The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1894-09-13

HAZAE long remembered
in the neighbor
hood. A heavy snow mad fallen th'
previous day, succeeded by rain which
q sudden north wind had frozen to {
slippery crust. The moon, one nigh
on the wane, was half houc above the
eastern mountain, silTering the Ions
stretch of snow, aid turning the ice OF
the trees into diamonds. Blake stopped
q moment on the summit Of the hill:
to admire the spectral beauty of the
night, and to cast an awed glance dowr
to the hideous gully into which the
steep and jagged side Of the hill fell
The place was upon the farm of young
Rodney Blackman. and ever since the
accident death or murder Of the eldel
Blackman there many years before, il
had been regarded with aversion anc
horror by the country folk.
1t may be that Blake stopped, toe:
more firmly to set his courage for hi
e7rand. He was prosperous young
mechanic in Templeton, the village
whose lights twinkled in the valley te
his lett, and was going to learn Mary
Graham's final answer to his declara
tions of love. Beset by the customary
obstacles, the principal being elusive
ness or coquetry on Mary's part, he
had wooed her for two years. He WA
now determined to have the question
settled that night.
Mary's father was q well-to-do far.
mer. Mary herself was q vigorous
country girl, who might well have beer
an ideal of rural beauty, and who sci
upon herself an estimate by no mean!
too low. She vas not backward II
making known the standard by which
the successful wooer must measure
Whether James Blake SO measured was
much discussed question in the To-
cality. It was admitted that he was
an ideal of muscular and honest man.
hood, and if his means did not quite
equal Mary's prophesied dowry, he
had capital OF vigor and determine
tion well worth taking into consider.
alton.
Another of the obstacles had been
set up by Farmer Graham. He declared
that, having no son of his own, the
man who won Mary must come and
live on the farm and learn to care for
it after he was gone. To many this
would have been-and, indeed, was
more of an inducemcnt than an obsta.
stacle, but Blake WAS interested and
successful in his business enterprises,
and he stoutly asserted that the woman
he married must leave all for him. II
was to adjust this difference, as well as
to get final answer from Mary, that
be knocked that bitter January night
ct the front door of the Graham farm.
house, and was bidden "Come in!'
Mary sat knitting by the wood fire in
the capacious chimney place, and seldom
have hearth flames frightened q pret-
tier domestic picture. James put his
hat on the table, pulled chair over
near her, and, after few prelimina.
zies, began to state the purpose of his
call.
"Iary, do you know how long I've
been coming to sec you now?'
cit must be-" she replied, pausing
mischievously, us il she did not know
the exact time to the day, 90 year,
anyhow, isn't it?'
''It was two years ago yesterday"
s'Is it, indeed?" she said, in captious
cstonishment. Il wouldn't have
thought it.
MARY" he said, IL mild ccnsure,
ssI'm serious tonight, and ia like you
to be, too. think you remember as
we'll as do that it's two years since the
first night l brought you home fro:a
the protracted meeting in Templcton.
7 heve told you often that l love yo!i
and want you for my wife, but yOn
have been pleased to turn away tho
subject, and see you are disposed tn
hold me Off tonight. want to tell
you that came to get yes or no.
He PAUSED, anG she looked up IN real
wonder at the decisive tone marking
the last statement.
Yes, I'm in dead earnest tonight, >
ne continued. "What is your answer?i
There Was no sound save the click
ing Of her knittins-needles but chs
gave hor head an independent toss,
and pursing her lips III like spirit, sho
replied
And suppose doa't choose to give
you any answer to-nlGht?'
We'll, no GuSwcr thi:; evening Will
mean no to NE. Ion have had time
TO find out if YOU can love lna rs ii
husband, and if You cannot tell D1''
,.ow III think Won don't wait me, AMI,
III nevtf ask vou again.
every we'll, she said w;llfullv, "you
nccin't. IN not SO anxious 10 90 la
re1.I ,:IetOu to 1--we Gayuo". ia salts
!eL here. Thc-c arc plenty Of yoNn,
non who'd be aled enough to come
,crc to I've as father wishes. 1o?l aTH
:;.e only one thai fcf1;s2s to, aid La
m-e no one * trying 10 co-Arel Eoa:
Whv, even Reginald Brown, with 81
lis money and MS fac house, WIZ !..I'
his afternoon, and told me he was vii
us to como any time.
"cegiHeld Brown he e1c.s:ncs
.octe:2ituocsly. =.
Brown was Tie richest young I2sa ct
Na netshborlool, and therefore con
side.ed tee Les. c2:cb Twas ass:ct>I l