The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-08-23
TH E
LITTLE WAIF.
A Story Of Absorbing Interest.
by BERNARD HERBERT.
CHAPTER V.
A MOTHERS WARNING.


Company, the good ship Fulda, plowed
her way up New York Bay, freighted
with tho castaways of tho lost Oregon.
1t was destitute, frightened, CRATE
ful horde of human -beings thst hud-
sSdicd about the decks and saloons, f6-
ceiving the hospitality of the open
hearted German officers with eager
hands
And while they ate and drank to keep
lifc and warmth in their chilled bodies,
the anxious query passed from lip to
ip-"How many have been lost" TO
which was returned the comforting re-
ply-"Nota n soul!"
Not q soul had been lost!
How f,w that d,y understood the
tragic significance of those pregnant
words how few guessed in their Joy ut
their dClivcranco that one Mt least in
their midst, the child with the fnir face,
the gold-bronze hair, and eyes like the
morning star, had ray,d to die, had
fought against life, and had b zen cared
for against her will.
Upon n coil of cordagc she sat apart,
her small, white hands claspcd tightly
in her lap, her great, fearless eyes fixed
upon the rapidly vanishing spot where
the waters had forever closed above the
EieuU olllp DOTnc her Dack
from strange world to the land of her
birth.
The land of her BIRTH and yet no
home!
While she sat there, a shadow in the
sickly sunlight fell athwart her, and a
rich, manly voice said:
Hero, 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 q tin cup of
steaming coffee.
"You must drink it," he urged, rs she
family shook her head; "I am respon-
sible for your still being in this world,
and it Is my duty to care for you. Sce
how you shiver; drink the coffee while
it is warm"
She took the cup with tho simple
obedience of a child, and drained its
contents thirstily Immediately a
feeble tinge of color ercpt-into~ her
checks, and some of tho far-away look
forsook her eyes. Then the young man
sat down before her and took her cold
hands in his.
"Gracie," he said gently, is it true
that You wanted to dic?"
For the first time since the awful ca
tastrophe two great tears crcpt out from
between the fringed cyclids of her
down-cast eyes and fell upon his hands.
"Do you blame me that l saved your
ife?" he asked
mo" she faltered.
"But you do not thank mc?"
II cannot, for have nothing left to
live forH
"Nothing!" he exclaimed, in panied
way; "you have r >n'ily, no friends ?"
"Not one in al ;e world"
"YOu have M .nOUhcr and mel"
She heavcd deep sigh and drew l.cr
hands out of his clasp.
"I shall only be burden to you,
she faltered; "the hand of Fate is set
against me, and l shall only bring
misfortune to all whom"
"Hush!" he interrupted. 81 cannot let
you talk like that you are excited 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-thc poor child lost all
control of herself She rose to her feet,
and turned from her protector in IN at
titude of desperation.
"No, no." she cried, "let me go my
way. You have saved my life, and /
suppose 1 ought to be grateful to you,
since God gave it me and l must live it
out to the end. But from the moment
that we land, let that be the end of all
between us. 1 can take care of my
self"
"Gracic," he said firmly, rising and
coming to her side, "you must excuse
me, but 1 will not leave you. To
night, at least, you shall pass with my
mother. You have lost everything, and
are not fit to go out into tho world
alone and penniless. Besides, if you
choose to tell my mother your story,
perhaps she can advise you how to
act"
The kindly intentioncd words acted
like the lighted fuse to the waiting
powder. The girls eyes flashed, and
the pallor decpencd upon her lips. She
drew back n 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
dtion that no questions are to he askct
me concerning my Fast. Whatcvcl
happens, mean to keep that secret be
tween myself and my God"
A suspicious moisture glistencd il
the fine, honest eyes as Rupert Arnin
replied:
"When you know lis better, / thnl
you will have no fault to find with III
for wishing to pry into the secret o
your life. We shall respect that rs W,
shall respect you"
The proud words, so gently ex
pressed, proved too much for littl,
Gracis's ovcrwrought nerves. Sh,
made an attempt to give the brave fel
low her hands in silent token of he
gratitude, the flood-Gatcs of her tcar
were loosencd, and she fell forward
only, however, into his strong arms
and it was his gentle voice that soothc,
her.
1t was the handsomn satanic face o
Max Boyden, seen under such trvins
circumstances, and in the uncertain
twilight of the early morning, that hat
so disturbed our little heroine