The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-09-20
UNION G. H.. SOUTH Go
fuily iodkihs saip up = Inc houss ofrdeSsh

II
and placing the key in his pocket. q.
Some wiseacre has said that naturo
seeks her opposite. The rule certainly
proved true in the Banckers' ca,e Mrs
Molly Bancker was plump little rob.
IN, with p merry, round face. liobted
by pair of kindly, round eyes. She
kept her little house, way over on the
East Side, in Thirteenth street. as neat
and attractive as she kept her person .
she worshiped her husband, consider.
ing him q man of simply superhuman
attalnments, and was altogether n
CHEEKY, charitable little soul. Her tall
slender, non-committal husband knew
very well how she would receive b;s
charge, 80 that as he entered the cbecrv
little parlor with shrinking Oracle
clinging to his arm, all he said was:
night" ~
Mrs. Molly Bancker was upon her
feet in an instant. -
How do you do, Miss?" she in.
CURED; then, when Oracle did not re-
!. ply, she added, - I.ofs.e how tired she
does loolxln - - ID.
xPec0eSs,n sfs.,r.e's, ~s.s< -aa Idsa9
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 a
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 d
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 leaf!
Come, poor dear"
And soothing and coaxing her, she
led Oracle away, while Mr.. Bancker
watched them with an arch expression
upon his expressiohless face.
"Molly will get her secret out of her
before this time tomorrow night" he
murmured, confidently, "and that with
out asking. always told her that if
she were thrown on her beam-ends for
q living, she could turn confidence
woman, and steer it better than even
Hungry joe ever didl"
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 COM
Portable bed, and fell asleep from sheer
exhaustion.
She slept late on the following morn
ing, and it was Mrs. Bancker alone who
sat by her, while she ate the nicely
prepared breakfast. After some desui-
tory conversation, Oracle made bold to.
ask the name Of her benefactors.
And wnaS IS your Husuuuuo uuDr-
ness"
"He's detective"
"a detective! Oh, heavensp
She started in genuine alright, md
turned as white as the snowy table
cloth.
"Why, what ails the poor child ?" ex-
claimed Mrs. Bancker, all unmindful
i'm 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. "Im nervous, suppose; and
and never knew q detective before"
"Ah, but my Dick is awfully kind"
"He seems so, indeed. I owo him my
life."
"You don't say sol"
"Yes, I should have died in that ter
rible place last night if it had not been
for him."
"What terrible place, child2"
It is doubtful whether Oracle would
have been induced to answer so lead
ing a question The fact is, that she
was not obliged to, since at the mo-
ment Molly Bancker. started to her
feet with nm exclamation, as the clos
ing of the street door smote her ear.
She peeped into the little hall.
"Mercy on mel" she exclaimed, in
surprise; "what can have happened :?
It's Dick and a-a-"
Her words were cut short by the
sudden entrance of her husband with
a silencing look upon his face.
Thoroughly well-trained, Molly
whisked out of the room as Mr..
Bancker approached and laid his hand
upon the back of Gracie's chair, look
ing down kindly upon her appraised
face.
"Gracie," he began, when she inter-
rupted him.
aHow did you learn my namoa" she
asked, in q troubled way.
/ "Oh, naturally enough; no matter
how just at present. Will you go into
the parlor and see gentleman?"
She started up, placing one hand
| upon the edge of the table for support
but keeping her eyes fixed upon the de-
tective's face.
| "A gentleman" she faltered; "who
is it?"
"A stranger to me, but a friend tc
you, 80 he says"
She hesitated moment; then laying
her hand trustingly upon his arm she
said:
"Mr. Bancker, you have been m,
friend. Will you still stand by mt
should trouble come of this interview p
| you may count on me every time 7
| She bowed her thanks; he opened the
door and she passed through the little
hall and paused upon the threshold o.
the parlor door.
| For an instant there was silence