The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-12-02

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! of want a!2,! suffering. For IN ho"! or
i1cTa ne tried to banisi. lis GA<.''..cr
irC!: his t!:our!lts ard ccncr::;:n:e ':is
mine a;,nn nc business he ha,. Il ::;.:sl.
bat n is;s:1a OF al MS clG4rts :,itl1scs 81
his c:,::i.: would dance across h:% papers
to distract him and add to his self
accusations.
IT last. finding that it was impossible
to control lis wandering thoa%htS and
fix them where hc wished. ana being
unable 10 longer endure the thoughts
hi, fancy bred, he threw down his pa-
rcrs an,! Pc, and fed from the Office.
He walked .AtGiy down the street. hav-
i2- no IDA u lis destination, havingno
care io- his course, intent on bat one
thing. and that was to escape the
thought, that haunted him. On and on
he walked until he passed through the
town ed olis into the country, nor did
he halt anti; he came to the river bank.
Then he sat down, and removing his
hat felt his 5ar2ing, throbbing brow.
My Cod, ,nJ God" he mur!nured,
''wh;.t have done. Ny poor, lost child,
how cou!., crcr forget you so. How
have forgotten your mother and my
promise 90 her Oh, God, spare me and
let me live to undo what I have done.
Let ne but see ny child once more and
receive her forgiveness for all Of my
neglect and cruelty"
\ long ti;ac he sat there gazing down
into tAc deep flowing water, and more
than cacc hc vas inclined TO throw HIM
self into the current and find relief 1T
once Tor his tortured soul. There, lic
thought. he could escape the 2w.El
thoughts that haunted him, and he
fancied that the cold water would bc
welcome to his burning brow. Eut
finally the desire to see his daughter
once more and atone to her for his
crucl neglect got the better Of him,
and he arose and went toward his Of
fee.
AS he walked unstcadily back he
wondered Why people stared at him so,
little dreaming What q change few
hours Of mental anguish had worked IN
I his cy,.vard appearance. He did not
know that his face had become hag-
gard, and his"ves bloodshot. lie did not
realize that the fires Of hell that burned
within him had scorched and scanned
him outwardly.
He was nearing his Office when he
met Rev Whccdier, and that gentle
man instantly noted the great change
in his valued parishioncr, and imne-
diatcly sought to assist l;rothel' Batch
ford home. He approached to take the
old mans arm, but Blatchford waved
him OF, and almost feG from the spot
His action surprised Rev. Whcedier
beyond anything, and he LETT that gen
tlcman perfectly dumfoundcd. Rev.
Whccdler looked after the fleeing
figure for an instant, undecided what to
do. bat finally he concluded to follow.
After chase Of couple Of blocks he
caught up with Blatchford.
Brother" hc said, ''you are III. Al
low me to see you home"
Don't touch me-" Blatchford fairly
shricked as he glared viciously upon
the minister. "Don't come near me.
You helped to do It. Goaway from
Ny child is dying Of want. l fec! it. !
know it. And you helped to lead me
away from her ard blind me TO her
rights and claims. Don't speak to me
again. l want my poor, wrongcd
child, and I'm going to find her"
Then, before the astonished minister
could collect his scattered senses, the
old man was gone. He passed around
the corner and entered his office, where,
sinking into seat, he buried his face
in his hands and wept.
"Oh, my God, my GoG," he .groaned
what have I done? How cruel, how
hcartlcss have acted toward my own
flesh and blood-my only child. How
blind and brutal have been, and how
bitter is the awakening to the enormity
of my sin. Oh, for one sight of my
child, one word of forgiveness from her
lips. l must find her. ! must search
the country from end to end for her.
At that instant the door opened and a
clerk came in. lie approached the old
man ditiidcntly, for nc could not help
seeing the great change that had come
over him He laid telegram on the
desk AID without word withdrew.
Blatchford opened the telegram at once
and read:
Come Immediately. Do not delay
under any circumstances. The most
important matter of your life. Come
quick, ScRAGGs.
The old man sprang to his feet in an
instant. and rushed wildly out.