The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-09-02

with rs haG il ::ot ioeea, for her influence.
Do you know, dear, I feel a vague anxiety
! about him whenever he is OUT
'But Pompey is so strong and so devoted
to him. returned Isabel, quickly, Il had
never thought Of danger. Perhaps l did
wrong to bring him away from h:s home
haunts, but did SO long TO wiz his affection,
| if not his recognition and she looked at
her husband with newly-awaliened sense
| of alarm.
''Do not let my fancy distress you," he
said; she is probably as safe with Pompey
here as at home; by the way, have let
ter for YOU from Lottie. and he handed her
white envelope. II was careless to have
forgotten it so long"
zone whole hour since the postmGn came,
you naughty man." she said, playfuly sfak-
ing her finger az him. Dear girl, her room
seems SO vacant and lonely and she broke
the seal eagerly. ''She will be here in a
| week." commenting as she read, ''and her
parents a month later. Dear, happy little
girl; little thought that in bringing her
here was bringing her to homo, love and
happiness"
81 little thought when consented,
strongly against my will, assure you, to
accompany Lillian on q bonnet excursion,
that was to meet my fate, the other half
of myself, so to speak," ne rejolned.
There IS g divinity that shapes our ends,
looking at him thoughtfully. s'It is beauti-
full thought, too, my dear, that there is a
great over-rulins Providence which, how
ever weakly and blindly we may be strug-
Cling to tiud the right path in life, can make
r1J trI0
BY which we are drawn toward the crowning
events Of our lives. Had you come in five
minutes later 1 should have been IL tho
work room, and jennie Dewey would have
fitted Lillian with bonnet"
'sIn which case there would probably have
been no Mrs Falconer to this day. he re-
piled, with a smile:
They went down TO the dining-room arm
in-arm, and found, to 1sabels relief, that
Mr.. Darlington and Grace were there be-
fore them ''We had such a lovely drive" !"
said Grace, eagerly "Pompey IS such q
grand driver the horses seem to know every
word he says to them, don't they, Papa Car
rington'n
He nodded with smile; he was never
talkative, and his eyes had the dreamy ex-
preston Of one just reused from sleep. His
attitude toward Isabel had not changed, and
she seemed an object OF mild wonder 20 him
as she called him father, and lavished
the affection which she could not repress
upon him,
He would often look in her eyes with the
same puzzled look which he first wore, and
say, mourniully: ''It is strange, very
strange, how you remind me Of some one l
have known but can not recall
The child, however, seemed thing OF the
present; reality which he could grasp,
suggesting no torturing thoughts which re-
fused to take definite form, and on her he
lavi.hed the love which Isabel so craved,
keeping her beside him hour after hour.
He said little about his Southern home;
that seemed to have faded from his mind; i; but
occasionally he would look about him IS II
he missed some familiar presence, and ask
Pompey II Major Darlington had come IN
vet, and receive with overcoming sur
prise the intelligence that he had rot.
Pompey had taken care Of him 50 long that
he knew just how to humor every whim
and make him comfortable. He was a
splendid fellow, a perfect specimen Of his
race; tail, stalwart. and with keen tntelli-
gence which would have done credit TO
many in a higher station. His devotion to
his unfortunate charge was untiCing, and
no inconvenience was too great to suffer in
his interest Oracle shared IN his pro-
tective love, and he was never weary OF
contributing to her pleasure with songs or
stories, which were fully appreciated BY tho
child.
Lottie returned at the time appointed,
and was once more domiciled in her room.
She was so much better now that she could
walk short distances easily without her
ccutch, and her face, sweet and pure al
WAYS, was illumined with soft glow OF
happiness which rendered it doubly charm
ing.
Dr. Conroy, though an undemonstrativo
man, could not control his eyes, and
watched her with devouriug look which
plainly showed his heart, and the tender
care which the bluff stalwart doctor showed
toward his fragile little patient was touch
ing; even the gentle little mother had been
entirely willing to surrender her darling
into his keeping when she saw his devotion
and her love for him.
Thc family would remove to Philadelphia
In a short time, and already neat little
cottage had been engaged for them by
the doctor, who had entered into the life Of
the little mother and the kind father with
the warm interest of son.
Pompey was intending to return to Elm
Park with his charge in few days when
an event occurred which materially altered
all plans in the household. It had been rain
ing, and the streets were in slippery and
uncomfortable state which rTecluded walk
ing or driving.
Chester CsrriuGton was in the gloomy,
brood;ng state of mind which always, In
greater or less degree, accompanied low,
depressing state Of the atmosphere, and
which was particularly aggravated by an
electric storm.
Pompey had followed him closely, and
strlven patiently to amuse or turn his mind
upon pleasant topics, but be had shown
himself strangely impatient Of control, and,
sending his attendant upon some fancifu
errand, he managed to slip away unobserved
and wandered out upon the street
Pompey was greatly alarmed when he re-
turned and found his charge missing and
many moments Of valuable time was spent
searching the large house, in the hope that
he had gone into some of the rooms.
Isabel shared Pompey's alarm fully when
she learned the situation. Mr.. Falcouer
was not at home and Tom was out on an
errand, so Pompey rushed out alone upon
his search, eagerly inQuiring Of each police
man and putting them upon the lookout.
No one had noticed the missing man, and
Pompey started for the police headquarters
In search Of assistance. He was fastening
along crowded thoroughfare when his at
tention was caught by the familiar form OF
the object Of his search in advance Of him;
he was crossing street, and Pompey OBJ
served with horror that he was directly in
the path OF swift-coning carriage, the
driver OF watch seemed to be gesticulating
and shouting, but poor Chester Darlington,
his white locks streaming in the March
wind, was also gesticulating and talking to
himself, as he often did in his present state
Of mind, and paid no attention. The driver
pulled savagely on tho lines, the horses
reared and plunged, but their impetus was
such that they could not stop quickly
enough, and poor unfortunate Chester Car