The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-06-27

I - peGno psPently y'43 he wa; was
not happy. He walked along slowly,
gsta his eyes upon the path immedi-
ately before him, and with his hands
clasped together behind his back.
There were but few people in the
paths, and the drives were almost
empty, so that his attention TO- his own
thoughts was not diverted by any oc-
casion to observe others, or by any
need to preserve himself from harm.
he walked on thus, almost without
lifting his eyes, past the sorry collec-
ton of Gagged ANIMALS which were to be
looked at later in the day by so many
curious visitors; past the patient
donkeys, waiting the coming Of the
nurse girls with their charges; on
through the tree-lined mall and past
the terrace, and so came to bridge
crossing q narrow part of the lake,
where be paused for few minutes
and noticed, wonderlngly, how clearly
the trees and the blue sky, with the
passing clouds, were reflected in the
dull and almost muddy water. The
fresh air and the surroundings had
soothed and rested him, and, though
not conscious of the reason, he felt
less weighted with sorrow, or stronger
and better able to bear his burdens,
whatever they might be. He walked
on more briskly now. and skirting the
ramble, with its curiously successful
imitation of natures wildness, he
presently came to a secluded bench,
and there he seated himself and,
familiar though he was With all the
park, looked about him as though the
view was strange and new to him. In
deed, the circumstances we're novel
and his mood one unusual to him.
Almost at his feet, or separated from
him only by the width of the foot
walk, ran the bridle-path, and beyond
was the wide, smooth drive. Helooked
indiferently upon the few drivers with
their equipages, and with little interest
upon..the equestrians who passed before
him. But within few minutes there
came along the bridle-path. turning
sharply q corner Just below where he
sat, young woman on horseback. AS
she came abreast Of him and saw who
it was sitting there alone she checked
her horse SO suddenly that he was
thrown well back, to his manifest dis
pleasure, while she herself was almost
unseated. To avoid her and her horse
the groom who followed close behind
was forced to make quick, sharp
turn, but be did so adroitly, and then,
stopping, he waited as patiently as he
could alta discreet and proper distance.
And Douglas Gray, when the young
lady stopped before him in SO unwise
q manner, he rose in alarm and hur-
ried toward her.
''You should not have done that, "
he said in reproof.
"Oh, good morning, Mr.. Gray p
she responded, with an infection
which, to Gray's ears, perhaps then a
little more sensitive and quick to hear
ofense than usual, had sound Of
sarcasm.
"Good morning, Miss Leith," he
returned, though simply, and then
repeated, ''You should not have done
that. It was not safe. Really, Ethel,
you are too reckless.
"Thank you. You are very kind, I"
she answered, and then, with quick
change of manner, she added, impa-
tiently, cit was cruel in you to follow
me here"
"Cruel?" he repeated in astonish-
nent.
eyes, cruel. I did not think you
would. I thought"
"But to follow?" he said, interrupt
ing her. You are hardly fair. You
are on horseback; I Oh foot. And I was
here first, you know. Surely I did not
follow
Miss Leith looked at him quietly
for few minutes, making no response
in words, smile just showing upon
her lips as though she was amused
but did not wish to show it, but the
smile grew and then she laughed ua-
restrainedly, and so musically that
the singing birds might have been
in listening envy.
"Well?" Gray said, jnquiringly.
he was puzzled and little hurt, too,
but had he been more acute he would
have perceived that her laughter was
not in derison of him, and that it was
not altogether joyous. The humor OF
the situation she felt; but the situa-
ton itself hurt, too.
<'Well?' he repeated.
'.It is so absurd" she answered, as
she regained her self-control.
'sIndeed, Miss Leith, he returned,
with great assertion of dignity in
his manner, sYou will pardon me if I
say that I cannot see what can be so
absurd"
"Well?" he said again, as she
paused. 81 hope you will explain"
81 have been SO unhappy so long
ever since last night because-be-
cause-I so feared you might have
been hurt-because I did not know
what might have been the effect upon
you of my-my-"
"Refusal of me-" Gray said, as she
hesitated. cit was refusal, you know
"a very decided refusal; and I do
not see why -'
':But you ought to see Why" she
Interrupted.
81 vas about to say, only, that 1
did not see why you should be afraid
of the word"
"Oh!"
ga refusal it was,'' he repeated,
and as to your reasons, of course I
would not ask. Who would, and for
that matter, why should I care to