The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-02-01

H..
over-confdent in an entire strangers prom
ises, to have clung with such tenacity to so
frail hope, but l fcrveEI: pray You my
never have felt the want Of friend as L
did
Itwas while debating these thoughts in my
mind that Maggie entered TO inform lie
must ges ready to go to Mr.. kranz IN the
morning; il was already too la.e to go this
evening.
made no answer to her remarks, but
after dusk that evening irlpellcd by some
restless spirit, wrapped shawl about me
and stole out for walk. In passing through
the hall I encountered the old gentleman
I knew to be Nr. Ca!cdon. He stopped
short on seeing me and threw up MS hands
with gesture of establishment.
s,Bless my soul, he exclaimed, ''who is it. :"
ssI am Dorcas Lynn" l answered, sur
prised at his words.
ssDorcas Lynn" he mused, thoughtfuly.
then observing ny plain dress and evidently
supposing ne to be one of the servants he
said, more quietly: "EXcuse me, little girl,
but you greatly rcsembled my-some one l
used to know am mistaken. Don't mind
it, child and he went on, leaving me
strangely disturbed at his words. l wan
dered out into the dim, ,dreary shrubbery,
now leailess and shorn of its beauty. The
wind blew in ftful gusts, now roaring
through the trees in a fury, now dying
away to a breath. Almost unconsciously
had wandered to the shore Of the lake where
I could see the boats gently rocking on
the water. / had been at the heights five
years, but in al that time had never en-
tered one Of those boats; but q strong I'M
Spulsemade me determined tonight to take
a sail in one. had often watched them
rowing on the lake, and felt sure could
manage one easily enough. Accordingly I
unfastene6 one and got in, needless that a
stiff breeze was blowing now, and that /
knew nothing about rowing. I took up an
oar and attempted to row, but it was clumsy
work, found, and the next thing did was
to drop it into the water. I was somewhat
frightened at this, for the boat d!ifted
swiftly out from the land and I could not
see how could reach the shore again with
out the missing oar.
sat quite still, however, and the boat
drifted on, borne by the wind, which was
blowing from the land. A gale was spring
ing up, saw, for the boat rocked fearfully,
and chung to the side lest l should fall out.
should never get back to the shore, said
to myself. should be drowned in the lake.
But after all the thought was not so terri
ble had nothing to live for, said. Every
one at Calecon except the servants would be
relieved to know they were rid of my pres
ence forever. And then suddenly remem-
bered that if I died the mystery which sur
rounded me would never be cleared up.
-1,oT r hat cf,>oro rocrn
clue kept me ut Calcdon would never be
known. Even should Mr.. Dudley return
and discover, as he had prom
ised, this secret, its knowledge could never
benefit me- I should long since have fur-
nished food for the fishes in the lake where
once in passion had wished Irma Barrett
might be.
All these thoughts flashed through my
brain in the few moments clung to the
boat that was now being tossed like an egg.
shell in the ceater of the lake by the fear
full tempest that was raging. Every mo-
ment expected to be thrown out into the
boiling waves, when suddenly saw boat
put out from the shore and row straight for
the place where was. Some one had seen
me from the house, I conjectured, though it
seemed improbable, as it was now dark and
fine rain falling with the wind made it
unreasonable for any one 10 venture forth.
Watched the boat as it neared me, and
.could family discern a single person in the
bow. In my anxiety TO see who he was
leaned out over the edge of the boat, and
suddenly losing my balance, I fell out head
long into the water. felt rush OF cold
water, a binding spray covered me COM
pletely, half suffocating me; then I felt Q
strong arm grasp me. and was lifted into .
boat beside dark form and knew 1 was
again safe.
My preserver did not speak, bat I did not
wonder, for it required his utmost efforts TO
manage the boat and guide it to shore. But
suddenly as it had risen the wind luiled and
only gentle breeze swept the lake. The
sky, which had been overcast, now partly
cleared and the moon shone through, by
whose light could see my companion's
face. Surely there was something familiar
in that face-some longremcmbcred Inca
ment. It could not be! yetit must be Oliver
Dudley who was with RE. And at that in
slant he spoke. Il-new that voice had
not waited years for those same kindly
tones. ':Dorcas,'' he was saying, ''little
Dorcas, and is it thus find you:'
Somehow his words seemed strangely
cool and calm. I could hardly speak, so
+umultuous were the feelings that rushed
over me.
ssMr Dudley" cried, springng forward
md clutching his arm, eagerly. ''It is you,
'eally youl Oh, how g'cd ami" Ipoured
forth this in 4 torrent, still holding fast to
his arm the while lest he might vanish as
suddenly as he had come. But his answer
was very different from what expected
ssTake care. Dorcas you will upset the
toat- Yes, it is really NE in the fies...; rath-
er 100 substantial looking for = ghost, am
not We're his words.
Idropped his arm as quickly as though he
had struck me. His cold tone, his entire alb
sence of welcome to me, chilled me TO the
heart. felt instantly that all was changed.
He had forgotten me, and such a weight Of
misery as settled upon me then and there I
hope, kind reader, you may never know.
We had reached the shore now, and, IN
needing his proffered assistance, l clam
bered out, and before he could detain .ne,
sped up the narrow path to the house, and,
entering noiselessly,I Il reached my OWL room
without being seen by any one. My clothing
was wet from my fall in the lake, my hair
disheveled and hanging loose about my
face. was forlorn looking object enough,
but my looks We're fit accompanimeEts to
my feelings. Mechanically | removed my
wet dress and then crouched down IN the
darkest corner like a whipped spaniel,
wringing my hands in dumb, helpless assony
at my disappointments.
TO BE c C)ATISUED