The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-10-04
TH Fl.
LITTLE W All.
A Story Of Absorbing Interest.
BY BERNARD HERBERT.
CHAPTER XIV.

SATASELIA.
While the events narrated in the rrc
ccdinS chapters had been tranSpiring,
silence and mourning had rcigncd in
the quiet house Of the Arnims MP in
Harlem.
Poor Rupert had returned from his
unsatisfactory interview with Dctec-
tive Bancker at police Headquarters,
utterly prostratcd with doubt and
grief.
1t had all been terrific blow to II
man of his sensitive, higl-strmng
nature, and mt first it seemed more than
hc could bear.
He had fallen hopclcsslv, madly in
love with little Gracic, he had believed
her as pure as the angels, and accord
inSly had trusted her rs he would trust
no other living woman save his own !.u
loved mother
The thought that tortured hil> was,
that if little Oracle were innoc, of
oil wrong and had trusted i'm his ro-
lection, why had she fled from him in
the night like n guilty creature; why
had she not sent him somc wort Of her
whereabouts, if sho had rcpentcd of her
hasty action, so that he might go and
bring her home again? But no word
had como from her; shc had vouch-
safcd no explanation, and though he
fought like tiger with himself to re-
press the suspicion that assailed him.
it would take form in spite of him it.
haunted him like some grewsome spec
ter.
Consequently, when he reached the
little home after his fruitlcss search in
Mulberry street, he went straight up to
his room, locked the door, and in the
dcsoation of his heart he flung himself
upon the bed-to try to plan how he
should shape his future course.
And Mrs. Arnim was wise enough to
leave him to himself.
All day long she went about her
household duties silently, and it was
not until the dusk of evening had closed
in that Rupert sought her of his own
FREQ will where she sat in her accus-
tened chair by the window of the de-
serted studio sewing.
She raised her eyes as he came into
fond smile. lie approached, and for
some minutes stood beside her looking
out at the darkcning street.
He was sadly changed, poor I; he
was as pallid as the dead, M Iery
calm. At last it was hc who b okc the
oppressive silence.
"Mothcr!"
"Wcll, my hoy?'
"Havc you no pity for rne
Her kindly eyes filled with tears
and her voice was full of rcproach as
She answered:
ooh, Rupert! My heart is breaking
for you in your trouble, and l have
done nothing but pray the good Lord
to help YOU. But | have not intrudcd
upon You because / knew You would
seek me when you wanted such com
fort as | can give"
lie stopped and kissed the upturncd
brow where the soft, wavy, brown hair
showed signs of the tcll-tale silver.
"Wcll, she has gone forcver!" he
said, sadly, raising himself and turning
his face to the window again to conceal
any passing trace of emotion that might
BE- imprinted there.
"Iou have heard no tidings Of hcr?"
s"Oh, YES; ! have heard her denounced
81. a murdcrCSS: | have been Informed
st police headquarters that she is in
CuSt"dv."
"Thtn it is better that she has gone
forever, Rupert" came the rcjoindcr
j. IL tone of firm conviction.
He shriddcrcd from head to foot at
the word :. but commanded himself.
Il am not prepared to believe all
TIA! hcar, hc said. &tcrnly: 81 shall
rrGG"d h"r ms an innocent injured girl
until the contrary Is proved"
'ThCn YOU mean to waste yonr time
liz following up q case, the results Of
which may bring you only further mis-
cry"
"No! | fCcl sure that if she is clear
OF the shadow of crime that | shall
know it. No. cannot afford, for Your
cake as we'll as my own, to waste an
other hour. | am going tr work mt
once. Mother, | shall attempt TO paint
no more Malonnas. In my present
frame Of mind, think | should sue
coed better with the other description
al woman something dark, brilliant.
fatally beautiful, sort of Satanclla.'
Ready to humor his cNiravagant
fancy, Mrs. Arnim replied:
"It might be good plan: but have
yol an idea for such iacc?"
~ left IN advcris"mcnt for such n
model as | came uptown. | may set
M answer and have to go to work to-
morrow
"Ghc sooner tn" bcttclA Rupert
IT was no idle fancy, no creation Of n
disordcrcd mind which suggested this