The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-11-04

had rclented, and again opened his
heart to receive his child. With trem-
bling fingers, and fast beating heart,
she drew the letter from its cover and
began to devour its contents. But soon
the flush of hope died out Of her face,
and a shadow of sorrow and grief deep
er than any it had ever worn succeeded.
The letter was not from her father,
but from lady of her acquaintance,
who wrote with more zeal than discre-
ton. A portion Of it was as follows:
"Your father IS we'll ana apparently con-
tented. His wife Is all he can desire. l sup
pose since he bows TO her will in all things.
She has her way in the home and the business,
and she needs but to hint wish TO havcit graf
fled She has brought her sisters chill
dren three In number, to live with
her. and OF course your father supports
them. The TWO youngest girls. he keeps
in college, while the other, young man grown.
he has taken into the bank with him. making
him partner IN the business. Your father and
his wife are actiYe members OF Reverend
Wheedlee's church, and she Is one OF the most
dcvout members OF the congregation. The
yoYag man whom your father has connected
with him in the bank IS somewhat rakiSh, and
think very uoprincipicd he spends money
lavishiy, ard OF course It is your fathers
money. for he has none OF his own.
He has Just returned from stay Of several
months in the west, and has married the
daughter OF merchant here. It's my opinion,
though, that he did not marry toc love, but for
money think, from what have learned, that
he met some one out west whom he loves Your
father made great dinner on the occasion OF
the wedding, inviting all his wifc's relatives.
was there as was also Rev. Whcedler. The
minister pronounced It most enjoyable meet
ing and wondered II he noted your absence,
or remembered that you were stranger 10
your father for no good cause. told this min
lister afterwards that could not understand
how your father could so far forget his own
fcsh and blood and take to his bosom those
who were nothing 70 him I told him that in
my opinion no parent could be good
Christian while he was so unrclentilg. He re.
piled that sometimes children tried their
parents sorely, and that no matter how Chris
tian man might be it was not in his nature
to forget some things He thought Brother
Blatchlord was more forglving than the ma
iority Of men, and as for Sister Blatch:ord, she
was deserving OF much sympathy, foc hers was
trying situation. and no doubt her heart often
bled fo- her husbands wrongs. Mrs. Blatch.
ford has brother Joseph Spickler whom your
father has set up in business several times.
Joseph doesn't seem to be OF any great conse-
Queace in business way, and about all he
seems 20 have any success at IS falling. He
has failed enough already to make your father
several thousand dollars poorer. He IS no! tns
only one Of Mrs. Blatchtord's relatives yhe
have had your fathers assistance, tor nearly
oil OF them have gone TO him for money 10 tide
over hard places. Old Mrs. Spclilcr. Mrs.
Biatchtorti's mother, has come 10 live with
h,- orS yp%n i, t,fp oil
her !ifc. Hope the day will come when Your
father will see and understand his duty and
think Il will"
When Mary Green finished the letter
she sat for 3 long time with her hands
claspcd in mute despair, too deeply
troubled to utter a sound. Then turn
ing her sad face to Heaven she moancd
in anguish, and in her soul cried out:
"My God. what have done to merit
this? What crime, what sin have !
committed to call down on my head
such punishment? Was it so wrong to
marry the good, honest man my heart
loved? Oh! God, if Thou be just, how
canst Thou permit such things to be-"
For an hour Mary sat there heart
broken and disconsolate, pouring out
the sorrow of her soul in tears and
means. Oh! who can picture the misery
Of that hour? Christ in the garden of
Gethsemane wept tears OF blood He
knew what it was TO be poor. fricndless
and alone. He felt the bitter grief of {.
forsaken soul. He wcpt and He prayed.
Yet He knew that God was with Him
and that He was only to pass through
the shadow Of night and come into a
brighter and better life. Mary wcpt.
All about her there was darkness.
There was no future hope to buoy her
soul-no beacon light TO guide her on.
She was penniless and FRI. * =,> and
in few short days she and her chld
would be alone on the great plain with
no one near to offer aid or speak con-
soling word.
The agony Of that hour was too great
for her, and her feeble frame sank
under it. The dread disease that had
long been stealing into her system ana