The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-08-23

oneh', that nor lot in life was to,
hard to bear, il, having done oil sb,
could to shield her father from tn,
consequences of his crime, by assum
ing the accusation herself, tho ev;
slirlt who had prompted all the miser,
na9 hnntsd her down, and was abon
TO baik her in the hardsbips of tn,
new lie which she had to face single
handed and alone.
But after Rupert's kindness to her
after she had wept to her hearts con.
tent, sense of blessed relief settled
upon her troubled spirit, and she began
10 wonder whether it were, indeed. The
mocking face of Max Boyden she had
seen giaring up at her from out the
jaws of death ''e
In that brief moment of respite she
| seemed to lose sight of the fact that
she mad lain Ill among strangers in Emo.
.and Tor week prior to her setting ont
ior Amcrlca, and consequently won.
9ered how Boyden could have arrived
Shc even went fur o., 90 ralry,y pilsn.
her excited imagination had played her
some trick, and it was not at all the
face of Max Boyden that she had seen.
In this partially relieved frame of
mind she eagerly scanned every face
she met on the ship, and as that of her
tormentor did not again meet her gaze.
she concluded that either she must
have been cruelty tortured to no pur
pose, or that, il it were Boydcn, he
must have persisted upon the ill-starred
craft that had caused the fatal disaster
to the Oregon.
Therefore, littlo dreaming of the
bitter consequences of every step she
took, little Oracle Garland allowed
herself to he led on shore and far up-
town into the Harlem district to q hum
ble little house, where an anxious woman
waited.
One had but to look into tho face of
Mrs. Dorothea Arnim to be assured of
her goodness. She was fine specimen
OF womanhood, true mother. A widow
Tor many years, she dotted upon her boy,
rupert, in way that amounted to
idolatry. He was her Joy, her hope.
her stay in life, and naturally size vel.
coined him home to her hearth and
henrt with IN affectionate effusion
which blinded her for tho time being
to tho presence of the little downcast
stranger who stood with fearful eyes
watching the glad reunion.
1t was Rupert who bcthought him
self first, and breaking away from the
fond embrace, turned the Cood woman
about 30 that she realized the presence
of stranger for the first time.
Whom have we here2 she exclaimed
In astonishment, as her eyes rested up
| on the sweet, upturned face of little
Oracle.
"a guest, mother" was the reply.
Never for an instant questioning her
boys action in the matter, Mrs. Arnim
went to the girl and took her in her
motherly arms and kissed her. '----"---''.---
You are welcome, my dear child"
she said what is your name?"
"Grace Garland," was the low reply.
We will call her Gracie, little Cru
Gle, mother" Rupert said; and we will
love her and care for her, since she is q
waif from the lost Oregon, and she has
no friends"
His wish was his mothers law, and
as Mrs. Arnim led Oracle up to neat
little chamber upon tho second floor of
the house, tho poor child felt that for
the time being, at least, she had found
rest and protection. 1t was with a
thankful heart that she fell asleep that
night and prayed God to be good to
those who had been good to her
Below stairs, in the pretty room
which for the present served both as
sitting-room and studio, mother and
son sat facing each other in the dim
radiance of the shaded lamp.
For some moments silence had fallen
between them, and it was Mrs. Arnim
who was the first to break it. They
had been talking of the advantages
gained by the young artist in his brief
| journey abroad, and it was oil the more
startling when she suddenly broke off
to inquire:
Rupert, who is she?"
No need to mention names; he knew
that she referred to the stranger who
slept beneath their roof.
II know nothing about her, mother, 1"
he replied, "beyond the fact that she is
lovely, and as good as she is lovely.
We both crossed in the steerage of tho
| Oregon. She lost what little she had,
and as she has told you, she has no
friends"
"What would she have done, had she
not met you?"
"The good Lord only knows! Idare
not think of it"
Rupert, you are in love with the
! childl"
"Yes, mother, / am, as you will be
when You know her."
| A shadow fitted across the kindly
face of the woman as she .rejoined:
| "How can know her when You do
not?"
"You will win her confidence. Women
become acquainted easily. She has
some terrible secret upon her soul, has
escaped from some awful experience
which has nearly wrecked her reason.
The shadow upon Mrs. Arnim's face
deepened.
"Ah! You admit that something has
occurred, something that might ex-
plain her forlorn, destitute condition in
life?"
"Of course! Have you not already
seen il for yourself?"
| Eyes"
"Motherp he exclaimed, starting
suddenly to his feet, as for the first
he noted the peculiar expression upon
| I,so orko .,xI., 10