The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-08-03


"Leave my hand go, cousin. Thomas
is looking like-like the thunder
storm"
Thomas was the name of Mr.. Carson,
her husband.
After that hid myself IS well as I
could behind chair, for vas shy, and
watched little Stella Carson, who was
the squire's only child, giving the chill
dren presents off the tree. She was
dressed as Father Christmas, with some
soft white stuff round her lovely little
face. and nad large dark eyes, which I
thought more beautiful than any thing
Ihad ever seen. At last it came my
turn to have a prcscnt-oddly enough,
considered in the light of future events,
it was a large monkey. She reached 1t
down from one of the lower boushs OF
the tree and handed it to me, saying:
"Dat is my Christmas present to you,
little Allan Quatermain."
AS she did so her sleeve, which was
covered with cotton wool, spangled over
with something that shone, touched one
of the tapers--how I do not klow-and
caught fire, and the flame ran up her
arm towards her throat. She stood
quite still. / suppose that she was
paralyzed with fear; and the ladies who
were near screamed very loud, but dio
nothing. Then some impulse seized
me-perhaps instinct would be a better
word to use, considering my age-l
threw myself upon the child, and, beat,
ing at the fire with ray hands, mcrcifully
succeeded in extinguishing it before it
really got hold. My wrists were so badly
burned that they had to be wrapped up
in wool for long time afterwards, but
with the exception of u single burn upon
her throat, little Stella Carson was not
much hurt
This is all that I remember about the
Christmas tree at the Hall. What hap
pened afterwards is lost to me, but to
this day in my sleep I cften see little
Stella's sweet face and the start OF ter
ror in her dark eyes as the fire ran up
her arm. This, however, is not wonder
full, for had, humanity speaking, saved
the life of her who was destined to be
my wife.
The next event which I can recall
clearly is that my mother and three
brothers all fell i'll Of fever, owing, as
I afterwards learned, to the poisoning OF
our we'll by some evil-mindcd person,
who threw dead sheep into it.
Itmust have been while they were i'll
that Squire Carson came one day to the
vicarage. The weather was still cold,
for there was fire in the study, and !
sat before the fire writing letters on
piece of paper with pencil, while my
father walked up and down the room
talking to himself. Afterwards I knew
that he was praying for the lives of his
wife and children. Presently servant
came to the door and said that some one
wanted to see him.
It's the Squire, SIR" said the maid.
'and he says he particularly wishes to
see you"
every WE'LL" answered my father,
wearily, and presently Squire Carson
came in. His face was white and hag-
gard, and his eyes shone SO fiercely that
was afraid of him.
'sForgive me for intruding on you at
such a time, Quatermain, he said IN
a hoarse voice, "but tomorrow I leave
this place forever, and wish to speak to
you before go-indeed, 1 must speak to
you"
''Shall send Allan away?" said my
father, pointing to me.
ssNo. let him bide. He will not under
-4--l--->T--. i-I<>1-d;1- T + tho 4ir1aa-
but T remembered every word. and IN
after years their meaning grew on me.
"First tell me-" he went on, chow are
they?" and he pointed upwards with his
thumb.
''My wife and two of the boys are be-
yond hope" my father answered, with a
groan. Il do not know how it will go
with the third. The Lords will be
done!'
''The Lords will be done, )" the Squire
echoed, solemnly. ''And now, Quater-
main, listen-r1y wife's gone"
Gomez my father answered. "Who
with?"
with that foreign cousin OF hers. 1t
seems from letter she left that she al
ways cared for him, not for me. She
married me because the thought me
rich English MILFORD. Now she has run
through my property, or most OF it, and
gone. I don't know where. Luckily,
she did not care to cucumber her new
career with child; Stella is left to me-"
'That Is what comes Of marrying a
Papist, Carson" said my father. That
was his fault; he was as good and char
liable man as ever lived, but he was
bigoted. "What are you going to do
follow her?"
he laughed bitterly in answer.
"Follow herr he said; why should l
follow her? If | met her I might kill
her or him, or both of them, because OF
the shame they have brought upon my
child's name. No, I never want to look
upon her face again. I trusted her, [
tell YOU, and she has betrayed me. Let
her 60 and find her fate. But am 60
ing, too. I am weary of my life"
Surely, Carson, surely" said my
father, you do not mean
s:No, no: not that. Death comes soon
enough. But will lie ave this civilized
world that is a living lie. We will so
right away into the wilds, my child and |,
and hide our shame. Where? don tknoW
where. Any where so long as there are
no white faces, no smooth, educated
tongues"
"You are mad, Carson" my father
answered. GLOW will you live? How
will you educate Stella? BE man and
live it down."
81 will be man, and will live it
down, but not here, Quatcrmain. Educa-
ton! Was not she-that woman who
.l1 hIfr II 1ty