The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-08-23
THE
LITTLE WAIF.
A Story Of Absorbing Interest,
BY BERNARD HgReeRr.

BY BERNARD HERBERr.
CHAPTER v.
~ MOTHERS WARNING.
IL was a memorable morning in the
annals OF shippil g when the queen of
lne north German Lloyd Steamship
= company, the good ship Falda, plowed
@ net way mp New York Bay, freighted
wlth tho castaways of tho lost Oregon
1t was a Destitute, frightened orsta;
III heyll2. Of ls2uean bciaps- ShnSa
Uied Nbout the, tlecka ana EssiosoSs. r6-
ceiving the hospitality of the OPEN
hearted German officers with eager
hands.
And while they ate and drank to keep
lfe and warmth in their chilled bodies.
the anxious query passed from lip to
hpI"How many have been lost ?" To
which was returned the comforting re-
ply-"Not soull"
Not soul had been lost!
How f,w that day understood the
tragic significance of those pregnant
words! how few guessed in their ioy at
their deliverance that one ut least i'm
their midst, the child with the fair face.
the gold-bronze bair, and eyes like the
morning star, had lray,d to die, he'd
fought against life, md had b cen cared
for against her will.
Upon q coil of cordage she sat apart.
her small, white hands clasped tightly
IN her lap, her great, fearless eyes fixed
upon the rapidly vanishing spot where
the waters had forever closed above the
great ship which had borne her back
from strange world to the land of her
birth.
The land of her birth, and vet no
home!
While she sat there, shadow in the
sickly sunlight fell athwart her, and a
rich, manly voice said:
Here, Oracle, drink this; you will
feel better"
She raised her eyes and saw the hand
some face of Rupert Arnim, the man
who had saved her life, bending above
her while he offered her tin cup of
steaming coffee.
"You must drink it" he urged, as she
family shook her head; II am respon-
sible for your still being in this world,
and it is my duty to care for you. Ses
how you shiver; drink the coffee while
it is warm"
She took the cup with the simple
obedience ofa child, and drained its
contents thirstily. Immediately q
feeble tinge of color crept into her
cheeks, and some of the far-away look
forsook her eyes. Then the young man
sat IaowI before iiior and took her cold
hands in his.
Oracle, /" he said gently, "is it true
that You wanted to die?"
For the first time since the awful CO.
tastrophe two great tears crcpt out from
between the fringed eyelids of her
down-cast eyes and fell upon his hands.
do you blame me that saved your
ife?" he asked.
mo" she faltered.
"But you do not thank me?"
u cannot, for have nothing left to
live forp
"Nothing!" he exclaimed in a panied
way; "you have no family, no friends ?"
mot one in all this wide world"
"You have my mother and mel"
She heaved deep sigh and drew her
hands out of his clasp.
II shall only be burden to you"
she faltered "the hand of Fate is set
against me, and I shall only bring
misfortune to all whom"
"Hush" he interrupted. II cannot let
you 0"ih Ano eh"'' you ure eAClteu una
ill now. After you have rested, and
have known how kind my mother can
be, you will forget the misery of the
past, whatever it may be-"
At mention of the past-that past so
bitter and cruel-the poor child lost all
control of herself. She rose to her feet,
and turned from her protector in an ut
titude of desperation.
UNo M obo criod dat ,,,o ,,o 49,,
way. You have saved my life, and T
suppose I ought to be grateful to you,
since God gave it mo and must live it
out to the end. But from the moment
that we land, let that be the end of all
between us. I can take care of my
self"
Z, "Gracie," he snid firmly, rising and
coming to her side, "you must excuse
me, but I will not leave you. To-
night, at least, you shall pass with nv
mother. You have lost everything, and
are not fit to go out into the world
alone and penniless. Besides, if you
choose to tell my mother your story,
perhaps she can advise you how to
act.
The kindly intentioned words acted
like the lighted fuse to the waiting
powder. The girls eyes flashed, and
the pallor deepencd upon her lips. She
drew back q step, and faced the young
artist with the very daring of despair.
"Mr. Arnim," she said, and the sweet
voice was low and tense, "if am to
meet your mother, it must be on con.
dition that no questions are to be asked
ne concerning my Fast. Whatever
happens, / mean to keep that secret be.
tween myself and my God"
A suspicious moisture glistened in
the tine, honest eyes as Rupert Arnim
repliod:
when You know MS better, i think
you will have no fault to find with us
for wishing to pry into the secret oi
your life. We shall respect that as we
shall respect YOU"
The proud words, so gently ex.
pressed, proved too much for little
Gracie's overwrought nerves. She