The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1900-04-07

Wealthy thought; skies anywhere else
were never so blue as those. Little
by little she learned that the best OF
us all, in one way or another, work
more or less, and she argued tnat, per.
haps, hers was not such hard lot as
it might have been, in spite Of the
fact that she was obliged to be busy
at something all the time. She was
thankful for what Size Fad, and worked
and sang and made the best of it.
And so it went on for six months.
July came and Doctor and Mrs.
Dunning and Lo: went away to cool
Birchlands:
''Doctor Edyards is coming to
Birchlands this season." reported
Mrs. Dunning at the end of &c Nort-
night. oS
"Very wealthy family. Eernsrd
the oldest sou, has studied in Europ'
and has returned and taken hi
fathers practice. Every one is speaF
ing of the celebrated Doctor Edward :
an excellent parti for Lou" :
Lou matched her pretty eyes with
prettier ribbons, and when he called
she rustled to greet him inx. the feecy
raiment that had cost Weafshy hours
of patient endesvor to think out, and
fit, AID make-a creature Of dream
and fair to look upon, s'as beautiful
as fancy" Docter Edwards thought.
= But in the chain of circumstances,
there were other incidents.
In the city the oppressive heat was
telling OF poor, puny Arthur, and one
day Wealthy, nurse, housekeeper and
commander-in-c chief, found another
care on her hands, sick hoy.
Gently she quieted him, tenderly
she cared for him, but at dusk she
stood despairingly by his bedside, with
the realization that the disecse was.
beyond the scope of her immediate
prescriptions and fully aware that the
boy was on dangerous ground.
What could she do? Send for her
uncle? Twas miles away, and
1sssssa Asssss r ( e.'' before his father
Send for doctor? Where? Neither;
she nor any Of the children knew the
location of any physicians Office in
the city.
Speak to the neighbors? Yes, but
it is August. and they aFe all away
Completely baRed in This laoyrin . th
-gfs pszplgzitlss, saaaaalss a bsi sasa
Looking hastily out OF lnae window
she saw bright light away down the
street on the opposite side.
ssThat must be Doctor Edwards
that have heard so much about, I
know she said. And shortly after
ward, Doctor Bernard Edwards, pro-
fessional, indeed, but handsome, fine
eyed and kind, was obsying an urgent
summons up the street.
He stayed all through the hot night
with the sick boy, soothing and help
ing him and Tightening for poor
Wealthy what otherwise would have
been a season Of multitudinous terro.s
and when morning dawned once
again, Arthur's life was sa, ed.
And during that night he had be-
come interested in the faithful, lovely
young girl.
Doctor Edwards always looked
grim reality straight in the eye, and
he found out what her position was in
that house, and such diStaste for Lou
Dunning's frivolous beauty came over
him at the disco cry that he hoped he
might never see her again.
He stamped and stormed a little
and in his righteous wrath he spoke
some certain truths of the Cummings.
'It is TOO lalously bad" he
wound up.
"You might marry her," suggested
crouty old Doctor Edwards, who Lad
got the benefit Of his sons late re-
searches.
Have half a mind to-" said
Bernard.
Evidently he had whole mind to;
for the next day, before the gray dusk
was fairly out of the sky, and long
before the children were awake,
Wealthy, standing weary and alone
by the chamber window, found her
self clasped teuderly in pair Of strong
arms. Lovingly the tall doctor stopped
and tenderly kissed the little girl.
"Wealthy, ''he whispered, ''Wealthy
look at me, darling. I have some
thing to tell you, and want you to
answer me question. y"
Somehow it took long time; but
| at the end of the narration, though
Wealthy was in food of tears, the
tired head rested against Docto,
Edwards breast, and with a Joy that
could not be told, she answered yes
to his question.
When the Cummings came back
there was heavy gold ring on Veal.
thy's hand but Doctor Bernard Ed
wards called before they had time ts
notice it,.
iss II have to apologize for not keep,
ss sng my promise Of returning to Birch
| Eood, but professional duties prevent
ed," he said. '*Perhaps, too, I should
make excuses for falling in love with
your niece, but that, also, could no
SAnd before they realized what he
was doing he had taken Wealthy away
I and married her, and she had lef
them forever.
Doctor and Mrs. Dunuing refer t
! their niece as my dear Wealthy d
IT, does herself, indeed. ''My
cousin Wealthy" she says, IN speak
d! ing Of her, doctor Edwards beauti
full wife.
But it was a corrective for the Dun
nings. They may not be less self
! cantred-that would be hardly DOS