The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-02-15

usual, for drive, but this time I dared
| not let my eyes search the crowd as yester-
| day, for saw that Mrs. Iceberg was watch
| ing me closely.
But suddenly we came to standstill;
| there was crush OF carriages ahead, and
| for some moments we were unable to 60
on. It was during this delay suddenly
| heard an exclamation, and, turning my
| head toward the side from whence it came,
encountered the gaze Of one who, for
| moment, held me spen-bouno with terror
| and amazenent. Surely remembered the
| hard, ugly face, the keen, gray eyes, the
| scant, whito hair. It was, it could be no
other than Miss Armund, who stood gazing
| at me, evidently lost in astonishment at
seeing me, for saw at once that she recos-
uized me, and I felt, as I always had, a sort
Of fear of her, and now turned pale,
actually shivering with terror, as I saw
she was about to aight. What did she
Gean to dol
| But Just at that instant our driver, an
noyed at the delay and seeing the way
cleared at last, gave our horses sharp cut
with the whip ana we were whirled away,
leaving Miss Armund, who had alghted,
looking after US with vacant stare.
Mrs. Iceberg was too well bred to ask
questions, but saw that she had noted the
whole occurrence and was full of conjecture
as to who the Strengthening woman could
have been who had evidently recognized ms
at sight. But I did not enighten her. I
could not, without giving details i did not
care to disclose, for had hitherto passed as
an orphan, friend Of Mrs. Kent had left,
and whom she had adopted, and no one ever
dreamed of my being founding, reared by
charity; and, though they were kind and
generous people, dared not trust to their
aristocratic ears the true story Of my life,
hoping I could hold my place, as before,
among them. Mrs. Kent, too, had thought
it best to say nothing in regard to my pa
rentage, though she as well as myself
would have scorned to have told a falsehood
concerning it. We merely kept silent,
thereby not committing ourselves to our.
friends.
Our drive home was silent and depressed
evidently Mrs. Iceberg expected an ex-
PLANTATION, and was somewhat angry because
it did not come And 1 was embarrassed
and vexcd that could not givcit, and so we
arrived home and betook ourselves to our
respective tasks, each feeling hurt at the
other, yet without cause.
how it would have ended I know not.
Whether should have confessed to Mrs.
Iceberg the strange circumstances that sur
rounded my intimacy with Miss Armund, or
whether should have preserved sullen
and discreet silence on the subject, l can
not say But fate had arranged different
explanation for all these petty difficulties,
one of which we never dreamed.
We had arranged to attend the opera that
evening; yet little thought what strange
chain of events were being forged for me,
as finished my toilet, and posed an unnec-
essary length Of time before the cheval
glass, viewing the effect of new costume
of cherry and cream satin whose lustrous
folds glistened in the gas light of the pretty
room where stood. A vain and thought
less girl after all my hard lessons of power
ty and seclusion, often found myself won
dering that could be so happy, /, who had
once seemed only born for a drudge or to
be perpetual nuisance ever in somebody's
way.
sat down idly after dressing, and it be-
ing early, took up paper and began to
read it carelessly at first, but finally name
struck my eye that made me at once Won
derfully interested-it was the name OF
Irving Barrett. For years I had scarcely
thought of tho boy, for however his sister
might interest me in regard to her friend
ship with Oliver Dudley, had never
thought in common with her brothers.
But imagine my surprise and horror at
finding his name at the head of the criminal
calendar, accused Of stabbing fellow stu
dent fatally while engaged in drunken
carouse. He had fought the officers, so the
paper stated, like a wild beast, but had
finally been overpowered and lodged in Jail,
where he now lay awaiting trial
read the account over twice before /
fairly comprehended that Irving Barrett
was an accused murderer, and very likely
to suffer the full penalty Of the law, as pub
lie opinion seemed much against him. Twas
shocked aud grieved at this, for, though
Irving had ever been my enemy, and his
proud sister had scorned me as she would a
leper, I could not but feel this must be a
terrible blow to her and her naughty mother.
And Bertie, dear, brave, manly little Bertie,
how this keen disgrace would wound him
My heart ached for him.
But my meditations were brought to
close by the entrance Of the servant with
word that all were ready and waiting for
me. Hastily donned my cloak and hat and
descended, expecting to find my escort, Mr..
Balfour, waiting for me; but, instead, a
note had been sent saying he had just re-
ceived telegram from home announcing
the dangerous illness Of his father and ask
ing his immediate return; so must excuse
him from attending, though to forego this
pleasure, he said, was disappointment
vet duty to his father came first. And
then he had hastily scribbled a goodbye
and strict injunction not to forget him,
though in the exciting scenes that followed
it is doubtful if thought of him ever
crossed my mind.
The opera-house was filed to overflow
ing. The elite of the whole city were there,
it seemed, and 1 gazed over the brilliant
scene where the bright flashes OF diamonds,
the soft glow of silks and satins, waving
plumes, bright faces and lovely forms,
seemed to give it the likeness of fairy land,
with strange dreamy restfulness, as # all
care and suffering were lifted for little
while from my heart. It was the lull be-
fore the storm, it seemed to me afterwards.
With a crash the music broke forth, and
all eyes were turned instantly to the stage,
for new star was to sing, and the music
loving world was on the Qui vire. The first
part was over; there was lull, and then
the curtain, slowly rising, revealed Madam
L., the celebrated singer whose beauty
and music world applauded, standing be-
fore US. To the day Of my death shall
never forget that scene. The beautiful