The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-08-23

| IL sScintu 10 ner, IN that dCSperat,
moment, that her lot in life was to,
hard to bear, it, having done all sh,
could to shield her father from tn,
consequences of his crime, by assum
ing the accusation herself, tho cvi
Shirt who had prompted all the miser,
had hunted her down, and was about
to balk her in the hardsbips of tn,
new life which she had to face single
handed and alone.
But after Rupert's kindness to her.
after she had wept to her hearts con.
tent, sense of blessed relief settled
upon her troubled spirit, and she began
TO wonder whether it were, indeed, the
mockinS face of Max Boyden she had
seen glaring up at her from out the
jaws of death.
In that brief moment of respite she
| seemed to lose sight of the fact that
she mad lain Ill among strangers in Eng
iand Tor week prior to her setting out
Tor America, and consequently won
dered how Boyden could have arrived
Detore her. "a assss.sss .SisasS :
She even went sU f,., ra,IUy JiIiv
her excited imagination had played her
some trick, and it was not ut all the
face of Max Boyden that she had seen.
In this partially relieved frame of
mind she eagerly scanned every face
she met on the ship, and as that of her
tormentor did not again meet her gaze,
she concluded that either she must
have been cruelty tortured to no pnr-
pose, or that, if it were Boydcn, he
must have persisted upon the ill-starred
craft that had caused the fatal disaster
to the Oregon.
Therefore, littlo dreaming of the
bitter consequences of every step she
took, little Oracle Garland allowed
herself to lie led on shore and far up
town into the Harlem district to hum
ble little house, where an anxious woman
waited.
One had but to look into tho face of
Mrs. Dorothea Arnim to be assured of
her goodness. She was fine specimen
of wOmanhOod n true mother. A widow
for many years, she dotted upon her boy,
Rupert, in n way that amounted to
idolatry. He was her Joy, her hope,
her stay in life, and naturally she well
coined him homo to her hearth and
heart with an affcctionnte effusion
which blinded her for tho time being
to the presence of the little dOwncast
stranger who stood with fearful eyes
Watching the glad reunion.
1t was Rupert who bcthought him
self first, and breaking away from the
fond embrace, turned the co1d woman
about so that she realized the presence
of stranger for the first time.
"WhOm havtISe here 2" she exclaimed
in astonishment, as her eyes rested up
| on the sweet, upturncd face of little
| Oracle.
"A guest, mother" was the reply.
Never for an instant questioning her
| boys action in the matter, Mrs. Arnim
| went to the girl and took her in her
| mothcrly arms and kissed her. ---------
you are welcome, my dear child"
she said; "what is your name?"
"Grace Garland" was the low reply.
| "We will call her Oracle, little Grn-
Gle, mother" Rupert saiti; and we will
love her and care for her, since she is n
waif from the lost Oregon, and she has
no friends"
His wish was his mothers law, and
as Mrs. Arnim led Oracle up to a neat
little chamber upon tho second floor of
the house, the poor child felt that for
the time being, at least, she had found
rest and protection. 1t was with n
thankful heart that she fell asleep that
night and prayed God to be good to
those who had been good to her.
Below stairs, IN the pretty room
which for the Present served both as
sitting room and studio, mother and
son sat facing each other in the dim
radiance of the shaded lamp.
For some moments silence had fallen
between them, and it was Mrs. Arnim
who was the first to break it. They
had been talking of the advantages
gained by the young artist in his brief
Journey abroad, and it was all the more
startling when she suddenly broke off
to inquire:
Rupert, who is shc?"
No need to mention names; he knew
that she referred to the stranger who
slept beneath their roof.
al know nothing about her, mother" "
he replied, "bcyond the fact that she is
lovely, and as good rs she is lovely.
We both crossed in the stccrnSc of tho
Oregon. She lost what little she had,
and as she has told you, she has no
friends"
"What would she have done, had she
not met yOu?"
"Thc good Lord only knows! dare
not think of it."
"Rupert, you are in love with the
child"
eyes, mother, 1 am, as you will he
when you know her."
A shadow fitted across the kindly
face of the woman as she .rejoined:
"How can know her when you do
not?"
"You will win her confidence. Women
become acquainted easily. She has
some terrible secret upon her soul, has
escaped from some awful experience
which has nearly wrecked her reason.
The shadow upon Mrs. Arnim's face
dcepcncd.
"Ah! You admit that something has
occurred, something that might ex.
plain her forlorn, destitute condition in
lifc?"
"Of course! Have you not already
seen it for yourself?"
"Ycs.'
"Motherw he exclaimed starting
suddenly to his feet, AZ for the first
he noted the peculiar expression upon
his mothers face, "you certainly do not
suspect so innocent child of any per.
sonal wrong?"