The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-07-25


for you and easy times for my lady. PH
make your fortune for you"
ssNow you're gittin' it down to a hne
point" remarked Thorney, with cunning
grin.
"Why doesn't he make his own fortune"
demanded Phoebe, INSTEAD Of constantly
stripping us!"
Thorney's expression changed to blank
and open-nouthed doubt. He could grasp
but one idea at q time, and his feeble
hold on that kept his head moving like
ball betwixt these two more powerful nat
ureS.
'You ought to be enjoying life,' contin-
ned Thane, INSTEAD of chopping and dig
ging for living. You ought to know
where gold watches and full pocket-books
grow, and you've wit enough to get at them
il somebody gave you few hints"
''He gets it down to hne point" said
Thorney, challenging Phoebe.
ssLook into my eyes, Thorney," she said.
He attempted to do 50, but his gaze sank
before her blazing earnestness. "Did he
ever do any thing for US but get US into
trouble! Have we not learned what we
know, in spite Of him! Haven't we always
been happiest and safest when he was in
PRISON. Is it likely that he will ever be diff
ferenta"
Thorney now challenged Thane with a
wag Of the head.
sShe's gittin' down to a fine point" he re-
marked.
s.You and I must stand by each other.
What have in the world but you, Thorney.
have enough to bear without your desert
ing me-"
II amt a desertin' you," said Thorney,
dropping his head with distressed pucker
Of the mouth.
Hang to the apron string, sonny" ex-
horted his other mentor at the window.
Thorney menaced him with slowly
clenched fist sYou amt give up my tin
! whistle yet, any way"
"pn blow on 1t when want you," said
Thane, removing his elbows from the Win
dow sill. Pm staying round the neighbor-
hood, and In see you both again. Keep an
ear open for that whistle, Thorney."
The window-glass again shuddered and
cinked as he drew down the sash. He
paused moment and laughed through the
patched pane at them, o puttied crack con-
tributing to the distortion Of his face.
After he disappeared Phoebe covered
down in seat with her head bowed.
What ais yous" inquired Thorney, star
ing suspiciously. "You amt afraid O.
Thane, are you!"
Phoebe shook her head without lifting it.
II amt" said Thorney, stretching out his
arm to feel the muscle. HE amt no man
beside Of me. won't let him hit you like
he used to. And blame if he amt got to
give that tin whistle up; won't stand it.
he took my tin whistle, Thane did," an
nounced Thorney, in way calculated to
impress his sister by the startling news.
She took her wrap from its nail near the
wster-bucket and stopped to look at her
liquid reflection.
''You no account wretch" said Phoebe to
the face thus meeting her from some lower
world, '.you can't do any thing but stare
up from the pit you are inn
THAT whistle cost me quarter Of dol
lar" runinated Thorney, bitterly.
'sBe comforted about it, Thorney," said
his sister, laying her head against his arm.
1--WE will surely get our whistles back yet"
'Thane never took none from you.''
"He has not left me even penny whistle,
Thorney, to amuse myself with since you
and were little children"
The spring days succeeded one another in
monotony. There was change going on in
the earth, and the buds swelled large upon
the trees, though scarcely flush Of green,
even in the awakening hchens, showed IT.
self through the woods.
Phoebe felt another change growing
around her. She was at first so alert for
Thames expected footstep that the meaning
of whispers in her school, hints from Randy
Thompson, and the silences Of Mrs. Holmes,
quite escaped her He did not appear. Her
breath by degrees grew freer, and she
turned again to the simple pleasures OF ex-
istsnce to find they were taken from her.
Il she coaxed Toddles to rock on her lap
Mrs. Holmes had an errand with him out Of
the room Her host looked at her with
puzzled expression and stinted his usual
cordiahty. She met Adam and Nose Guy
once or tnce, and their curious insolence
brought fire into her eyes.
There were such silences at table that
her food choked her. 1t was no longer
Randy's pleasure to wait on the pretty
creature whom she considered such child,
snd to sit in Ph@be's room when every
body else was in bed, telling neighborhood
traditions No one wanted her to do any
thing for him. An invisible circle Of sep
aration was drawn around her. Twice she
walled to the farmhouse where Thorn"y
| was hired, to make sure that no harr had
betallep him, and enjoy his unthinking
compapiopship. Mrs. Holmes spent an aft
ernoon with Miss Fawcett and brought not
the slightest message from one girl to the
other. s'Apd liked her 50" thought Phoebe
aApd she was so kind to me-" Gurley
called, and Mrs. Holmes gently devoted her
self to his entertainment. Also, whatever
latent sohcitude she felt for her distant
cousin, Milton McArdle, now became active.
His readings with Phoebe were in some way
overruled. She stayed much in her own
room. When she came out she carried
herself with helpless defiance.
81 will go to Mr.. Barker" she resolved,
lying awake at night crushed under her i'll
visible load, land tell him all about Theae
He may have mercy on me; Pm not wanted
here"
"There's talk goin' round the neighbor-
hood" Randy reluctantly volunteered, once
when the girls face touched her. Talk had
never gone around the neighborhood about
herself, and this enabled her to state the
fact severely.
ayes, suppose there is,'' said Phoebe.
"Don't you csres" demanded Randy.
"Would my caring stop it"
"It might stop some things"
IL don't think it would" said Phoebe
Randy fixed her eye in dismay upon so case
hardened person.
"Folks don't like the looks" she further
revealed. MRS. Barker, she seen him,
too"
"Mrs. Barker is not talking about me"
| How thoy helm II gu