The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-08-01
4 Brothers KeepeT.
/ KONLES EORK OF LOYE AND DUTY.

BY NARY EAEFWELL cATEERWooD,
AgTaoa OF "cRAQuE O. Door," "SrErHE,
GUTHRIE" "TEE LONE MANS
CABrS" AID oTEEs STORIES
AcArdle stood with his hands in his over
coat pockets until the air grew dusker
around him.
He walked down hill slowly, knowing
how Phoebe must shrink at the supper ta-
BILE, how the constraint would drive her up
stairs, and how shocked Mrs. Holmes would
be if she knew what he had said to Phoebe.
A variety Of stings kept him smarting,
and he occupied so much time in his saun-
tering that it was night before he saw the
lights Of Greensburg.
Gurley turned his mares head toward the
hillroad as AcArdle passed the Mounds.
They exchanged word, barely dis tiaguish-
ing each others faces.
McArdle could picture Gurley's horse
standing by the Holmes hitching-post But
he could not picture Phoebe looking out at it
from her chamber window as she did, and
hesitating to answer the callers demand for
herself.
''Oh, the wonder palacew whispered
Phoebe to her unresponsiye window-sil, her
voice Kissing softly through the darkness Of
the room. "Imustput my head into it for q
minute and imagine things. Unjust pretend
lam little happy. In the wonder palace
have always been girl like Miss Fawcett,
an6a friend has come to call on me, and I
am just trailing down stairs in q long soft
dress to meet hi Tie friend It is sunny
weather, and have flowers by my waist
and N my hair. And now am just reach
ing out my hand" She opened her eyes,
the wonder palace being shattered by a
noise outside. At first it appeared the
friend was riding away, as friends so often
do outside Of wonder palaces; but when he
silhouetted himself against the lighter
background she saw it was her brother
Thane White.
Phoebe threw her window up and pene-
trated the distance hetWixt them with low
but distinct call
He looked over his shoulder and drew
rein The young mare moved resentfully
snd kept describing uneasy half circles.
-"You sre not going to do that" said
Phoebe. :
"Come down here,'' he replied, cautiously
beckoning.
':If leave the window you will gallop of.
But don't think Pn not tell"
He uttered 6erisive hiss.
'srm open to argument" he replied, "if
you're ouick.''
Phoebe ran silently down the back stair
way and approached him. He restrained
the plunging animal, and leaning from the
saddle struck match upon his boot and
held it to his face.
"See that?" he inquired, Indicating
vivid welt across his cheeks and nose.
''That's what your daisy in the house gave
me- as he was riding this way. put my
hand on his bride and meant to borrow
little brotherly cash. It's your fault all
round. Pve been out along the road the
last few days and couldn't raise anything.
This horse'n even things, up.''
sTn call for help" said Phoebe.
ssCau, and pn be out Of sight before you
an draw your breath again. This Is Q
roadster. Ten you what pn do, though. Il
gou insist I'n sell you the horse for a hum
ared dollars. Thorney says you've got
pundred dollars hid away. faint safe to
wait, but Pn wait one minute, while you
bring out the money"
'oThane, it's no pSe to tell you ThornssS
md are destitute"
ssNot q bit. I don't want this horse pSs-
hcularly, but + must have him or money.
You can buy me OF cheap this time, and
pl honestly clear. There's person in this
neighborhood don't want to have see me-"
"Eow many times have you honestly
cleared':''
"a good many. But Pm telling you clear
truth. It amt healthy for me here now. So
here's good horse and the equipments
thrown in going for less than half price,
cash in hand Run and fetch your money
once, run and fetch your money twice.
81 will" said Phoebe, desperately.
"Down to the gate," he stipulated. u
want fair start if you're goin' to do any
thing mean"
She ran upstairs, groped in bureau
drawer, took out sealed envelope and held
it up against the window light. Then, set
ting her teeth she slipped down again.
'Get off," and give me the bride in my
hand,n said Phoebe, when Thane reached
from the saddle for her envelope.
He laughed, but dismounted, looking sus-
piciously toward the house. The sitting
room curtains muf1ed their lamp-hght, but
Randy's back-htchen candle fared out on
the wood-pile while she washed dishes and
scared among the rafters of the tune called
Hebron.
81 keep the bride myself, my lady," said
Thane, 'stil the moneys counted cut"
Whether Bess at this point utterly rebeled
against him, or whether Phoebe frightened
her, she reared directly over Thane and
flung him by her bride OF his feet Snort
,G, ENSE