The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-03-07

=sE-zsss4sA by the death OF
her father an Or
phan with no near relative. Media
Cabell had yet-as fortunes fa7orites
generally have-plenty OF friends.
These advised the usual panacea for
erief-extensive travel and change OF
scene to bring forgetfulness.
"No," Media had said in refusal.
ssRather will I go back to Ridgeway,
where my father and I spent our last
summer, and where the mountains,
silent and Interchangeable, shall keep
me in remembrance. I do not wish to
forget" Arrangements were accord
ingly made for her early departure
and one misty evening when the clouds
were as somber as the habiliments she
wore, and gave as little promise oi
brighter days as her sad face, the
young recluse alighted at the rugged
mountain station.
When she entered the cheerless
hotel parlor, however-with its hooded
furniture and general air Of lonesome
ness familiar voice accosted her,
and mans dark eyes lighted in
pleased recognition as he sprang tc
meet her.
'sMiss Cabelll" was his surprised
ejaculation. ''This is an unexpected
pieasure!' "And to me, Mr.. Dillson, u
Media murmured brokenly, his ap'
pearance there recalling the form she
had last seen with him. II had not
thought visitors were here"
'There are none as yet," Mr.. Dill
son explained, ''I am looking up some
land claims, and," he added, "may re-
main some time Hugh Dillson had
been kindly attentive to Meda's father
the previous summer. A man of fine
presence, fluent in conversation, and
OF party afiliation with the aristocratic
old Colonel, he was soon high favor
ite.
Media, also, had liked him. No one
else had been so often singled out in
the mild gayeties of the mountain
place-no other escort so frequently
invited when she drove about with her
invalid father.
These first sad days Of her return
to Ridgeway, Media (who had brought
her own riding horse) passed in long
rambles among the : wooded hills
every familiar nook that connected
her thoughts with her father filing
her heart with bitter-sweet memories.
Always unattended-a far-away,
spiritual look deepening on her lovely
face-Mr. Dillston watched her with
growing interest. Too well-bred, il
not too polite, to presume on his
former privileges, he was yet unob-
trusively polite, and showed his
solicitude for her comfort in number
less little ways.
cit is not well that you should be SO
much alone" he demonstrated, one
evening as he helped her dismount.
'I do not feel alone" Media an
swered, "and nature is such comfor-
ter that I am happier in its solitude. d
"Yet human sympathy should not
be repelled. T.. too, edmired-loved
your father" Dillson said touchingly.
stDo you remember the day in
Doby's Glen?" he asked. cor the
morning We climbed the Knob and your
papa waited at the gray rocks?"
"Oh, yes," she sighed with falling
tears. Chow could I forget? Though
I have not ventured so far away as
yet"
Recalling placesknown to each other,
and incidents happily shared together,
it came about that Mr.. Dillson was
once again Medals companion. His
easy, friendly attitude cheered hez
without startling. Asthe weeks passed
she frightened. The hopeless weari-
ness gave way to look of interest
chastened but real, and the fresh winds
brought the light to her eyes ana the
roses to her cheek.
Mr.. Dillson noted, and trusted 70
youth, and the sweet springtime, and
golden opportunity, to do the rest.
One sunny evening, when the early
verdure was yielding to the summers
softer luxuriance, and the air was
freighted with sweet scents and sounds,
Meda-who had not intended riding
felt sudden longing for the saddle
end the exhilaration of a gallop.
She mounted Retus and shook out
his reins with touch of her old buoy
ancy as she cantered down the long
valley. The road was red and beaten,
and the fields and woods indescribably
beautiful in the tender green OF the;1
young foliage.
When her horse Jagged to q walk
Media rode dreamily on, watching the
shadows on the mountain sides change
with the moving clouds; and she let
Retus go his own free way. She
chetted with an old nanny in cabin
by the wayside-turned into a lane
whitened by dogwood blossoms
spurred through a forest where last
years pine tags carpeted the way and
the new leaved trees overarched, and
she came ont she knew not where. No
feature of the landscape was familiar.
Instead, were only the nearer noun
tain slopes jagged and broken, and
the rich strips of field and meadow
land at their base. Suddenly it
grew dark. \ rumble of thun.
der and flash of lightning came.
Then another reverberating peal
startlingly close. The first big drops
Of water splashed on her lifted faca,
and binding, driving gusts OF Wild
and rain-the quick gathering OF 3
mountain storm. Media looked around
for shelter. Across the fields OF wheat
and corn vas large mansion, half
hidden By orchard trees. Toward ti.is
she urged Lc- horse, heading for ::
bacu nearer than the house. There