The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1891-03-13

i patpcsnie iiStio quaver ran through her
words. "Oh, can't you understand He
Is honest and true, and could not break
his hearth
Amoisture sprang on Hadleys fore.
head and very slowly he opened and
closed his hands. There was pause, and
then the pleasant baritone again:
."Are there no rivers in Damascusi Z
What Of my heart, AliceT Hadley
heard no more. Something seemed TO
suifocato him. His breath went M
'urtner rnan than his throat, and the
dusky web Of lilac. branches danced In
black and shapeless phantasmagoris be-
fore his ewes. He was dimly conscious
or pstter Of feet, q wave OF perfume,
and gush OF yellow light a. the hall door,
clashed open and shut, and then he knew
he was alone again.
Alonel A hideous sense Of loss, and
bitter, hopeless dcsolation, such as he had
never felt and never dreamed Of. over
whelmed him. He did not think; he did
not dare to think. He staggered to his
feet, opened the gate and passed out.
To run away, to elude this thing as II
It was some senticnt, palpablo pursuer,
was the first impulse that possessed him,
and he hurried on, blindly, stumblingly,
he cared not whore. How far he walked
thus he had no means Of knowing, but
when he stopped it was on thronging
thoroughfarc, before the window great
emporium, aquivcr with electric lights.
Ho drew a long breath and pulled him
self together. An illuminated dial that
puncturcd tho gloom OF tho upper ~
marked after midnight, and faintncss
began to assail him, deadly reaction
that turned his knees TO water. The
careless, alien crowd Jared on him, tho
barbaric spcndor of the windows smote
upon his brain; he wanted to be alone,
and presently he saw tho open doorway
of a cafe and entered.
A few people sat ut tables here and
there aid on one hand were the cur
taincd doorways of n row Of little rooms
or stalls. He walked instinctively
toward one OF these and drew the
drapery aside. A man within, who was
musing, apparently, over bottle and
hnlf-caton meal, turned nt the sound,
and tho room-matcs looked one another
in tho face.
self, and sprang up with outstretched
hand.
"Why, my dear fellow |" he exclaimed,
cam indebted to insomnia for this
pleasure3"
Iadley took his hand absently, but
did not nt once reply. What was there
about that voice, with its plausible, vi
brating timbre, that thrilled him sol
~ have been little troubled" no
said, hcsitatingly, land tried to-walk
it OFF,"
"Hsi And camo in here, dare say,
to drown It in drink, rs the provorb
goes. My word for it, trouble is the
thirstiest thing on earth. l tried to
drown small sorrow in drink onco. and
when was under tho table there was the
sorrow, sober as a judge. But I'll tell
you something, Hadley, it won't stand
feeding. Tho proper thing to drown
sorrow in is mutton chops and fried po-
tatocs. Suppose wo put it to the touch.
Waiter"
"Hold!" said Hadloy, who burned to
stop this bndinagc, "I am not hungry
not in the least. Let me sit down mo-
ment aud think"
at the other with sudden, haggard in
tcntnsss. A thought had just occurred
to his distracted mind. Why was not
this man, so bright, SO versatile, so self
contained, 80 en- rapport with the great
world and it's usagcs-why was not he tho
very man of all men to give him counsel
in this prcdicamcnti
"Ashton," he said, "I am in distress.
Will you give mo your advicc"
Ashton smiled grimiy.
"You have come to good shop for
advice" he said. "My whole life is
moro or less warning. However, II /
can be of any service to you, blaze away.
Out with it, my boy"
But Hadley did not find the story SO
easy ~ ;oii.
"I am engaged to be married." he
said, at length.
"Ho! hop cried Ashton. al forsee
stern parent with prejudice against
literary characters" Then something
aroPpea Spp sffsst tone Se Of evisy FoTgV'
me-" he said, gently. ':What is thi'
trouble Of yours2 You need not men
uoh TIC lauy name, OIL eouISc. MAKE
it n Hypothetical case"
ooh, now said Hadley, 'I can con
fide in you. She is tho best girl in the
world. Her name is Alice Tylcr"
Ashton was leaning over the tabl,
toying with glass, bu: ut the words ht
rose Involuntarily and fixed his eyes upor
the other with strange and challenging
IcynrI. iIadley paused for moment
with dim and troubled conscience thai
he had touched some hidden spring
but only for moment, and then, slowly
and incoherently, he told his story
Ashton sank back rs he proceeded and
heard him in silence to the end.
"Do you know this mana" he asked,
when it was done.
"No," replied Hadley, gloomily
"What does it matter who he isl"
f.-A.I~. Ala --~- --r'y, l." """r,nd loat
in thought.
''IIadley," he demanded, suddenly
"do you really intend to marry this grill
But pshaw2" he continued, "you are toe
honest to be triler. And this fellow
why, thousand to one he is amusing