The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-06-28
greatly overestlmating him

10 quite ward off the Captains sus-
| picions-should he have any-of the
real state of affairs, Loo accepts the at
tentionss. 2f gentleman whom the Cap
|, odt'r If,-I1Ss III Juuced to her notice. Tho
consequence bong that Littlefield soon
becomes her shadow or second self,
greatly to the Captains own discom-
future.
"What she can see in that follow"
remarked the Captain to his contidante,
Madam Dundas, lis beyond me. Why,
he is nothing but q conccited ass at the
very best"
Six weeks go by. The grass begins
to grow III little green patches on the
lonely grave in tho country cemetery.
1t is quite the middle of Juno now, and
here and thoro in tho consecrated
ground are punches of rose trees in
full bloom.
Engrossed with her Irritation with
Hazard, Miss afargc has no time to
give a thought to the quiet sleeper
whose place she has usurped. But if
Miss Lafarge has no time to think of
the dead girl, there is one that does.
The "motherly woman," in her in
finite sympathy and goodness of heart,
goes often to the little burial ground to
LhuboO OJ 1uS loHely RTuNoOI bhc bbTuhSSrs
whose untimeIy death sho is never tired
of talking about.
AS the weeks 60 by sho speculates
upon tho subject, and wonders if no.
body will ever come to claim the very
few personal effects that belonged to
the dead girl. She believes that some
where in the world there is some one
who loved and cared for the ono that
had met so terrible n fate. And she is,
therefore, not much surprised ono
sunny morning to SEQ strange man
walk up tho path leading to her door.
And she is ut once Interested when the
gentleman inquiries, in voice which
betrays emotion, carefully modulated
though it is:
as this the place where Judith Doni-
thorn died?"
The "mothcrly woman" mods iu tho
Affirmative.
ayes. In this house, and in this
room," throwing open the door. "Will
you walk in and sit down?'
The visitor enters and glancos about
him. He is unprcpossessing i'll his per-
sonal appearance, and his face is sinis-
ter. His figure is short and heavily
built, with shoulders SO very broad as
to suggest suspicion of padding. a
thick black beard struggles down
either side of his full, red face, and
sweeps upon his breast. His eyes are
keen and twinkling, shrewd in express
sion, and of red color. His clothing
is black and evidently much too tight
for his body, Upon his head is silk
hat, and he carries cane. His walk is
stride. aud ho glances around the
room with an air of scOrn.
"You say she died in this room?"
Tho "mothcrly woman" again mods
in the affirmative.
"In this room, near the spot where
you now stand"
no was with hor when she died ?"
he asks, biting his lip.
"Only tho doctors"
"Was she conscious?"
"No. Directly after the train was
wrecked, n number of the wounded
were brought here. Among them was
the lady you havo asked about. She
was terribly burned, and in an uncOn-
scious condition when she arrived. She
lived but a few hours, and died without
realizing her extremity"
"And she was alono?'
"Yos. But stop! There was lady
| who"
"A lady!' he calculates incredu-
lously-"a lady?'
"a lady% ailirms tho "mothcrly
woman" "And the lady said she was
u friend of the girl that died, and l
| guess she was. i know she sat by tho
body, and sho paid the undortakor. and
she followed the corpse To tho burial
ground, Then she went away. She
said the poor dead girl had no friends
of any consequence"
The visitor bit his lip again.
Have you anything i'll your posses
sion now that belonged to tho lady
that dirdp'
The "motherly woman" mods swift
| ly. She disappears presently, only to
return again with traveling-bag in
her hand.
"This is ALL" sho says.
"Allp He grasps the bag, opens it.
There is tho usual paraphernalia
combs, brushes, powdcr-box, pencil,
and lastly-a diary.
The stranger snatches Mt this diary.
Ho scans page after page in an eager
fashion, then he closes the look sud
denly. at was hers" he says in
hushcd tone, moro to himself than to
his interested companion.
still"
Then lie b ,tcs his nails savagcly, and
glowors ut his companion.
"Wbore is her purse2" no asks,