The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-10-25
CHAPTER XXI.
MADAME CIARlSSE.


MADAME CLARIssE.
It was the most violent, the most
awful exhibition of grief that little
Oracle had ever witnessed, and in ter.
having gazed blindly abaHHdS HSf pTS'erSu,' pII ma'
moment, sank in OH asa.@rN.-.Msa- ~ .s+s:
upon tho Hoo 49, ~
Mr.. Edgar went to him md tried to
raise him, but he was inert, lifeless.
BY this time the startled farmer and
his wife had arrived upon the scene,
and with the mans assistance the law
yer raised the poor worn out body, and
carrying it across the hallway, laid it
gently upon the bed, which still bore
the impress and warmth of little
Stella's body.
The air of the chamber was heavy
with sickly sweet odor, whilo on the
floor beside the bed lay the tell-tale
ball of cotton still reeking with chlo-
roform.
the room and stood there in awc-strick-
ell silence. 1t was tho lawyer who
spoke first.
"The child has been kidnapped do
any of you know anything about it?
nave you nearu any SOUNDS
The housewife was the only person
who had any information to offer; she
simply stated how she had found the
outer door open after having left it
securely closed, though not locked.
But the poor old gent is not dead,
sir, is hep" she asked, looking appre-
hensively at the prostrate figure upon
the bed.
mo-" answered Mr.. Edgar, "he still
breathes and his pulse seems strong;
the trouble is that heaven only knows
what condition his mind will be in
when he comes to-"
He spoke in an absent-minded way,
his attention being irresistibly drawn
to Oracle, whose face wore such n pa
thetic look that it piq~ed his curiosity.
AS soon rs he was able, he beckoned
her to follow him into the parlor, and
when they were alone he asked:
"Gracie, is there some secret between
us? Will YOU not tell me what it is
evident you know about this AFFAIR.""
yes" she answered, frankly; az was
only waiting an opportunity. Know,
then, that Cora Boyden is Old Mr..
Lconard's daughter, and that little
Stella is her discarded child"
And thercupon, into the astonishcd
cars of the good lawyer she poured the
whole astounding story which old jean
had told her that day.
"That settles Madam Boydcn's
claim upon your property!" MIR. Ed.
gar exclaimed, delightedly, when sho
had concluded her recital, "and salts.
fies me that Madam Clarissc is your
mother"
my mother!" echoed little Oracle,
eXcitedlly;. "oh, Mr.. Edgar, tell me-
when shall L see her?"
"To-night-almost at any moment
now. She was singing in an opera at
n theater; / saw her between the acts;
| told her had reason to believe that
her daughter still lived, and besought
her to lose no time in ascertaining the
fact for herself.
"She almost tainted, and begged me
to give her coachman full directions
how to find you. Then she was called
to the stage, and left her singing as
only bird sings for very JOY"
Darling motherp
"And, Oracle, such beautiful
woman!"
e Hark, hark what is that? Oh, Mr..
Edgar, surely l hear the sound Ct
whcclsw
She laid her hand, tremulous with
rcpresscd emotion, upon his arm
Il think she is coming!" he said, the
sympathetic tears starting to his eyes.
They hurried out into the lambcnt
moonlight, and there, at the gate,
carriage stood, and in the garden-walk
the figure of tall and splendid woman.
a light veil thrown over the cleaning
of her bronze gold hair, and
trailing over her rich attire.
Mother"
"My childw
1t was the Ccstatic cry OF heart to
heart, soul to soul, and IL the next in.
stant mother and child were locked in