The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-02-19

ma came to my room in tho night, aud
said 1 was going to be viii her tomorrow
She woke me up, think, for 1 opened my
eyes all in minute, and she was standing
by the bed, anS then she said it,
The child repeated this as calmly as she
would repeat story of a book, without
the slightest appearance of discomfort. a
wild terror filed my heart; could no,
control it, aud caught Ecr to me and
strokcd her golden hair.
'Janey-Janey. Don't you know wha,
you are saying? If you 60 to be with
your mother you will leave me all alone !!
'Janey burst into sobs. But yet she
oid not seem to realize the situation.
swallowed my own emotion ; I soothed hel
with loving words-which brought to my
soul none of the comfort they were meant
to briug to hers. Alas, alas J!
'And tho result ? brealhcd, hardly dar.
ing to put the question.
Need you ask it?' returned Wilding.
with bitter smie. That same morning,
close upon tho conversation in the study,
Janey was seized with dangerous disor-
der which was going about Boston, and
diei the next day-her birt hday.'
Tm going to mamma in the strange
land she strovc to say to me in dying.
Il know she will be there to meet me.
Don't cry, papa. Yes, yes, mamma, I'm
coming she added minute afterward,
striving to rise from the pillow and stretch
ing out her hands apparently to somebody
in the distance, and then fell back lifeless
upon the pillow.
Wildins bent his face on his hands,
tears trickling through his fingers: Thus
there was a long silence.
and that's my past story, Erripgton,'
he said, looking up.
How long is it since 2
Two years ago Janey left me- I've
not much to tell of them. The wealthy
bank broke and swallowed up all my
money and Mary's in its ruins. But that
| had inherited slender income from nv
Uncle James, in England, should have
had nothing left-and don't know that
1 should have cared. While knocking
about, aimless, with Gregory, who would
cling to me, I fell in with this surveyors
clearing company, and we joined it. Tha,'s 5
all, Errington. 1t brings US down to this
day
TO this day, yes, but have you not
something to tell Of that p
James Wilding nodded.
This afternoon, when l was at work
at The lower clearing, busy enough,
and thinking of nothing but my duties,
heard soft voice close to me.
Papa it said, papa
1t was the voice Of my child, if ever
heard it. heard it distinctly as you
hear mine now. Turning quickly round
saw no one was near me but Gregory,
and waited in a sort Of startled surprise
'papa, you are coming to us; We want
you,' said the voice again, and l remember
no more.
why l should have tainted, | know
not certainly not from tcrror-I suppose
it all part and portion of that which can
not be understood in this world. When |
woke up, Gregory was supporting my
head.
did you stumble and hurt yourself, sir p
he asked, and let him think it.
That was my summons, Errngton, and
tomorrow will be New Years day.
1t sounded mysterious and solemn.
Let us hope that you may be in some
way mistaken, Wilding,' said, with lame
words
'How can l De-.rcmombering the past !?
he rcjoined. | am not a superstitious man
never was that; yet I believe | shall not
see the setting of to-morrow's sun. Pos
sibly L may sec it in more glorious form
in the other land. But that my brief life
of sadness and sorrow is at its close, I am
as sure of as can be.
"A brief life indeed, if this be its ending.
How old are you?'
Thirty -seven,' he answered. Il should
be 3S if lived till next February
l was some years under 30, but it soem-
ed too young to die.
Wilding rose.
Il think 1 shall turn into my blankets,
he said; I'm tired somehow done over.
why have you not lighted your pipe 2