the 'slover.''
He returns from his ride in the sum-
mer twilight.
TIE groom takes his horse and Rex
saunters up the broad avenue and grav-
eled, flower Dordered walk to the grand
mansion, conscious Of vague ariness
of spirit.
AL the timo Ills thoughts are fuii OF
the girl who has broken in on the seven
tenor Of his way.''
But 1t Is many years since any one
woman has been moro than another to
Rex Vaneka.
But, like Sybil, memory is his beset-
| ting sn, a and z sssfS ,g,aack to him now. Q
r1nIe III ting " lseff rfl5 MUtf fd
would have been we'll lost for the sake
of woman to whom he had been less
than nothing.
The notes Of the piano are dropping
into the outer noises Of the twilight,
when he reaches tho promenade passing
the window Of the music-room.
He is not aware that Sybil has seen
his approach, and is singing for his
ears.
Her voice is clear, exquisite, sweet.
and well-trained.
Rex IS passionatelyo fond Of vocal
music, possessing fine tenor-voice
himself; but he smiles and pausos as
tho words come to him:
| AHtOW u iOSc III tuC StEOaIn Ut morn,
Watch at eve for tho flowers return
| Throw on tho lake golden grain,
Watch at morn for tho grain again.
| If your flower you again bohoid,
| lfyou gaZo on your grain Of gold,
| Thon believe, but not till then,
| That there is truth In tho VOWS Of men,"
''You must have had sad expert
ence, Miss Darke," says her guardian,
entering through the open, flower
shadowed window. Is your selection
Of songs the result of good memory,
toop"
She looks up with light laugh. He
has turned the dagger she meant to
use, and pointed 1t at her own heart
without the least exertion. The latent
amusement is in his eyes, but still un-
derneath Isl touch Of vague unrest, pas
sion, admiration, recklessness struggl-
ing for existence.
81 was never so foolish as to trust my
grain of gold to the lakes $ tender mer-
cles," she said gayly. Therefore need
never watch for its return.'
"You have beautiful voice, Miss
Darke; finely cultivated" gently.
81 was educated for the stage-it
should be-" answers his ward fippant-
ly; then voice end eyes grow tremuluos.
SIT was all arranged that I should
make my debut In Paris several months
ago, Then--then lie took i'll and died.
That changed everything"
'Poor child nhe murmured, almost
tempted to kiss the tremulous lips, and
vaguely conscious that time has not
killed the "milk of human kindness''
pulsing in his heart. "Poor child, and
poor Darke."
Involuntarily he placed one strong,
shapely hand above hers on the key
board. Inv0luntarily, too--perhaps i'm
PEELED by some high, inward force when
he spoke her dead darling's name in
tender accents Rex Vaneka' 8 ward bent
her queenly head and pressed her sweet
lips against the hand of her guardian
tile man who always gave her the im-
preston that lie was laughing at her