The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1890-01-17
CHAPTER XVII

.''h VI hel soH steps tnat morning
ana could not help knowing whittier
he was bound.
The morning passed noontime came
put dld not see him returning. Hel
lonely meal was eaten, and the table
was cleared
In the pleasant April sunshine she
rat outside the door half The afternoon
with her knitting, anxiously WATCHING
The long stretch of the crossroad down
to the highway.
About three o'clock she saw Edrar
approaching. He moved unsteadily
and slow.
She hastened down the road to meet
him. His eyes were bent on the
Ground; his knees threatened to sink
under him Mt every step.
/ eddie, dear boy, what is the mat
ter? she nnxiously asked.
lie raised his face. Its ghastly pallor
], tmcte her with fright.
She wound her arms about him, she
ralled him endearing names, she even
KISSED his cold hands as she supported
! nm back to the house. He only said.
IN voice raised a little above whis.
per:
II am not we'll. I must go home"
so you shall; and YOU shall lie down
md rest, and I'll make you some of
my nice cordial to strengthen YOU.
What has happened, son? Is it any,
thing about that girl?"
- shall never see her again." he
whispered.
Have you two quarreled2 1 feared
you would, sooner or later. Don't take
1t to heart, Eddie cheer up; perhaps
you'll make it up next time; if YOU
don't 1t may be the very best thin
t9eypa for you thatccscsal4-- -aaggsp. Lsg 5sTsg
His hand was toobly y.lis.., .-1~..,,-.
protest against her chatter. She
leased. Supporting him through the
gate, she was leading him TO his bed
! DOM, when his strength wholly gave
out. He sank listlessly into the rock
ing chair that she had Just vacated, and
his head dropped to his breast.
Thoroughly frightened by his looks
and actions, the mother flew into the
house for restorative. The strong
falt: at his nose revived him little. |
The fearful woman had flung herself |
down Mt his feet, and now held his
hands, imploring him to look at her,
to speak to her.
A weary smile lighted his wan face
for an instant only as he saw her. He
tried to speak, but he could not utter a
syllable.
90, Eddie, my darling boy, don't
look so!-don't act SO! You haven't
been well for n long time. | have seen
it plainly. That girl never loved you;
YOU wouldn't have been happy with
her; don't grieve yourself about her.
| must nurse you back 10 health and
strength. We might take little Jour-
nev as soon as the weather becomes
settled; you want change. Shall we
90 across the lake?-or would you
rather"
She stopped abruptly. His hands
Law limp and cold in hers. his eyes
stared in a stony way down upon her.
The troubled soul had taken the last
Journey the silent voyage beyond the
| river!
Not the shock of his rude overthrow
in the wood by the stalwart arms OF
Randall Belmont had wrought ms
death. The physical pains of that as,
sault had almost passed; he had slept
them off beneath the tree.
If ever men die of broken hearts,
that fate was hia.
The discovery at the Bryson house;
the conflict of anger, modification, and
despair that had since ragged In his
breast; the conviction, emphasized by
the language of .sRandall Belmont II
the wood, that .Iessica was lost to HIN
forever-thcse had united to snap tht
cords of his existence, and his suffer
ing heart stood still.