The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-08-12
IS AB E L:
From Shop to Mansion.
The Romantic Story Of a Dress
-. Makers Rise in Life.
!, BY MRS. z. M. HOWARD.
1Copyri7hted, 1852.

ICopyi1hted, 1889.
There was parely ulne TO pack the trunk
before the carriage would be at the door
to carry her to the station, and she had lit
tie time to think Of any thing but the details
of the unexpected journey. Mr.. Falconer
took roll of bills from his bill-book.
ssIsabel," he said, II wish you to go amply
provided to do whatever is needed for your
aunt, you can help her noao to advantage:
Please feel no restrictions whatever, and II
there is not enough ask for more, and leave
her comfortable"
ssMr. Falconer!" she said, in trembling
voice.
Ct do not wish any one who has loved and
befriended you to suffer need, when we have
such abundance. should he ashamed OF
myself could allow it." he spoke kindly
and firmly.
':Ican not tell you how gratifying * Will
be to me to be able to relieve the distress l
expect to fnd," she said, as she put the bills
away.
As the train whizzed along her mind took
retrospective turn. Only Unree short
months ago. and she had passed over this
road bride, in such a maze of stranSeness
that she hardly realized that it was herself.
Her book Of experiences had been unfold
ing ever since, and what {. delightful one II
was, so widely different from any thing she
had ever dreamed of, and she thought OF
her husband with warm thrill at her
heart. 1.-THE kindest and most unselfsh OF
men," she murmured, land Oracle, sweet
darling! could mother ask for love!ier
childa''
She wa. thoroughly rested now. Mind
and body had been treated to such an en-
tire change that she was once more ouoyant
with life and energy, and the peevishness
produced by the long routine of work and
mental aggravation, which had so Worn
upon her nervous system, had passed
away, and she was going to her aunt IN her
need with every faculty on the alert, and
with her tenderness aroused toward the
friend who had been all the mother she had
ever known.
A lady sat before her, holding little girl
in her arms; the child was peevish. 'Go
to sleep, DEAR" said the lady, kindly. clay
ycur head on my shoulder and take nap"
ssOh, auntie, can't!n The child was al
most sobbing with excitement and weari-
ness, for they had come long journey.
.Auntier' The word, so familiar, struck
avibrating chord in Isabers heart, and re-
minded her of the loving care her aunt had
gwen her in the old days, before poverty
and sorrow had come to wiring her heart and
chill her affections.
One time of sickness she remembered in
particular, when Mrs. Harmon had nursed
her night and day for weary weeks, and
tears of Joy rose to her eyes as she remem-
bered that she had it in her power to re-
nav. in some measure, her debt of graft
tude.
Meanwhile Mrs. Harmon was sitting IN
Z her poor home in maze OF sorrowful
trouble; John Harmon had been unusually
dissipated for the last six months, and her
poor heart had sank away down, out of
sight Of hope or courage, and she had
prayed wildly that som,ethsn3 might come to
change the miserable routine.
Something had come; he was carpen-
ter, and in ascepdinga a ladder in q state Of
lintoxication his ootslipped, and, falling, his
neck was broken, causing instant death, and
when he was carried to his miserable home,
), which he had left that morning with curses
and threats, the poor wife felt as If IN some
way she was responsible for the awful oc-
currence
She longed for, yet dreaded, Isabel's ad-
vent in the shabby little cottage. She had
written so little since her marriage that her
aunt had little idea of what her manner Of
life was now, but she was sure Of one thing,
that it would be painful to her to come into
the home, which had so long sheltered her,
and see the ravages drink had made, for
she aad been obliged to part with every
thing Of value in the house, an old secreta-
ry aud shabby old bureau and battered
sewing-uachine the only pieces Of furni
ture left which were not actually indispen-
sable.
She remembered only too well the girls
last stay at home; how her very soul rose
up in rebellion against John Harmon's
course, and the bitter words and scorrful
looks which made 1t q relief when she went
away, for he was not man to bear inter
ference, and lsabers fierce 6isapproval only
drove him into more dogged persistence in
wrong doing.
She almost repented sending for her, as
she thought it all over, and then longing
desire to see her, to lean upon her strong
young arm for support, would possess her,
and she could hardly await patiently the
hour Of her arrival
She was not prepared then for the scene
when Isabel, in blooming health aud Gle
gantly attired in rich travelling suit, came
in at the humble door, and taking the poor
tried and prematurely aged little woman II
her arms, petting and kissing her as she
cried, tearfully: "Dear auntie; my poor,
ad.hearted auntie.n
CHAPTER VII.
John Harmon was laid in q drunkard 6
y f.,-S