The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1890-02-07
want. to refresh myself a little, and
then 90 on"

then go on"
"Oh, you do-and you don't" sneered
the man. "Got any money!"
She had to admit that she had none.
We'll, then, you 60 right on. Sus-
picious characters without money amt
my kind"
Tho fellow laughed ut his own bru-
tallty, and the distressed girl moved
away.
She hardly had tho courage to ask
again; but at the next house pleas
ant faced young woman, with three or
four children at her heels, came run
ming out to her rs she passed, with an
exclamation of surprise and pleasure.
"Why, if it amt Miss Bryson! Where
on earth are you going to at such
time of day? And on foot, too! Come
in, and tell me all about it."
The good creature had formerly been
her nearest neighbpr at the old house,
and she remembe bored many litslo sos- ef
kindness that Jess ca had shown her.
The wanderer went In and rested
herself, and ate and drank, while the
woman never ceased to ask her ques-
tions. The girl evaded most of them,
and such answers as she gave were
very unsat sfactory to the questioner.
There's something the matter with
you, miss; I'm certain of it. You just
take off your things, and stay with me
awhile. Somebody's been trying to
impose upon you; see that by your
looks. Tell me who to send for, and
my Joe shall go and carry any message
you want to send"
Iossica rose in alarm.
"There is no trouble" she said. "I
thank you for your kindness, and will
bid you good d-morning."
. Against the good woman's urgent
| protests she went on her way.
Walking on until she was too ex-
hausted to move, she obtained q ride
with q farmer in q springless wagon,
which hardly relieved her fatigue. but
whi III brought her three miles further
on her way.
The sun was now high, the day was
warm. Until near noon she went on,
weak, dizzy, feverish She saw O
spring by the roadside, and went to il
to rclievo her thirst. She sat down
upon stone, intending to rest for q
few moments. When she tried to rise,
she fell helpless in tho grass.
She could do no more; her strength
was utterly gone. She closed her eyes,
and wished that she might die here.
The clatter of hoofs in the road
caused her to open them. The vision
of great black horse appeared to her
she heard an exclamation, sound oi
hurrying feet; an arm was passed about
her, and she was held up against Ran
dali Belmont's knee.
How cruel this is of you, Jcssica n
he said. at is cruel to me; it is
doubly cruel to yourself"
"How did you find me?" she asked,
Hie|s Hind iSd ysa sf h e. inSsss ksgpi
heard of you all along the way, wher
ttoree got on tho right track. Now ]
shall take you over to that large house
there, and have you made comfortable
till can get carriage and take you
back to Mrs. Van Wyck's."
MOI she said, sitting upright
AYou did not read what wrote to you
last night"
"Indeed did; every word of it."
And can you, after that, continue
to seek me?"
Why should 1 not? Dreadful as
the story is to me, shocked as am tc
hear the truth, why should you suffer
more because of it? You are limo
cent, as you wrote; you are all to me,
and more, that you ever were"
Her resolution wavered at last. Yet
she still resisted.
N.@You do not think of yourself; you
are too generous, too noble. You
would overshadow your whole life
with me-"
"This is the last time of asking, Jes-
siea. he, said, with deep solemnity.
know myself; no change was possi-
.hla.in.~na2--kA.-~-s-
you have told me has changed you the
slightest in my eyes. Now, 1 will take
my final answer from your own lips.
Is it joyP-or must it be woe?"
A sense of rest came over her as she
heard him. His arm held her up; she
looked into his kind, serious eyes, and
saw there that which rejoiced her more
than the sight of the green oasis re-
loices the traveller in the desert sands.
She saw new life before her, with all
That happiness that he had often pict-
ured to her; and she could no longer
refuse to call it hers. And so she re-
piled:
ut is low dear Randall. iov o,d