The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-01-30
VOLUME X.

undertook the task of directing the con
versation. She endeavored to steel
clear of the quicksands, but in trying t.
draw Uncle Paul into a conversation
she precipitated just what she Was &c
anxious to avoid.
Uncle Paul had sat quite still fol
awhile, in q half-drowsy, brown study,
but he awakened suddenly when Mary
said, "Suisie and met such strange
looking, unhappy old man to-day"
GA what-that old man-beyond q
doubt bad man"
"Why, Uncle Paul, have you walked
at lasta" asked Mary. "I'm glad
something can fx your attention"
Paul did not look as 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 as we passed he was saying: IF
could only talk to him minute, as if
some old friend had refused him SYM
pathy. Who could it have been, I
wonder? I 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, 60 different from
what he had desired. The two talked
of the strange old man, while Uncle
Paul grew uneasy at every word, until
finally he rose upon his feet and began
pacing the floor in an agitated way that
he could not conceal.
Mary watched her uncle for a few
moments, surprised, and wondering
what there was in the talk about a
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
q word, is my best friend"
Uncle Paul haulted suddenly, utterly
dumfounded at the declaration. He
raised beth hands, as if the affrontery
of the avowal had filed him with sur
prise AMI indignation too deep for ex-
preston.
"Tell me, Philip Hastings, that at
least you do not know this old mans
history"
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 the wickedest man
alive, and if you-well, 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 of.
"He has told me all, and I have
found that he has told me the truth,
the whole truth and nothing but the
truth. When men assume character
it is not bad one. The old man Quig-
ley has made a clean breast of it all.
He arrested me in my downward career,
and I cannot, would not cast him of.
There was something in his speech.
30 earnest, so manly, that Mary was
proud of her lover for having uttered
it, and even the lines in Uncle Paul's
face were softened, and he was almost
ready to acknowledge that he might be
wrong, when Philip resumed his story
st epent last winter at New Orleans,
rs you know. One night I visited a
gaming table and was induced to play.
[ lost heavily, and, becoming desper-
ate, was about to risk my purse and
it's contents upon q single throw,
when q servant stumbled against me
md we fell. As stopped to aid him ,
ne whispered: 4 did it purposely.
Play no more. Meet me outside the
loor.' withdrew from the game and ]
net him, and he said: 'Your antagon- {
st there pointing inward, was /
,heating you saw it all. Don't go
pack. I was ruined there used to +,
play with thousands, and now sweep &
he floors why do you stay there ?
I asked. 4 must eat and drink, and
Who will take me with character from
here as my Last place p" 6
Mary felt relieved, and her uncle
Paul said, "The servant was Quigley I; |
,ut he doubtless did not tell you that
i'll these thousands he stole from his {
deserted wife, or gained on forged 6
,apers." {
"No, sir, not then. But I took him
V my servant and then he told me that
could not trust him, and why. He
old me what you have just stated.
lid trust him and I have never had I
occasion to regret my choice" Il
Uncle Paul paced the floor for q mo-
nent, muttering, eft will come out, {
,eyond doubt; had better tell it 6
ii, then went over to Mary and caught
Ter to his heart as if he would shield I
her with his life, and looking at Philip.
aid: "You believe in this mans ,
man Quigley. One 9
more test and that will settle it beyond :
/ doubt. Would you marry his daugh- :
er 2" ;
"H I were not engaged and he 9
stopped. Surprise was flushing Mary's I
lace when Uncle Paul answered the ques- Z
;ioning face before him. "There she is Z
yes, my ward, my more than child, is I
Quigley's daughter, given me by his de- I
,erted wife, and Mary's dying mother.
Prove your sincerity in this man."
Philip took the poor amazed girl in &
lis arms and saved her from falling. g
Uncle Paul hoped about the room as l
me possessed, dashing tear from his I
we and exclaiming, " It's all right Tow,
,eyond doubt"
Qnigley, by the aid of gift left him i
,Y a DYING relative. was enabled to