The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-08-19

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SHE STOOD By WONDERFUL SPECIMEN OF
| THE LILY TRIBE
moments; he told me then that he had left
| his Young wife in a Northern burial ground
and his little babe in the care of Northern
woman with Nurse Chloe. BE mentioned
| the name of the village, but, in the excite
ment of meeting him, It slipped my mind en-
tirelv, and I could never recall it or the
name of the woman with whom you were
| left.
"a fierce battle occurred soon after, and
your father was terribly wounded, was
taken off the field among the dead, in fact,
but afterward revived and was sent to the
hospital, and after a wonderfully crltlcai
operation in trepanning, he recovered slow
tv, but his memory of past events was
| utterly gone. and he has no memory save
| Of the immediate present"
sThen he will not know me-" she cried, il
a panied voice. "Oh, this is sad, so sad.
had hoped and dreamed that l might ye,
know fathers love-" and she covered hel
face with her hands.
s.Let us hope for the best, my dear niece, y
he said, kindly and encouragingly; ''who
knows but yours may be the hand which
will lift the vail from the past, aud bring
back his memory!"
"God grant that it may" she said, fervent-
| ly 81 will be to him all that loving
daughter can be-"
81 en- sure Of II; and now tell me Of your
self; Of course, Nurse Chloe is not living.
| She was old when she went North, aud the
climate is not favorable to the Southern
| born"
"She died soon after my mother" replied
Isabel. 'Mrs. Harmon, with whom my
father left me and whom I always supposed
to be my aunt until lately, told me that she
pined and mourned for my mother and the
family until her death"
''Ah poor soul. she was faithful
creature; but why did this Mrs. Harmon
conceal the facts Of your birth from you!'
asked Major Darlington, a little jealousy.
because she loved me-" replied Isabel.
quickly, ''aad as she became very poor she
feared that would be unhappy and discon'
| tented if knew the truth in the low sphere
which was obliged to occupy" and she
! gave him brief summary OF her past life.
"And you have been obliged to work as a
common shop-girl; you-a Darlington" he
| exclaimed IN shocked tone.
81 assure you, dear sir. it has not harmed
| me in the least" she answered, merrlly:
''but of course it was hard and calling IN
| the time of it, and would have been doubly
| so had I known my own history; but the
| happiness of the present fully compensates
for all the past.'
"And your husbandw said Major Caring
ton, inQuiringly.
"Is the best and most unselfsh Of men, :"
she replied, enthusiastically. "He took me
from my low position and raised me to his
own station, and I honor him above all
men," and she briefly narrated the facts
connected with her marriage. She looked
up and saw her husband standing among a
group of gentlemen across the room, aud
his ewes caught hers in interested inquiry.
She signalled to him to come to her, and
| he was soon at her side.
''We were just speaking of you" she said,
! looking up at him with shining eyes full Of
happiness. "Mr Falconer, am delighted
to present to you my uncle, Major CARING
| ton."
It was not an entire surprise to him, as he
had heard the gentleman's name from a
! friend, and had guessed little of the truth
| noting Isabel's radiant face, and as he took
the offered hand he said: "Slnce my wife'S
romantic story has come to my knowledge.
I have been making inquiries, and using
every means in my power to find her family,
but did not hope for so speedy an accom-
plishment Of our desires"
any uncle tells me my father is living"
she said.
Better still than we hoped for" and Mr..
Falconer looked INTO her flushed face with a
sympathetic smile; he entered into her
feelings heartily.
'But fear the knowledge is only to be a
disappointment to my niece" said Major
Darlington. gravely, explaining his mean
ing ''My brother is prenaturely aged, and
fear his injury is insurmountable.
The incident soon became known through
the rooms, as Major Darlington left his new
found friends and mingled with the crowd
again, and Isabel was met by the sincere
congratulations of such of her friends as
knew her story, and if there had been any
lingering doubts as to her position in society,
they were removed now, as Major Caring
tons name was passport into any society,
and being publicly announced as his niece
removed the last straw in the way OF her
social success.
"You will spend the remainder OF your
time in the city at our home, will you nots"
said Isabel, as she bade her uncle good
night. 81 have so many inquiries to make" J."
II leave tomorrow night" he replied,
cordially, land will gladly spend q part Of
the day with you. !, too, wish to know more
OF you and yours"
'Oh, Lottie!" cried Isabel, eagerly, al
she wentinto her friends room IL the morn
ing, II have found them
Found whom!" said Lottie, whose ideas
did not at once climb up to the stupcndous
reality.
"Why, met my uncle last evening at
Mrs. Belmond's, dearie. Isn't that grand"
and she went on to give detailed account
Of her meeting with Major Darlington.
at is indeed delightful" replied Lottie,
gladly, embracing Isabel in her joyful SYM
| pathy, land to find that your father IS alive,
too"
"His condition is the one drop of sadness
in my cup Of JOY" said Isabel, signing
"but at any rate, it will be a delight to min
ister to his declining years, tor Of course l
shall hope to have him spend portion, at
least, Of his time with me-"
land you will go there, of coursel'
"Yes, am very impatient to see my fam
lly, and can hardly wait in patience torthe
time to come when we can go. Do you think
| you will be able to travel with US next
month, for should not like to leave you