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

pathcthic little quaver ran through her
words. "Oh, can't you understand He
is honest and true, and could not break
his heart"
Amoisture sprang on Hadley's 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 Damsscusi
What of my heart, Alicep Hadley
heard no more. Something seemed to
sulfocato him. His breath went no
further than than his throat, and the
dusky web Of lilac branches danced In
black and shapeless phantasmagoria be-
fore his ewes. He was dimly conscious
OF q patter of feet, wave OF perfume,
and gush of yellow light as the hall door;
clashed open and shut, and then he knew
he was alone again.
Alonel A hideous sense Of loss, and
bitter, hopeless desolation, 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 IL
1t was some sentient, palpable pursuer,
was the first impulse that possessed him,
and he hurried on, blindly, stumblingly,
he cared not where. How far he walked
thus he had no means of knowing, but
when he stopped it was ON thronging
thoroughfare, before the window a g,eat
emporium, aquiver with electric lights.
He drew long breath and pulled him
self toSether. An illuminated dial that
punctured tho gloom Of the upper ~
marked after midnight, and faintness
began to assail him, a deadly reaction
that turned his knees to water. The
careless, alien crowd Jared on him, the
barbaric spendor of the windows smote
upon his brain; he wanted to be alone,
and presently he saw the open doorway
of cafe and entered.
A few people sat at tables here and
thereJ aid on one hand were the cur
tained doorways of 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
half meal, turned at the sound,
and the room-mates looked one another
in the face.
Ashton was the first to recover him
self, and sprang up with outstretched
hand.
"Why, my dear fellow |" he exclaimed,
"Am indebted to insomnia for this
pleasure2"
Hadley took his hand absently, but
did not at once reply. What was there
about that voice, with its plausible, vi
brating timbre, that thrilled him so7
"I have been little troubled" he
said, hesitatiugly, "and tried to-walk
it off,"
"Hal And camc in here, I dare say,
to drown it in drink, as the proverb
goes. My word for it, trouble is the
thirstiest thing on earth. I tried to
drown a small sorrow in drink once. and
when was under the table there was the
sorrow, sober as judge. But I'll tell
you something, Hadley, it won't stand
feeding. The proper thing to drown
sorrow in is mutton chops and fried po-
tatoes. Suppose we put it to the touch.
Waiterw
"Hold!" said Hadley, who burned to
stop this badinage, ~ am not hungry
not in the least. Let mo sit down mo-
ment and think"
at the other with sudden, haggard in
tentness. A thought had just occurred
to his distracted mind. Why was not
this man, so bright, 80 versatile, SO self
contained. so en- rapport with the great