The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-12-20
"Come in, girl"
She entered, sweet, pensive. beauti-

cho ohseieu, sweet, penSlYe, Deautl-
full as ever.
@is tho gentleman ready for break
fast2 1t is eight o'clock"
Bless me $50 it is. No, Jess; that
man won't be with us this morning.
He left the house after YOU went to
bel, and said he should 60 on to the
vi!lago. Set the table, and I'll tell YOU
how it happened.
He lathed his head and face in water,
while the girl busted herself in setting
the table. The two sat down to the
humble meal. There was moments
pause, while they ate and drank.
you don't ask me how that man
happened to leave the house in the
night" he said.
Her eyes ma le the in luiry.
well, really, Jess-Im almost
ashamed to tell you. The fact is, I
ordered him to leave"
90, father!"
"ies, it's to- bad; but it's too late
now to help it"
How Ard 10 inuppon q9'' ---- -
Il was in bad humor, as you know.
He made some remark about tho pov-
cry of this house. That nettled me,
and l gave him hot answer. One
word brought on another, and I told
him that ho must leave. He picked up
his sachel in passion and went. I
looked out of the door after him, and
saw him following the lane down to
the Iii hway."
She said nothing; her eyes were
turned downward. He perceived that
his explanation had distressed her.
Well, jess, don't mind it. Some
way it's crept into my head that he
might be the agent of some one who
claims to own this property. You
know have tod you-that / found
tho house abandoned when we came
here, and fixed it up the best 1 could,
and have never paid any rent.
thought, perhaps, this man might be
spying out things for the owner. If
that turns out to b, so, 1 shall be glad
sent him off, Anyway, girl, there's
one thing ] want you to promise me
about this unfortunate affair. Will
you?"
His voice trembled; there was
anxiety in his faco.
"Of course 1 will, father. What
is it?"
Just this: hope we shall not see
this man again. If he was q traveller
who had lost his way, as he claimed,
we probably shall not, as, in that case,
he would leave Aylesworth in the coach
this morning. But suppose he has
given his version of tho affair at the
inn; and 1 don't feel like being annoved
by any inquiries or complaints. So 1
shall deny all knowledge of any such
traveller. II they get in1uisitive I shall
declare that nobody came here; that if
anything of the kind happened it was
at some other house. just see, Jess
it'll do no good for me to admit that
turned him out. and no harm to DENY
it. You must help me. I want you to
say. and stick to it, if you are ques-
That's a sooIn InaaE slFls she,,sthat sba5saa tbba5aa
ready to help your poor old father. :
There was o rap at the door.
Bryson started. The guilty conscience
within him had begun to fear every
sound.
who on earth can it be?" he asked.
! Jessica rose and went to the door.
The visitor was out of sight; but rs
Bryson listened, he could plainly hear
oil that he said, as we'll as recognize
his voice.
1t was Edgar Van Wyck.
Good morning. Miss Bryson.
showed a stranger the way to your
door last night, and promised him
that I would come over this morning,
and show him the way to the village,
Is he ieady?"
There was slight pause.
"a stranger ?-here the voice OF
Jessica replied. Surely, you must be
, mistaken in the place. Nobody came
here"
"Well, that's odd 1 left him ght
by this door. What could have become
of him?"
The cup that fryson had raised to
his lips fell from his nerveless fingers,
and was shattered on the table. Defeat
detection, the gallows stared him ir
the face.
With n supreme effort, he crushed
down his fears. He saw tn 1t he must
hear what story this youth had to tell
and then, at the worst, instant flight
with the money was open to him.
"Jess, he called ont, bring that char
in here"
lTo BE CONTINUED