The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1890-09-16

| a moment, and then 1 quietly told he
that Ethel and l loved each other AM
were to be married at Christmas AM
that I could not consent to any sucl
| talk and should certainly refuse to sub
NIT to any questioning.
An ordinary woman would have beel
quiet, but this one loved her broot
| with the intense ferocity Of a tiger ca
| and was bound to make all other live
| that she could influence subordinate Il
what she considered their best inter
es:s. So, after while, she said tha
! must really forgive; that she onl.
spoke for my own good, because sh
thought me too old in my ways, if no
in my years, for Ethel; that it would b.
a pity for Ethel to find out hereafter tina
she had made a mistake, and mucl
more of this sort. I clenched my teetl
and kept silence, saying to myself tina
the drive would soon be ended
Then my stepmother shot her las
arrow.
"Don't you think that Harry is mucl
better suited to Ethel than you are
Everyone notices that she is muct
brigb.ay and cheerier in his company
than sTyours. Her little fortune
would be help to him and you do mo-
need it; and, besides, I know that yor
would not stand in the way Of bel
happiness" and here my stepmothel
wiped her eyes gently, as if the tears
were coming in spite Of herself.
"Do you mean to tell me that my
brother Harry loves Ethel and that she
would return his love if I released
herr"
"I mean to tell you nothing. Ihave
said only what I thought to be right
The rest you can find out for yourself u
Not another word was spoken
throughout the drive, but my blood
was rapidly rising up to fever heat and
jealousy fired every fibre of my heart.
I spoke to no one except to give direc-
tons about the horse and then sought
my own room to feed the fires Of
jealousy until such time in the evening
as it was suitable to call at Ethels
home, and when I started my brain
was that of a.moody madman.
There was q sound of music as
neared the house, and when I entered
the parlor, unannounced as usual,
Ethel was seated at the piano playing
an accompaniment while Harry sang
an old-fashioned love ballad. They
were q handsome couple, I could see
that at a glance, and well matched
physically, and my jealous Imagination
supplied all the rest. His attitude was
love-like, and she-I dared not look at
her, retreated softly out Of the room
and went to the library and sat there
listening to the light catches Of laugh
ter that came from the other room.
They were having a happy hour
together and evidently did not miss
me.
At last they went to the outer door
together, fingered there moment
too long, I thought-and then Ethel
came slowly and thoughtfully toward
the library. What was she thinking
about, I wondered, that made her step
so slow? Was she planning how to be
"of with the old love" before she was
con with the, new~
,gsxt. )ealR
! !al'es+ " ny, Frank, when did you come
in?" was my darling's glad greeting
As she came towards me with botl
hands outstretched and happy smile
on her lips, she suddenly stopped ane
cried amusingly, "what. is the matter
What makes you look like that2"
The demon Of jealousy which hat
been at work in my heart all the eve
ming had,-Sa last mastered me. M.
rage distorted everything and eVeRuth'
sweet face before me could not calm
! the storm. / rose to my feet and pu
forth one repelling hand.
"Ethel-before we 60 any fartheI
you must answer me one question. d.
you love me, or has my brother Harr!
usurped my place? My stepmothel
told me today that I was too old an(
grave for you and that you preferred
my brothers society-but I gave NJ
credence to it until I stood in the parlol
tonight and heard your new lovel
singing a love ditty to you. Answer
! me-are you true to your promise tt
me, or do You love him?"
The face Of my betrothed seemed tt
turn to marble as I spoke and hel
form grew statelier with Indignant
wrath. No one but madman woult
have persisted in the terrible mistake
that was making.
"Go!" was all the reply she made
ssI have no explanation to make to
the man who has doubted my word.
Her hand pointed to the door, an6
though it was nc+ yet too late for re.
pentance I passed out into the darkness
insane with jealously.<
Five years passed before I saw agair
the face Of Ethel Templeton. 1mme'
diately after our engagement was
broken off had sold out my business
!! and gone to one of the great Atlantic
cities. My stepmother wrote to me
from time to time, and seldom without
anuding to the prospects of Harry's
marriage, and at last she announced il
as fixed fact. Determined not to be
looked upon as rejected swain,
made swift courtship to pretty, friv'
! olous butterfly of fashion, whose ALI
ance was supposed to be a step II
social advance for me, and we We're
speedily married. Then I went te
Europe with my wealthy wife ant
made tour cfthe continent as beittee
! a fashionable couple.
It was On a steamship returning
from Liverpool to New York that
saw Ethel after our long separation
l;ttIo ctotol;or trif1a thinner CHI