The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-03-31
A SOLDIERS TRUST.
BY DAVID LOWRY.

..How we will live Heaven only
knows! All is dark now"
Mrs. Paine sat down suddenly and
lifted hand to her eyes. Her daugh-
ter, Caroline. a bright, pretty girl o.
seventeen, noted among her associates
for her energy and resolution, caught
her breath suddenly. She was going to
cry, but resolved not to yield now when
her mother was overcome with dread of
the future.
The world had been the avera ge
world to Ellen Paine. She had enjoyed
its sweets till the war came and robbed
her of her husband for years. There
were some jolts in life's journey when
he came home. He was not as strong
as when he went away-lost time, and
of choice changed his vocation. Still
content sweetened the things the gods
provided the Paines through sickness
and idleness; the increasing family and
growing responsibilities all were ac-
cepted cheerfully till one day the sun
seemed to drop out of the armament.
Andrew Paine was brought home un-
conscious, terrible accident had hap
peue6; in twenty-four hours Mrs. Pane
was widow.
: Time moved on. Providence raised q
friend to her in her brother-in-law, who
found work for his nephew, and thus
kept the roof over Mrs. Paine's head.
But death claimed the son, and then
the burden began to fall on Caroline.
The mother strove to tighten ito make
the girls life as joyous as she could. 1t
was dull life at best; the grind began
when she fell i'll with rheumatism. The
future looked dark, but the uncle still
turned the cloud aside until the silver
lining shone again.
Suddenly trade stopped. Then it
really seemed as if all the world stop
ped. so far as Mrs. Paine and her daugh-
ter were concerned. The establishment
where Caroline worked ceased opera.
tons unexpectedly. Mrs. Paine was
unable to move hand that month.
Would they ever. even if work offered
again, be able to catch upato repay
what they owed? These were queries
mother and daughter asked themselve:
an hundred times.
Before the question was answered
fate-remorseless fate-swept away thel'
last hope. The uncle, Arthur Paine
was summoned to his final account
with more Swiftness than his brother
The two women-oae suneEihs' II
broken health; the other hungering fol
ioys she saw herself forever shut out o.
looked al eac.; o'hel less!u!!s iTs. IV,,
did not dare 70 breathe their tearS: !nl
mother he;srt acne" .os aer c'ii'"' 'n'
daughter &c: her Hc;hcr:
But the world wr!nSs answers IRON
all: The day came when the mother
and daughter tiad 10 speak PLAINLY anc
when it came, il tound the mother a:
babe.
Mother. there inay bca way salo
Caroline Paine. hopefully. Mrs. Palnf
shook her head. still keeping her eyes
covered.
Pm sure n1other-wait until Mr.
Brooks comes home. Then l will tel
you what mean"
"a. Ar brooks was well ND in years-au
-,,d bachelor who roomcd on the same
,fioor with the Paines. He was l clerk
Win a varied experience. To Caroline
s,e was walking encyclopedias. Ar
hour later, Mr.. Brooks, in response tc
Caroiine's request. stepped noiselessly
;n+o tho room the Paines occupied.
..,ir Brooks !" said Caroline. brisklv
81 wont ~ ask Won about soldiers
oi.;mS Won know what soldiers art
en+;tIed too,'
81 onobt 70 was chief clerk for {
o,a;,,, y ,a,,+ eioht Years. and five wear.
~ ~ Tho Pens;on Office here" Mr.. Brook
wasted no words. He sat down, look
inc inouirinelv at the earnest face be
fore him.
Then Won can help us. Mr.. Brooks
l want YOU to sell the land my father
or INV mother is entitled to. Fathe
never sold II. did he, mother?''
Mrs Paine looked bewildered. s'Wha
land?'
father ssv W. was Wing out West waitin,
for b;r,
..On7 said Mr.. that's all a
here he checked himself. The girl
face fell. Why not soften the disap