The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-08-16
CHAPTER ~.
THE FLIGHT

blessed boons upon humanity when, by
unconsciousness, she deprives the suf-
ferer of all knowledge of his anguish
In such state of peaceful ol.:yion
poor little Oracle was raised from-the
floor in the tender arms of Mr.. Edgar
and borne to her room, the good man
remaining long enough at her bedside
to be assured that the death like swoon
had yielded to tho deep sleep of ex-
haustiOn.
AS he descended the stairs he WAS
met by Hannah Dred.
YOU'RE not going to leave her alone,
sir?" she exclaimed, i'll surprise.
"Why not?"
"Sho may give us the slip and do
prive the gallows Of its right" was the
cruel reply.
Miss Dred," answered the lawyer,
stcrnly, Il believe you to be an honest
and Just woman, but l fail to under
stand your persecution of that poor
child"
Persecution! 1 cannot understand
your obtuseness, sir"
Mr.. Edgar drew himself up, seeming
to impersonate the very majesty of tho
law.
"We will not question that, Miss
Dred," he said: 81 will be RnswerabIe
for the girl. Tomorrow, when she is
herself again, will question her and
ascertain definitely what she knows of
this terrible affair. In the meantime
would advise you to retire and secure
what rest you can"
The attorney ordered his trap and
drove away. BY degrees the excited
| l,nl snt, oil
pose.
With the first gray rays of the cloudy
dawn little Oracle reused, sat up, and
rubbed her aching eyes. With return
ing consciousness n sense of the reality
rushed back upon her. First came the
memory of her murdered friend; then
her fathers danger,
She sprang from the bed. 1t was
evident that she had not wavered in her
resolve of the preceding night, since
her first murmured words were:
"Thank Heaven, it is early yet. 1
Will suspect me OF the fearful crime and
father will be saved" !"
+ With feverish haste sho gathered a
few necessary articles together, and
from beneath n loose flag in IT," hearth
IL tcW ColIiS, NlllCn .Ss't
the gift of her friend and protector
The gold pieces she carefully bestowed
upon her person, and putting on her
hat and veil, hurried to the door.
"Good-hy," she murmurcd, II am
going homc-homc to America, home
to the land where my darling mother
sleeps in an unknown grave, home to
hide mysclf-perhaps to die"
At the head of the stairs she paused
and listened. Not sound disturbed
the solemn quiet of the dawn. Like
the wrath of herself she glidcd silently
down the stairs and paused Mt the
door of the chamber. Fearing to
enter for one last look upon the face
she loved so we'll, lest she should meet
with some drowsy watcher, she knclt
there and offered up her gentle soul in
prayer for n moment; then hurried out
Two minutes later she had vanished in
the dense mist that swept up the cliffs
from the restless sea.
Young as she was, little Oracle Gar.
land had seen too much of the world
had been too often thrown upon hci
own resources to fail III an emergency
like the present. She was far too wise
to trust herself in the town of Torquay
where she might have taken train fol
Liverpool, but where shc might ais
have been recognized, questioned, ant
perhaps detained. Instead of which
she struck out across the deserted
fields.
But rs she trudgcd on, hunger pro.
duccd exhaustion, and exhaustion s
giddy sensation in the head SO that, a'
times, she was obliged to pause, moan
ing by the waysidc. At last, before the
gnte of neat white farmhouse, she
gave out completely, and sank sobbine
into the arms of II mothcrly woman
who left her garden and hastenrd tC
the forlorn child.
1t was Gracie's luck that for week
she was detained by illness at the hos
pitable farmhouse, since had she pur
sued her uninterrupted way she would
have reached Liverpool, and in al
probability have taken passage upor
the very steamer which bore Mr.. Ma,
Boydcn to America. AS it was, akind
ly fate detained her until the coast wa
clear, and when at last she reached tn,
great city upon the Mcrsey, she wa!
able to engage passage in the stccrag,
of that greyhound of the ocean, tn,
| N.lttoH, MltIipub luIllt
mishap. Indeed, she arrived Just il
time, as she was informed at the Office:
Of the line chat the splendid Cnnarde
would sail upon the following day.
"Arc You travelling alone?" inquired
the clerk.
"Ios, sir?" replied Oracle.
"And are you leaving friends on this
side of the watCr?"
mo, sir.
Your name, plcase?" he asked.
Here was an unexpected dilemma
Should she give her own name? Why
not? What mattercd il?
MY name is Garland" she sale
bravcly.
Full namc?"
"Gracc Garland"
almost as pretty as it's possessor,
murmured the young man.
Nothing now remained but to 90 or
board the noble Oregon and look up hcl
quarters. She was good sailor, and
had nothing to dread. Therefore it was
with calm mind, but with fearful eyes