The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-10-11
re, Politics and the Current News Of the, Day.

explanation without question; bgt when
good little Mollie Bencker had taken
Oracle up to her room 20 uiake khe final
preparations for her joIfney Che said,
kindly:
you to-day, Oracle, dear. What is it?
Can help you in any wayPI
The sisterly sympathy tqhchcd the
right spot in the poor girls heart, and
casting her arms about Mbliy's neck,
she wept. upon her friendly breast as
though her heart would break. But
hearts do not break; il il only an idle
figure of speech. Hcr fears relieved
her over-charged mind, and when she
grew calmer she answered.:
"No, dear Mrs. Bancker, you cannot
help me. There are crosses in life
which we must bearsalone. But, be-
ifcvr-rrg, -tlSrs.ise srera. any -hesrt
for all your kindness
ooh, nonsensei" reioined the little
woman, cheerily; dear me, | do hate
to have you leave usl But promise that
you'll sometimes write TO mo, and tell
mo how you are getting along"
II ehall write and never forget you,
my dear, dear friend"
OF course the parting with her
stanch friends was trying moment
for Oracle, but. like MI the Joys and
sorrows in life, it was soon over, and
gave place to the excitement of being
launched upon the great world again,
bound in an ali-absorbing qucst--tho
finding of her missing mother.
For two days after her arrival in Bos-
ton fatigue and the difficulty of finding
n suitable lodging place ns near rs pos
sible to the old homo in Milton occu-
pied every moment.
At last a comfortable farm house on
the high road that wound past the we'll
known "P' >ck Pond" was discovered,
and room or tho pair engaged.
AS luck would have It the inmates of
the house were new to the district, and
consequently failed to recognize in
Oracle the girl who, two years previ-
nusly, had gone away with Mr.. Clifford
when he went abroad to die rpon for
eign shore.
They werc hon,cly sort OF people,
glad to secure boardcrs in order to exc
out an honest living, and were satisfied
to make their guests comfortable and
mind their own affairs. The only other
inmates of tho house beside tho farmer
and his wife were an elderly man and Il
little three-year-old child, who were
boarders like Oracle and Mr.. Edgar
and were introduced In them as Mr.
John Leonard and his granddaughter
little Stella.
The man passed his time sitting
among the trees of the orchard intently
watching the road, while the child, {
GfatIe-gETTf .,s;tkyuf- w..--...- .I.Eor IiIe,
that the pair had lodgei' with the farm
er since he had taken tie place u yeal
before; that they were quiet, inoffen
sive people, taking their meals by
themselves, and never speaking to any
one unless they were spoken to. In
| deed, the farmer explained that rs tin,
man spoke with foreign accent, h'
thought he must have come from across
the sea. He furthermore added, tap
ping his forehead Significantly, that ht
believed the old fellow to bo touched
in the upper story"
That he was foreigner and
.Frenchman was conclusivcly settlet
one day when, upon the arrival of TIN
mail letter was handed to Mr.. Edga
by mistake, bearing the suporscription
"M.. Jean Leonard, AMI post-murke'
paris"
But as the old man continued to 81
in the orchard, with his dreamy eye
bent upon the winding highway. ant
s6rangtns"He, Tn, qesssssg shimselfe 9
his mcditations.
Upon the third day after her nrriva
in Boston, and after the first evenin,
of her sojourn ut the Milton farmhouse
Oracle, unable longer to- contain he
anxiety, proposed to Mr.. Edgar tia
they should walk down tho road in TIN
tender starlight. Naturally she led he
! companion in tho direction of the oil,
home, and in silence they walked alon,
the shadowy road, while from th
neighboring swamp, tho frogs chirpct
and gnrglcd II melancholy accompuni
ment to their steps
Presently they turned in between th
massive stone posts, where tho gate
hung open, as if to receive them, an,
suddenly ut II turn in tho avenue
which brought the mansion in sight
Oracle paused, and laid her hand upon
her companions arm.
Look !" she brcathed; "there is tn,
house, and 1T is occupied! Do yor sc,
the lights?" ~
"It may have beop rented, sugg :,
the lawyer. sS
No." camo tho quick rejond9r
"my father would never have allowed
strangers there. What can it mean ?"
1T is your own home, Oracle. Yor
have n right to investigate"
"Come," she whispered, "follow me-
And when they. reached the foot of th,
steps that led up to the terrace sur.
rounding the illuminated windows. sh,
paused ,,,,ssfing:
"WL.t for me here. Do pot stir!"
Then, with n step Us liA It rs the
breeze that rustled the budding trees
she gained the terrace. and pecrcd in at
the open window.
Mcrciful Heaven! How she stag.
gcrcd and canght her breath in horror
How she fed that sight which seemed
to blast tho very life that palpitatcd in
her bosom!
Come, come away ;k" she