The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-09-20
UNION G. H., SOUTH GARSlI =
fully looking up the houss of death 1
and placing the key in his pocket '

IN, with a merry, round face, lighted
by pair of kindly, round eyes. She
kept her little house, way over on the
East Side, in Thirteenth street, as neat
and attractive ns she kept her person !;
she worshiped her husband, consider
ing him man of simply superhuman
attalnments, and was altogether a
CHEEKY, charitable little soul. Her tall,
slender, non-committal husband knew
very well how she would receive his
charge, so that as he entered the checry
little parlor with shrinking Oracle
clinging to his arm, all he said was:
Molly, young lady to pass the
night"
Mrs. Molly Bancker was upon her
feet in an instant.
"How do you do. Miss?" she in
quired; then, when Oracle did not re-
ply, she added, "Lor', how tired she
does look |" ,,e.v,,. ~.->...,-, -.... .-..,,.,
womanly tone in which tho words were
uttered, and the sympathetic glance
proved too much for poor Gracie's over
wrought feelings. She burst into
torrent of tears, and, throwing her arms
about the little woman's neck, she lay
there weeping out her soul upon the
friendly breast.
Dear, poor, little thing!" murmured
Molly; "whatever can have happened
to her? Well, whatever it is, it's u
shame! Come with me; come into the
kitchen and get cup of good hot tea;
thatll revive you and warm you up.
Why, you're trembling like icai
Come, poor dear"
And soothing and coaxing her, she
led Oracle away, while Mr.. Bancker
watched them with an arch expression
upon his expressionless face.
"Molly will get her secret out Of her
before this time tomorrow night" he
murmured, confidently, "and that with
out asking. I always told her that, if
she were thrown on her beam-ends for
living, she could turn confidence
woman, and steer it better than even
Hungry joe ever did!"
The simile was not complimentary to
good Mrs Molly Bancker, but it was
the expression Of her husbands highest
admiration.
Meanwhile poor little Oracle drank
her tea, dried her tears, and was COM
forted. At last she was put into a COM
Portable bed, and fell asleep from sheer
exhaustion.
She slept late on the following morn
ing, and it was Mrs. Bnncker alone who
sat by her, while she ate the nicely
prepared breakfast. After some desul-
tory conversation, Oracle made bold to.
ask the name of her honefac.ors.
And wnaJ IS your Husuuurt s-D"or-
ness"
"He's detective"
ga detective! Oh, heavens"
She started in genuine alright, and
turned as white as the snowy table
cloth.
."Why, what ails the poor child? ~ ex-
claimed Mrs. Banckcr, all unmindful
in her interest in the girl, that she had
been brought to her under suspicious
circumstances.
Nothing, nothing" replied Oracle,
quickly, striving to regain her compo'
sure. "I'm nervous, | suppose; and
and never knew n detective before"
"Ah, but my Dick is awfully kind"
"He seems so, indeed. / owo him my
life"
"You don't say sol"
ayes, / should have died in that ter
rible place last night if it had not beer
for him"
"What terrible place, child?'
/ It is doubtful whether Graric would
| have been induced to answer so lead
| ing n question. The fact is, that sh,
/ was not obliged to, since at the mo
ment Molly Bancker started to he
feet with an exclamation, as the clos
ing of the street door smote her ear
She peeped into the little hall.
Mercy on mew she exclaimed, il
surprise; "what can have happened
It's Dick and a-a-"
Her words were cut short by tn,
sudden entrance of her husband witt
q silencing look upon his face.
Thoroughly well-trained, Moll.
whisked out of the room as Mr.
Bancker approached and laid his han,
upon the back of Gracie's chair look
ing down kindly upon her up-raise'
face.
"Gracie," he began, when she inter
rupted him.
"How did you learn my name?" sh
asked, in troubled way.
"Oh, naturally enough; no matte
how just at present. Will you go int
the parlor and see gcntlcman?'
She started up, placing one han
upon the edge of the table for suppor
but keeping her eyes fixed upon the d,
! FpctlVe lace.
[ "A gentleman?" she faltered; "wh
is it?"
"a stranger to me, but a friend [
You, so he says"
She hesitated moment; then layin
her hand trustingly upon his arm sl
said:
"Mr. Bancker, you have been m
friend. Will you still stand by n
should trouble come of this interview :
you may count on me every time
She bowed her thanks he opened I'll
door and she passed through the lit
hall and paused upon the threshold
the parlor door.
For an instant there was silenc,
then a cry rang through the house, an
staggering forward she caught goo
lawyer EdRar's hands in hers and drol
ping upon her knees kissed them fe
vently. But he raised her quickly,
deep color suffusing his kind old fac
and placed her upon the sofa besi,
him.