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

likes to nurse. There is no reason that 1
should NOPE. I can feel very happy, All,
dear Lord! would that he had como and
saved me from another day Of fear" And
breaking out thus, she threw her head upon
her mothers breast and cried.
But Jenny wept rarely-at least, in her
mothers sight; therefore, the honest bosom
On which her face was hidden was rent by
the unaccustomed sobs, and anxious, plain
tive sympathy spoke in the poor womans
voice, as she exclaimed, with her pretty
fingers tenderly kneading the girls rich hair:
"Oh, my child, my dearie! you will break
my heart with your misery! What is your
feara Has any one wronged you? Kind
Lord, what trouble is this that bath come
upon you9 Jenny, Jenny, raise up your
eyes-see how bright the moon shines in
the room; it makes thy hair like yellow
silk. Oh, my pretty lamb who is he that
hath not Gomez and what is thy fear, Jenny"
Now, the door Of the bedroom and the door
of the parlor both standing open, and the
staircase measuring but IL small space be-
twixt the low floor and the passage, it was
scarcely possible that Mr. Strangfcld sitting
i'll expectation of his daughters arrival,
should fail to catch his wife's words When,
therefore. in her clear, panied voice, she
cried, "Who is he that hath not come" AND
"What is thy fear, JENNY" up rose the mas
ter shipwright, and the staircase groaned
under his boots.
Jenny, hearing him coming, drew away
from her mother with quick movement OF
terror, and backed through the glare OF
moonlight into the shadow near the bedstcad.
@Wife," exclaimed Strangfeld, in his strong
voice, "how is it that Jenny does not come to
me?'
To which no reply was vouchsafed He
| advanced by stride and said, "What has
the girl been saying, and what is her fear'
Jenny, come FORTH I can sec you standing
there. Give ME thy hand, foolish wench,
and now down stairs with Us all. If there
be aught to fear, pray that the Lord may
deliver us from evil"
So speaking, he held forth his hand, and
the shrinking girl, not daring to dlsobey,
came to him fearfully and dropped fingers OF
| ice into his palm.
As they went down the stairs there was
lifetime of suffering in Jenny's thoughts.
For what now was she to do? Must she con-
fess under the crushing gaze Of her fathers
eyes. Beyond her strength of voice, beyond
control of passionate weeping, would the
confession take her. Cuthbert would be here
anon-to-morrow, surely-and shift the heavy
load of her secret upon himself. And with
him at hand those stern eyes would not De
terrifying, nor the anger unbearable.
SNOW my girl" said he, his voice insen-
sibly softcning under the beauty OF his only
child, "speak boldly, and acknowledge the
trouble that has come to you. l will tell
you," laying u forefinCer on his thumb,
awhen this habit of moping first became vis-
ible to me; that was a full month before we
sent you to your aunt Rachel. That visit
did not improve thee, but, on the contrary,
has made thee worse. Now You have your
date, and so you shall not be ut loss for the
| reason.
The girl tried to meet her fathers eyes,
whereof the severity appeared intensified by
the spectacle rings that concentrated their
forces of fire and feeling; but to stand to
them hardly was an impossible feat; her
gaze went downward, and in n scarcely au-
dihle tone she replied: II do not nope,
father; sometimes like to be alone"
"Be honest, wench, be honest!" exclaimed
strangfield, harshly. "What was the mean-
ing of those words your mother was repeat
ing just nowi" L.,
HJem,y, they were, 'Would that he had
come and saued me from another ddy OF
feur!n" whispered Mrs. Strangfield. Have
10 fear, my pretty. Thy father Is stern, but
| he loves thee"