The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-10-25


face, his eyes starting from their sock.
cts, while with his nails he laccrated
his flesh, mingling his blood with lis
tears.
my child, my child, Stellar no
shrieked; "they have taken her, stolen
her! Oh, God, let me dieI'
CHAPTER XXI.
MADAME CLARIssE.
It was the most violent, the most
awful exhibition of grief that little
Oracle had ever witnessed, and in ter.
having gazed JlindiS a5h her ne protector pro or
upon ihs-6scJ s-~--.-r - lsssi =
Mr.. Edgar went to bin hnd tried 10
raise him, but he was inert, lifeless.
by this time the startled farmer and
his wife had arrived upon the scene,
and with the mans assistance the law
yer raised the poor worn out body, and
carrying it across the hallway, laid it
gently upon the bed, which still bore
the impress and warmth of little
Stella's body.
The air OF tho chamber was heavy
with sickly sweet odor, while on the
floor beside the bed lay the tell tale
ball OF cotton still rocking with chic
roform.
The two women had followed into
the room and stood there in awe-strick-
en- silence. 1t was tho lawyer who
spoke first.
"The child has been kidnapped do
any OF you know anything about it
have you heard any sounds?"
The housewife was the only person
who had any information to offer; she
simply stated how she had found the
outer door open after having left it
securely closed, though not locked.
But the poor old gent is not dead,
sir, is he? ?" she asked, looking appre.
hensively at the prostrate figure upon
the bed.
mo" answered Mr.. Edgar, "he still
breathes and his pulse seems strong ::
the trouble is that heaven only knows
what condition his mind will be in
when he comes to-"
He spoke in an absent-minded way,
his attention being irresistibly drawn
to Oracle, whose face wore such pa
thetic look that it piqxed his curiosity.
AS soon as he was able, he beckoned
her to follow him into the parlor, and
when they were alone he asked:
Oracle, is there some secret between
us? Will you not tell me what it is
evident you know about this AFFAIR.""
Yes, she answered, frankly; "I was
only waiting an opportunity. Know,
then, that Cora Boyden is old Mr..
Leonards daughter, and that little
Stella is her discarded child"
And fhara-,o,~ .~k~ Al
ears of the good lawyer she poured the
whole astounding story which old Jean
had told her that day.
"That settles Madam Boyden's
claim upon your property!" MIR. Ed.
gar exclaimed, delightedly. when she
had concluded her recital, "and salts.
fies me that Madam Clarissc is your
mother"
my mother!" echoed little Oracle.
excitedly; "oh, Mr.. Edgar, tell me-
when shall see her?"
"To-night-almost at any moment
now. She was singing i'm an opera at
a theater; saw her between the acts !.
l told her had reason to believe that
her daughter still lived, and besouoht
her to lose no time in ascertaining the
fact for herself.
She almost tainted, and begged me
to give her coachman full directions
how to find you. Then sha was called
to the stage, and left her singing as
only a bird sings for very Joy.
Darling nlotheri"
And, Oracle, such beautiful
woman!"
{, Hark, bark what is that? Oh, Mr..
Edgar surelv haar tJ,a aou,J "a