The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1891-11-20

hs
aud, by his fathers express desire, to
find q wife.
Heart whole, fancy free, he mingles
with the guests who gather at Mrs.
Mark hams, his aunt's; escorts his pretty
cousin Mabel to opera, theatre, concert,
dances gracefully with one belle, takes
another out to supper, makes himself
agreeable with third on slcighiug
party, escorts fourth for promenade,
and so on-sixth, seventh, eighth, mum.
bers indefinite, coming under his care
pro tenn, but not one stirring his heart
as Bab's cordial greeting did when he
returned from college.
Bah! There is scarcely q frolic OF his
lonely childhood that is net associated
with Bah. How many times has her
mother called him in from SNOWFALL
lighting or coasting frolic, 10 eat crisp,
hot doughnuts or gingerbread! How
many candy pulls has he had with Bah at
one end OF the sweet, sticky mass and
himself at the other!
Bah is not his ideal. That was tall,
stately, brunettel Bah is short, merry,
brow5-eyed and with hair of FURNISHED
bronze that Malcolm irreverently calls
red! And then, although there is no
foolish pride about Malcolm, he has GER
tainly moved In more cultivated and re-
ined social circles than Barbara ever
saw. 3e wonders how Bah would look
in clouds of tulle, her round white arms
circled with bracelets, her glorious hair
starred with gems, and mentally decides
that she would look "jollyl"
A letter from home reached him in
the middle Of November.
DEAR Mr.. MALCOLM, think ought to
write you aseut your pa. He won't COM
ns sn ss wa sss 9a Ssrs
every day, reads to him. sings for him, plays
chess and brings him all sorts OF gooi things
she cooks to please his appet!te; She's
the aest girl in the world / think,
but she Amt like your pas own. He frets
for you, though he won't say SO, and think,
Mr.. Malcolm, IL y1ell excuse the liberty Of
my saying 30, the t!s<s is coming when you
will be glad if you como home to cheer him.
Your obedient servant,
MARY CLARKE"
''My dear old dad!' thought Nal.
colin, tearing down stairs with the letter
in bis baud. "He is sick I was afraid
he was last summer, and here I've been
fooling away for months while he has
been frettiug for me!'
His remorse was deeper than his neg
| lect warranted, but he loved his father,
the ever indutgent friend OF his life, his
one tie in the dear old home. Aud so,
making graceful apologies to his aunt,
he started ut once for Deer6eld.
Mr. Hoyt was in the library when he
drove up to the door, aud through the
window Malcolm could rec the ruddy
light from the CRATE, the deep arm chair,
thc figure Of his father reclining there.
But, pausing on the porch, he saw more
| He saw that the dear face was hollow
eyed, haggard, fearfully changed. He
saw trim little figure bending lovingly
over the sick man, coaxlng him TO eat
the dainty luncheon on the table beside
HIM. Aud he saw Bah more than once
draw back to hide 9uivering lips aud
eyes filed with tears.
"How good she is" Malcolm thought,
"to leave her bright ho ne, to comfort G
lonely old man. And he stepped soft.
ly, not to disturb the pretty scene, aud
went to the back door to send Mrs.
Clarke to give notice of his arrival.
He was disappointed wiea he went in
to find his father alone, but he forgot all
else in his sorrow at finding such &
change in him.
why have you not seut for me be
fOre1' hSasked, reps9qechteaHlIISy eHl IISy.ns yoa,
visit, my dear boy. Your letters wer,
like gleaps OF sunshine; Bah read then
over and over to me, but would not let
any one write but myself, for fear OF
troubling you"
''But you were lonely?"
Yes, very lonely, though Barbara
has been very kind. Sue is the gcntlcst
OF nurses, the most patient of com.
panions," then, little wistfully "Havc
you no news for me, Malcolm3"
"None, but what have written"
I'll SO wish to see you settled in your
home, be(Ore-I mean, soon."
Married! But If fail tn find my
| ideal2"
"Ah, We all fail in that"
"But father, you would not have me
marry without lovei"
"Never"
81 saw nobody loved in New
York"
| but, nearer home2"
| "Your tea is ready, Mr.. Malcolm, >
said Mrs. Clarke at the door, and Nal
colin obeyed the summons.
The subject was not renewed as father
and son sat far into the night conversing
There were many matters needing super.
vision, and again Malcolm reproached
himself that all the care of the estate
had fallen upon his fathers feeble
Aands while he was pleasure seeking.
"But / will never leave him again, "
he aaid to himself as he assisted his faith
er to his bedroom.
a whole week passed busily, aud there
came few days of warm weather, such
as November finds often iu her dreary
weeks. Barbara was in the garden,
Walking up and down, thinking.
or WHAT Of Mrs. Clsrke's announce
ment whole week before that had sent
her skurrying home like frightened
rabbit. Was Malcolm so engrossed with
his idea that hs had not even one hour
for his old playmatc2 1t hurt her to
think so, and she missed, too, the daily
care she hal voluntarily assumed during