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

away among the rocks.
In the lull, through the woodel
partition, she heard voices. And, to
her wonder, the name of Hugh Dill
son, followed directly by Dillson's own
voice. Thinking gladly of his protec-
ton, she was about to assert her pres
ence, when something in his tones re-
strained her.
waiting too long," he wa,
saying.
"Sorry you waited, answered coott
voice. ''Couldn't lose my best load.
"Blast your loads!" grumbled Dill
son. s'Pretty fx-in the storm. I've
come out here to know what this
means" with the rattling of paper.
"Means!" was the firm reply,
ssMeans what it says, of course. That
I refuse to engage in any such busl'
ness"
"You refuse?" echoed Dillson, an
grily. "And, pray, what becomes OF
your bargain? You'll transact N.Y.
business my way, young man, Or"
ssStop!" commandedth the other. 'I've
managed your property here, Mr.,
Dillson, to lift the mortgage from mine.
Your profits have more than doubled,
as you know. But when it comes to
distilling liquors in my name-and IN
underground distilleries - you can
count me out. I have ordered back
your pipes and stills"
"Ordered them baok!" shouted Dill.
son. "And what right had you, you
meddlesome-?"
"The right every man has to protect
mis- neighbors," cutin the clearer tones.
And''- signifcantly-''to check dis
honesty"
ssDishonest!" faltered Dillson, ap'
parently choking.
eyes, dishonest. And you thought
/ could be bought-a tool for your IL
licit gains! You see, I know you,
Dillson. No distillery Of yours will be-
put on my land while I can prevent
it."
There was momentary pause. Dill
son was seemingly gathering strength,
for he burst out with: ''Your land !;
When the very roof that covers you is
yours on suferance! That last note
Of yours, young straight-lace, is over
due. I'll teach you to balk me! It's
my money, or my farm, Thursday, you
beggar-without mercy"
tsBah!" scorned the other. "You1,
mercy! 1t put the widow Brown out
to shame, didn't it?" The speaker
swept Oh with a tide that somehow
carried conviction with it. "And
robbed :. the Morrel children-and
closed on poor old Giles when he was
sick! If I'm to be beggared too, Hugh
DilIson, by the gods, what I have is
mine now, and you hustle !"
Evidently the younger man was no
saint. There was rush and scufde,
oaths and horrid threats of vengeance
from Dillson, and the banging of 8
heavy door.
Media couched close to Retus. Mo-
for worlds would she have been dis
covered there. Her chaotic feelings
were beyond description. Doubt
then certainty-and then its after re-
vulsion,
For the first time she realized her
situation. The weakness of her morbid
grief, and the self-exilement from
other friends which had turned her to
Dillson, first with the liking of prop
inquity, but which his sympathetic
| devotion was fast softening to warmer
feeling. With woman's intuition
her heart OWNED the question Dillson
waited to ask. Hot drops of NORTH
cation brimmed her eyes as she ad-
mitted to her conscience that this
astute lover might have read his favor
able answer in the trusting intimacy
of these last few weeks.
And whose voice was the other?
Somewhere Media seemed to have
heard its full, manly ring-change6
though it was.
She looked out. This was futile
country, green and luxuriant as gar
den; with picturesque old homesteads
dotted about-the road she had LETT
winding among them.
The rain was still falling gently.
"Anywhere but here" thought Media
as she rode swiftly through the open
farm gate and on toward the nearest
house. A portly old farmer answered
her "haloo," and two pretty girls, as
like as peas, met her at the open door.
"Why, it's Miss Cabell!" they ex'
claimed in surprise.
"Yes, it is" said Media. "And you
Il know you, but"
"We met you last summer" said
one.
cat the picnic of Bubble Spring, -
finished the other.
ooh, yes!" smiled Media. 81 know
l-s remember now-you're the Wat
son twins!"
"And I'm the twins papa" laughed
the old man.
! How it all came back to Media as tn.
pretty twins ministered to her with
hot tea, and dried her habit by the
blazing ire!
| That happy day-and then like a
fash came the recollection of the puz'
! ling voice.
| But she quietly asked, ''Whose
place is that-with the big gray
1ouse?"
"Tavenor's," replied the farmer.
| itNed Torenor's.
And then she remembered Ned Tav-
snor; tall and handsome, sun-burned
and square-shouldered-her especial
cavalier, who had won the filters prize
and crowned her queen that jolly pic
ric day. Even now, little slusf:
,rept to her curly bangs as she thought
of Ned Tavenor's open admiration, and
,o,r:oI iba twins ieS+s on his reIDenl.