The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-12-06
but to n small door near tho end. the
windows about which were lighted.
He gave q loud knock.
CHAPTER III.
N>-gyr-
INSIDE
A gruff voice answered:
uIVh&,, tl,ooDt

| WnOS tnere?
"a traveller ia DISTRESS" was tho re-
| ply. "Tho stage met with an accident,
and L started to walk to the village.
The rain has wet NE through. / am
tired and hungry, and want to stay
till morning."
"lh:s amt a tavern" was the re-
ioinder.
But you surely won't turn me away |
1t is far to the village, and must dry
myself and rest"
Mr.. Belmont heard soft voice,
which seemed 10 be pleading fo- his
admission, though he could not hear
the words. A growl from tho surly
| voice cut it short
"Pm under no obligations to talk Hto'
| every vagabond that comes along with
made-up story"
"But haze money. will pay you
we'll"
The last words wore more per-
suasive.
81 ct him in, jess, and we'll see what
he loo,.s like"
Tho door was opened by girl.
The apartment and the two persons
that were thus introduced to Mr.. Bel
mont have much 10 do with our nara
tive.
He saw good-sized room, which, in
othcr days, must havo been the cheer
ful sitting room of some family circle.
a broad fireplace was bcrdcrcd by
pictorial tiles, now cracked and dis
placed. The rich paper on the walls
was patched and spotted. The floor
was uncarpeted; thrco plain chairs and
pine table, the latter now bearing the
remains OF frugal supper, were tho
Qn1 G,rr Sf,trn A Ia
the chimney, and an armful of dry
sticks and branches lay by it. A tallow
candle was lighted on the table.
The girl who had admitted the guest
was not more th IL twenty years old.
Her face was young in feature and
outline, but there was fixed pcnsive
moss upon IL that made it seem older
Her eyes wcro gray luminous and ten
der; her mouth was sweet in its lines
of sorrow, resolutcly rcprcssod. Dark
brown hair ran and rippled in natural
curls over her shapcly head her brow,
her cheek. her throat were -as-fair rs
the pond iITy. Her dress was coarse
in material, and without ornament.
1t was this beautiful presence that
moved usually ungracious Mason Bel
mont to an expression of politeness.
IL believe ] should thank you, miss,
for wishing me admitted. l heard you
speaking for me-"
She smiled--she was not used to
smiles-and would have answered.
when the surly voice interrupted her.
"No use of fine spec hes here. The
knows we need his money bad enough.
Let him eat what there is left, and dry
himself by the fire. He can ha e my
bed if he'll pay for it. This is all
| business, strangcr--Eo sentiment at all
in it. Fix the table over, Jess, while
he gets dry"
The girl turned silently to her task.
| Mr.. Belmont drew near the fire, but,
warned by the GOODNESS of his recep-
| ton, he made no further effort at con-
| versation. BY the heat of the glowing
| fireplace he soon got him thoroughly
| dried and gladly responded to tho
| summons to refresh himself at the
| humble board. The victuals were poor
and scanty, but the guest managed to
appease his hunger.
a glance or two from Mr.. Belmont
had satisfied him what manner of man
the other was, and while he stood by
| The fire and sat by the table he gave
him no moro attention.
Not so with the surly host. He had
also been drying himself; his ragged
coat was thrown over chair, and his
| coarse shoes were before the fire. His
shoulders were stopped, though he was
not an old man. Gray hair was scat
tered thinly over his head; his fore
| head and checks were scanned with
wrinkles; his eyes were weary and
lusterless, save when anger kindlcd
them; his thin lips were morose and
sour in expression. The hands that
were claspei about his knees were
hard and horny from toll Hardship,
sorrow, the bitterness and the darkness
of life were plainly expressed by the
whole picture.
He did not obtain n full view OF his
visitors face until the freight shonc
| strong upon it as he sat 1T tho table.
Then he gave II sudden start.
| The Surly look gave place to one Of
doubt; then Of close inquiry; finally.
as if satisfied lie drew his chair back
into the shadows. Had Mason Bel
mont then seen that face, he would
have been startled by it's ferocity. The
dull eyes glowcd like forge-fircs famed
by the bellows.
The guest finished his meal; tho
daughter busted herself few moments
in clearing away the dishes. Then she
went up to her father and timidly laid
her hand on his shoulder.
"IOu take my room, father" she
said. 81 can make kind of bed here
with some old wraps. You have worked
hard all day, and got wet, and you
must not lose your Sleep
\ little tenderness. the first that the
man had shown, appearo in his reply :
mo, Jess; you go to led, and I'll do
the sitting up. I'm going to have my
tormcntor to.niS Int the devil of faces
and things long past. It'll make no
difference whether have bed or not"
Poor father how / wish ---"
30. go long with your foolishncss
Here it's halfpast eight by the clock
Go up to your luxurious room the
only one on the whole upper floor of
this old den fit for human being to
sleep in. Dream, IL you can, that
there's something in this wretched
world worth living for. I'll show tho
stranger where to sleep"
She lighted another caullc and mt