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

any assistance in his power, ~ tolt
hs1p. hsT sna' at sas shs ti%s %sh' freely call
1t isn't want of money thf E.likel,
TO trouble me, my dear young sir.
she said, while ~the tears fell fast. a
nave more th 'nopgh to keep me the
- rest OF my poo, ti1e, but L don't know
what to do with myself till am called
TO JON my husband and the children
VINO have gone before. I'm a poor.
lonely soul now; everything has been
TORN from me that cared for. can't
sssay In this desolate house, and don't
know where to CO."
Randall Belmont wos nosso..o5 80
sudden idea. and he acted upon il in.
stant!y. He told the widow that This
search had at last convinced him that
ms father must be dead that his mother
nad died many years before. He said
snae ne was the Joint heir, with two
married sisters, of immens, wealth;
~sthg &fs roqn oin ma a. t5i td5iatsnt Ssynap pStY
L am not married." he pursued, "al-
though L hope to be some day. l shall
need a housekeeper at once on my re-
tuTn nome, and she need not leave me
shouid chance to marry. have
never seen person whom would
prefer to you for such post. Come
with mo, then, to the c;ty. when re-.
turn, which will not be long hence.
take this place, where YOU Will be use.
fui, and find pleasant occupation. Yo,
VIII there make hosts of friends who
Will help to make your loss a sorrowful
memory, instead of an ever-present
grief"
The widow was startled bv this sud-
den and unexpected proposition. md
fenected moment before she an
swered: "
You are very kind to me Mr.. Bel
mont" she said, "and I feel like ac-
septlng your generous offer right away
"Well?"
Il don't believe III do. Pm not used
to your city ways: you don't know me
well enough yet to risk such an offer"
I'm per .ectly willing TO take the
tremendous risk of this matter" he
replied, with n smile. "But I've an
other proposition to make to YOU, Mrs.
an Wyck; and since you think | am
acting hastily in the first one. the Sec
1nd may show you that | am not.
Ever since l came to this vicinity have
stopped ut the inn at Aylesworth.
acqualntances have mado in the
'lilage, but no friends; there is moth
ng TO bind me to the place for n day.
Wy search Is now practically finishe5 II
10 that L can dispense with oil heb the o.
nediately. I'D like to settle.sere, if t.
'lllage to,morroy- como MSor n
,ou Will Ike me for Soarder Qt n
S$eeks. 1 sec ou have n shed IN a
lerc, where l can keep my horse. InN
lis way we can become perfectly ac- b
tainted: l can be useful to you, n
ID Tvw''asssaI aas.f to Il
Ter I have made to you, l promise O
lat VII frankly tell you so." a
We need not give the details of the -
that followed. Enough :
,at it ended with the grateful APPROX .
and consent of the widow, and Bel
Iont shortly TOOK his leave. :.
So strange are the changes that even
} little time as three days may bring! !,
But three days had passed since n
,ve-si"k, half, raZed youth had, in d
is desperation, attempted the murder c
his rival. Three days only! That g
outh was dead ara buried, and his
ival, before pushing his suit with the |
bject of the boys hopeless passion,
eemed likely to take his own place in |
he affairs Of his mother.
AS Belmont mounted his horse, Mrs.
Tan Wyck ran to the door with sud
len exclamation:
40, Mr.. belmont! 1 didn't think.
low can ever go 80 far from where
nv dear ones are buried I!
"You shall come back here for a
week every spring." lie answered with
out hesitation.
"You dear, kind soul!'
He rode rapidly away. His thoughts
we're busy with plans for the future.
His mind was turning away from the
mystery of his fathers fate, and con-
corning itself with himself. He
thought that he had satisfied filial du-
tv bv his long, painful, and fruitless
search. 1t was time to think of the
living. He regarded the arrangement
he had lust made with the widow with
great satisfaction. A brief day-dream
came to him, of jessie as his bride, |
and he thought how good it would be
to relieve her at first Of the oversight
and care of the great city house.
Filled with such pleasant thoughts
as these, he gave his horse loose rein,
and the animal gallopel swiftly along.
A female figure approached as he
rode on. With great bound OF his
heart, 40 recognized her of whom he
had Just been thinking.
He drew rein SO suddenly that his
horse fell back upon his launches.
When the animal recovered his feet she
had hurried past.
He turned and called to her.
"Jessica Jess:ca! Miss Bryson!
She neither stopped nor answered:
Yet he was certain that it was she.
He could not be mistaken in her hg.
ure; and he had a passing glimpse OF
her face. =,
Yes, il was surely she. She would
not answer him; she would not stop at
| his call.
He sat in his saddle. motionless,