Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1875-01-28

tne taIueu ehSG, puGc u gOOu, nealtnY,.
pretty girl, something to love fondly,,
something tangible to stand the wear
md tear of life, something worthy of
mans striving efforts.
That evening there was an 10y party at
Uncle Paul's. Mary had been amusing
him in the earlier hours with cold
fashioned songs Pas Paul called them,
and the two were in the midst Of these
pleasures when Philip Hastings was an
Snounced. Uncle Paul could not escape
He had nowhere to go but to bed, and
it was too early for that, Young ladies
need not be told how really disagreeable
the position when q young gentleman is
present who loves her, while nm elder
member oflthe family is immovably
anchored in the room, and who in turn
heartily dislikes, or thinks he does, the
Yong mansas q ts bad man. 2 She was
afraid of ansexplosion as she nerVonsly
undertook the task of directing the con-
versation. She endeavorede to steer
clear Of the quioksands, but in trying to
draw Uncle Paul into conversation
she precipitated just what she was 80
anxious to avoid,
Unolo Paul had sat quito still for
awhile, in half-drowsy, brown study,
but ho awakened suddenly when Mary
said, &c Susie and + met. such o strange
looking, unhappy old man to-day"
6 TASt--SsiaE DID Ytan-beyond n
doubt bad man."
"Why, Uncle Paul, have you walked
at Iast?" asked Mary. sim glad
something can fix your attention"
Paul did not look Us though he cared
to listen, as Mary went on. $50 old
and feeble, and yet something telling
of better and happier days; in his face
curves worn deep by patient sorrow.
just us we passed he was saying: sIfI
could only talk to him minute, as if
some old friend had refused him sym
'pathy. Who could it have been, I
wonder? pitied him."
Uncle Paul fidgeted, but said nothing,
though he felt the thrust SO uninten-
tionally given. while Philip Hastings
seemed happy and yet uneasy at the
turn things had taken, go different from
swhatshe had desired. ItEhe two talked
of the strange old man, while Uncle
Paul grew uneasy at every word, until
finally he roseupon his feet and began
pacing the floor in an agitated way that
be cnuId not concaa1S ~ 80
Mary watched her uncle for few
moments, surprised, and wondering
what there was in the talk about q
strange old man to agitate her dear old
uncle. Philip said,to her:
Miss Wayne, the old man of whom
we have been talking is one entirely
worthy of your sweet sympathy, and, in
alword, is my best friend"
Uncle Paul haulted suddenly, utterly
dumfounded at the declaration. He
raised both hands, as if The affrontery
Of, tho!avowal had filed him with sur.
prise AMI Indignation too deep for ex-
preston.
"Tell me, Philip Hastings, that ut
least you do not know this old mans
history" q
A thousand frightful questions sug-
gested themselves to the mind of Mary.
She leaned forward to catch Philips
denial, denial which she hoped he
would make, and she shared Paul
Wayne's horror when Phillip said
Every line and page of it, SIR
Why, sir, he's tho wickedest man
alive, and if you-welI, if he is your
friend, if there is any community of
thought with him, why-well, I'm
right, beyond doubt. But there can
not be. He has given you his version,
and when I tell you all, you will cut
him off"
= sHe has told mo all, and I have
found that he has told me the truth,
the whole truth and nothing but the
truth. When men assume q character
it is not q bad one. The old man Quig-
ley has made clean breast of it nil.
He arrested mo in my downward career,
and I cannot, would not cast him of. -
{ There was something in his speech,
SO earnest, so manly, that Mary was
proud of her lover for having uttered
it, and even the lines in Uncle Paul's
face swero softened, and he was almost
ready to acknowledge that he might be
wrong, when Philip resumed his story
II epent last winter of New Orleans,