The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-12-20
Devoted to Agriculture Horticulture Domestic Economy Polite
"Come in, girl. y


She entered, sweet, pensive. beauti-
full as ever.
as the gentleman ready for break
fast2 1t is eight o'clock"
BLESS me!-so it is. No, Jess; that
man won't be with us this morning.
He left the house after YOU went to
bel, and said he should go on to the
village. Set the table, and I'll tell YOU
how it happened"
He lathed his head and face in water,
while the girl busted herself in setting
the table. he two sat down to the
humble meal. There was moments
pause, while they ate and drank.
You don't ask me how that mon
happened TO leave the house in the
night" he said.
Her eyes ma le the in Juiry.
"Well, really, Jess-Im almost
ashamed to tell You: The fact is, 1
90, father!"
"les, it's to, bad; but it's too late
now to help it.
IL was in bad humor, as you know.
He made some remark about tho pow
cry of this house. That nettled me,
and l gave him hot answer. One
word brought on another, and told
him that ho must leave. He picked up
his sachel in n passion and went.
looked out of the door after him, and
saw him following the lane down to
the hi hway"
She said nothing; her eyes were
turned downward He perceived that
his explanation had distressed her.
~ nn
way it's crept into my head that he
might be the agent of some one who
claims to own this property. You
know-I have tod you-that l found
tho house abandoned when we came
hero, and fixed it up the best I could,
and have never paid any rent. I
thought, perhaps, this man might be
spying out things for the owner. If
that turns out to b! so, shall be glad
l sent him off, Anyway, girl, there's
one thing i want you to promise me
about this unfortunate affair. Will
you?"
His voice trembled: there was
anxiety in his faco.
"Of course L will, father. What
is it,"
"Just this: hope we shall not see
this man again. If he was traveller
who had lost his way, as he claimed,
we probably shall not, as, in that case,
he would leave Aylesworth in the coach
this morning. But suppose he has
given his version of tho affair Mt the
inn; and don't feel like being ANNOYED
by any inquiries or complaints. So |
shall deny all knowledge of any such
! traveller. If they get inquisitive L shall
declare that nobody came here; that il
anything of the kind happened it was
at some other house. Just see, Jess
it'll do no good Tor me to admit that
turned him out. and NO harm to deny
it. You must help me. want you to
say, and stick to it, if you are ques-
| rhatfs gooIY IYfFI YefiFFIr rheiothat II tAege sr
ready to help your poor old father.
There was q rap at the door,
Bryson started. The guilty conscience
within him had begun to fear ever,
sound.
"Who on earth can it be?" he asked
I Jessica rose and went to the door.
The visitor was out of sight; but rs
Bryson listened, he could plainly heal
all that he said, as we'll as recogniZ,
| his voice.
1t was Edgar Van Wyck.
"Good morning Miss Bryson.
! showed stranger the way to you
door last night, and l promised hin
that l would come over this morning
and show him the way to the village
! Is he feady?"
There was slight pause.
"A stranger r?-here? the voice O
Jessica replied: Surely, you must b.
= mistaken in the place. Nobody came
here"
"Well, that's odd! l left him r gh
! by this door. What could have becom,
! of him?"
The cup that rryson had raised t,
! his lips fell from his nerveless fingers
and was shattered on the table Defeat
! detection, the gallows stared him il
the face.
With n supreme effort, he crushed
down his fears. He saw tin It he mus
hear what story this youth had to tell
and then, Mt the worst, instant figh
! with the money was open to him
"Jess," he called out, bring that cha,
in here"
TO ne CONTINUED