The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-11-30
She was TOO frightened te SC

Kate. as she raised her eyes and saw a
tall mar. with bronzed complexion
au.l dark hair, minus his coat. which
hung over the dropping bough close
by, III companionship with spade,
one ur two upturned shrubs anil q
straw hat.
Did you want auything?' asked
the stranger.
Yes" said Kate, boldly. 81 want
to come and see the grouuds-anl J.
want to open that wicket gate for my
brother and sister to come IL, too, |
know your master has forbidden it.,
hut-but-'
The stranger smiled.
"Who told yau it was forbiIden?
Tho man at tho depot and The
porter ut the lodge"
IF you wait till ] can rcsumo my
coat and hat / shall be happy to open
the gate for you" said the stranger.
"And il there IS auy part Of the
grounds you wish TO SEQ I will show
you over it.;
"Ob, that will be splendid!'' ex-
claimed Kate, ciappiDs her little
hands gieefully. ''Iou are one Of tho
gardeners, I suppose?"
Her new acquaintance was stopping
10 uatasten the gate AMI did not re-
ply.
will vol walk in:" he said cour-
teously to Westport, who, with his
wife, WAS anxiously watching the
course of events.
'tNot, unless we are quite certain
that we shall not getsyou into trouble
with your MASTER: said Nestport.
':My sister is too impulsive some
times"
"Tlere is no danger at aIl,' re-
turned the man drilv, as he held the
gate open.
The grounds we're exquisite. All
that wealth, aided by refined and cu!ti-
ratea taste, could accomplish, had
been done. in reply to Rates eager
questions she learned that Mr.. Ash
ley's own suggestions had been fol-
lowed out in everything,
But has he no sister-no wife,
whose taste has allied him in the
aaornment Of this lovely spot?' she
asked
"Nelther.
"He must be & very dlsagreea ole
person, observed Kate, musingly.
"Why?" asked their guide.
-----s,Fo- -eer off rantl-live ~in-Europe.Iise %
q hermit, and refuse cuancs travellers
the opportunity seeing his grounds, "
said Kate.
would yca like to look a. the
house and the conservatories?? asked
the stranger, pausing at the foot OF
the flight Of marble steps that led mp
10 the door.
."Oh, yes, O! all things!" said Kate :
and the guido, drawing small key
from his pocket, entered and admitted
+he party to a magnificent entrance
nall, lighted by dome Of colorcl
glass and hoored with mosaic wood.
Kate uttered a little shrek Of adj
n,iratlon.
"nate!' reproved her sister-in-
law; but the little lady was il the
most buoyapt spirits, and bounded
from window to window.
81 think this was worth climbing
over the fence for she said, nerrily,
':even though it was at the risk Of
hanging? Aud now, Mr.. Gardener,
show !ae the conser7atoric<. Sy the
way, what sort Of s. man is Mr.. Ash
Lev? Is he handsome?,'
"N.n-o!' returned the person adj
dressed, rather reaectivs!y. "il-
though l naturally admire him very
much, cant call him handsome.
':Indced?' said hstc. is he good
uatured.''
''PassabIy So
81 think" said Kate, "ne must DO
2 better sort Of lerson than gave
him credit for ct first. Mary, do you
know I'm very much inclined to fall
in love with the man whose taste has
devised this place? I do wish I could
see him
"Kate!' said Mrs. Westport, with
warning glance toward their cicerone.
VINO was carelessly balancing the con-
servatory key upon his finger.
Mr.. Westport glanced at his watch.
Twenty minutes TO three-wc
have but twenty minutes to reach the
station" be said. fWe shall have to
hasten our pace considerably, girls. -
"I can show you a shorter path
through the park observed their
companion, IF you are in q hurry to
catch the train
The offer was accepted with much
relief, and the travellers found them
selves St the depot in good time.
eve are very mach obliged to you,
sir, said Westport, hesitatingly prof
fering coin as their guide bowed an
adieu at the platform steps. The
stranger flushed and bit his lip as if
aunoyeS-the next instant he smiled
good humorsd]E.
Il assure you IL is quite unneces'
sary," he said, turning to the ladies,
rs he waved the money careless]y
aside 1.-The next time you visit Ash
ley Hall, ladies, I hope to make it
pieasanter to you.
And he disappeared among the
bushes.
"Well!' ejaculated the agent, who
had surveyed the scene through
the round aperture in the ticket Office,
II s'posed be was in Paris. Why
didn't you say you Anowed the
squire:;'
II know none of your squires, said
Mr.. Westport, shortly, advancing for
his tickets, while Kate, whose eve had