The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-07-08

enough 10 hold his peace.
"What ails Jenny, thenW continued the
| mother. "You should know. You be
| man of long sight. 1 never could hide
secret from thee"
Mr.. Strangfeld sat for space behind bis
spectacles, pondering, while his wife laid
down her needles to pass her hand over her
| hair
"What should be the matter with her?" de-
manded Mr.. Strangfeld, presently "Her
health is sound?"
II hope sol" cried Mrs. Strangfeld, ner-
vously.
mo one has been meddling with her heart,
| to my knowledge"
sMeddle! Certainly not. Should I not
| know!"
| "Unless," continued Mr. Strangfield, "she
be fallen into that state against which the
Apostle warned the Corinthian damsels, put
ting it in this way-that the unmarried
woman careth for the things of the Lord;
which was, doubtless, true thing to say
of those ancient people, but will not hold
now."
Mrs. Strangfeld shook her head softly.
"If she had a sweetheart she would tell
me-" said she, looking rather vaguely, how
ever, at her husband, as woman might
whose conscience does not place her perfectly
at ease.
II could not imagine that she would not, ]"
said the husband, sternly.
"As to Mrs. Mead's gossip, it's idler than
the wind Being known to her somehow"
continued Mrs. Strangfeld, who was not
very easily rcpressed, and who, when sho had
point to get at, always Travelled to it along
the most roundabout paths-"for che chit
will not explain how their acquaintance be-
gan-is it not proper that Mr. Shaw who IS
q born gentleman and knows manners, should
take off his hat to her and pass pleasant
word when they meet? Now, through some
blockhead neighbor, Mother Mead hears OF
their talking on the beach, whittier Jenny
had gone for shells for a pin cushion. And
to me size comes with wise tossing Of the
nose But, says I, 'Maam, am my daugh-
ter's mother, and what concerns me shal! be
my proper trouble, under Providence, that
our neighbors may have full time for their
own affairs That was we'll said Michael,
dost thee not thinkp
"Let Mrs Mead beware how she meddle
with Jermy's name! But there should be
no cause, neither for her nor any other gossip,
to talk"
@Cause!" cried Mrs. Strangtield, opening
her mild eyes, with little toss of the knit
ting needles. "a pretty pass, truly, if Mr..
Shaw cannot pull off his hat to Jenny, and
praise the weather. without his politeness be-
ing called Il cause. A cause to set Mrs.
Meed's tongue going! You need not stand
on your head to do that"
"I'l not have Mr. Shaw's name chimed
with my wench's,"- exclaimed Strangtield.
"Beelzebub himself is not harder on us than
the doctor up ut the schoolhouse.
"Dear heart alive, know naught OF Mr.
Shaw" exclaimed Mrs. Strangfeld, with a
corner glance at her husband. "1f Jenny has
set him gaping, his mouth is not the only one
her beauty has opened. 1 like to look at his
handsome face in the street when meet him,
and his eyes never were matched tor the Due
of them. These are the Lords doings, and q
woman may admire the works OF creation, l
hope. But Jenny would not make sweet
heart Of him without opening her heart to
me-"
aWhat does Jenny do in her bedroom all
these hoursp said he. "These mopings have
come upon her since her return from Syden-
ham. Did she leave her heart behind her
the2e!p i.--- .---.-
-G.No1v, how you talk! Were that SO, would
| not Rachel have writtenF
"Jane, Jane, I do not like thy habit of flee
inc. 1t is an old taint Of sauciness."
HIll 90 and call Jenny, and she shall argue
with thee herself" said Mrs Strangtield,
quite un;uffled by her husbands reprimand.
She put down her knitting, and leisurely
rising, with pretty waddle left the room.
Up the staircase, wide enough for big
house she went, and, with q smart turn OF
the door handle, entered bedroom. Here
all was dark, until few moments gazing
exposed Jenny's figure seated ut the window,
with the windy moonlight streaming upon
her and the summer gale tossing her hair
aJeuny. Jennym exclaimed Mrs Strang'
field advancing quickly, "what sickness art
thou courting at that open window, 1oollsl
id?-letting the cold wind fill your bones
Come away from the draught, and shut the
window, Father wants thee down stairs"
at is past nine, mother. What does father
want. I like this cool wind, and the star>
are pretty to watch, running among tho
clouds"
"Father does not understand your moping
Here have you been sitting for above al
hour. We have been talking about thee, and
no has some questions to ask"
SWhut questions" exclaimed the girl
quickly. "Let me stay here, mother ltwll
be time for bed soon. What questions ha'
father to ask.'
"Why, you speak as if you were scared
Jenny, if you would fly in the face of thu
Lord, the way to do it is to fout thy mother
What ails you' A dozen times have asked
and you say nothing ails you. Are you no.
well! Is there some secret to trouble you
Are you weary of home' Come down, com!
down, and open your heart to your parents.
And saying this she took Jenny's hand, bu
finding it cold as stone, cried out, "Sce, now
if this wind will not put thee i'll sick bcd9
And in q little passion of anxiety and annoy
ance, she closed the window sharply.
The sweet and faithful heart, hidden tt
watch for her husbands coming, felt th'
closing of the window to be the true ending
of her hopes and fears for that night. 1
was q repriove that left deep yearnlng ant
faint heartedness and sorrowful wonder
| Never had he failed her before 1t could no