The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-02-12

The man had some great care upon him
had always seen that. Sometimes l
would catch Gregory's eyes fixed upon him
with strange ycarn;ng. This afte; noon
of which am speaking, Wilding seemed
quite buried in gloom, scarcely replied to
remarks, AID hardly ate any supper when
We sat round it. For man sharing n
camp life, out in those wild and desolatc
regions to be off his food to the extent of
refusing supper, is remark able fact
Il dare say it was not well cooked,s said
Kate you should have had me tbere-I'd
have made him an omclct.'
Without eggs, my dear 2
'Didu't you have any eggs? Goodness,
gracious. Go on, BERTHE
Supper was half through, the rest of US
were eating like wolves, when spoke to
him.
What's amiss, Wilding, this evening |?
You seem to have fit of the blues upon
you
'Wildiug did not answer for minute.
Yes, lie said. with hesitation ; it's true
| feel depressed. The fact is, Erriugton,
I-I-was little disturbed to-day. Met
with something which startled me-
What was it?'
But he did not say. H. was leaning
his head upon his hand, gazing outward
with a troubled look, as if he wanted TO
sec through the dark pine trees. BY and
by, when we had flushed supper, and most
of them wcro stretched round the largest
fire at n little distance, Gregory came to
the tent for something he wanted. His
master lifted up his head, and spoke to
him.
Gregory said he, when 1 was down
at the lower clearing, to-day, and you we're
near mo, did you hear anybody speak to
me?
'N', sir said Gregory, in sharp, quick
tone.
Any ones voice ? went on Wilding.
Any voice that--that you kuew?'
Il shall never forget the startled look
that crossed Gregory's couutenancc. But
he answered, carclessly:
There was no nobody's voice near, Mr..
Wilding, but yours aud mine. The rest of
'cm were on the other side OF the swamp
l heard nothing at all, SIR
1T was just before fell
Twas quite close to you, sir, when you
fell. You first dropped the axe you we're
holding, and then dropped yourself right
on the handle. l thought you'd got hurt
lu some way, but when I came to pick you
up, saw it was faint
Yes, faint assentcd Wilding, in a
low tone You were close to me, and vet
you heard nothing?'
Nothing at all out OF tho way, sir.
Just before, there bad been bird scream-
ing in the pines.
1T is strange, murmured Wild 'ns to
himself, as the man went away, lit is very
strange. But I could not have been mis-
taken
what did you think you heard, Wild
ing :? | asked, after minute or two. ANY
alarming sound?' For my own ideas had
flown to the suppressed growl of some
teast of prey, which might have tracked
our camp, and be tracking US.
Not alarming said Wildiny Something
on the contrary, that was very sweet and
gentle
Sweet and gentle
Ay sweet and gentle.
And yet you-you tainted at it | went
ON with hesitation, not sure of my ground
and somewhat puzzled.
Yes, fainted at it. I'm not very strong
Erin. ton, as you must have observed
But won't you explain the mystery to
me
You have given it its right name-mys
terry. A mystery never to be solved in
this world.
lie spoke so dreamiugly, 10 so weird a
tone, gazing the while at the sky above us
now black with the shades of night, tha,
I held my peace.
Perhaps l had better tell you the whole
story, Errington, he said, after long pause
l should like to tell some one before die
and there's no one but you 1 could tell il
to-you, or Gregory. Failing you, il
must have been him and he knows some
thing of it already
Tell away, Wilding; l should like te
hear it; but don't talk about dying.
No, he sal the fact will be sufficient