The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-05-06

up guiltily. or course the girl had known
when Joe's wagon had stopped. OF
course, with her hard won acquaintance
with her mothers tactics, she had come
to see what followed. ~ thank We very
much, ma" she went on, her blue eyes
blazing with a pride wounded unto
death, "but We neenter interfere in my
affairs any more. An, as fer yer kind
remarks about me, Mr.. Myers" fixing
her ire upon the awe-struck Joseph,
'your's and yer mothcr's-it's all one
ye kin make up yer mind, amt sellin
myself yet, eff my own flesh an blood Is
willin'l"
She was too furious to be even as Just
as Is possible to woman. Every ono
knew that Mrs. Farman cared far moro
for her daughters happiness than for the
mortgage.
can hero" the wild creature con.
tinued, pulling pink envelope from her
calico pocket-''I was goin' t. send We
word, this very day, that was ashamed
and sorry on account o that Thursday
night. But l amt ashamed or sorry
now. I'm glad of it,"
The propitiatory words flew away, rs
she spoke, like countless rose petals, un-
der her impatient fingers.
Joe was as red and excited by this
time as Rachel herself.
81 wish ye better temper, Miss Far
man." he said in cutting scorn, can
good. mornin' t ye, ladies'" With whicn
he stitfly raised his battered straw hat
and drove away.
Mrs. Farman ran past the younger wo-
man with much the Dir of child expect
ing reproof. She hurried through the
house to her bedroom, where she shut
and locked the door. Lying on the
white pillows, between fear aud disap-
pointment she sobbed herself into that
woful state of headache which was sure,
in the end, to call forth abundant tilial
repentance and awkward ten derness.
Any one who knew Mrs. Farmans soft
persistence as did her family could not
have been surprised at the devices which
she uadauntedly employed in the time to
come, August passed away, and Sep
tember frosts began 10 iaii. Ben Martin
came TO call at the little farmhouse Sun
day nights. Joe Myers gave up singing
i'll the choir, and stalked in aud out of
church Unconscious OF the vacant chair
where he had been wont to sit and look
over the same hymnbook-O blissful
period with the sweet soprano. Aud
ltachel's heartsick dignity was quick to
see through such shallow maneuvers as
business notes about the "inteIest," an
errand to Myers's nextdoor neighbors, or
stopping at the post office when her
luondam admirer was to be seen within.
As she resolutely turned her back upon
hese opportunities, her mother was iain
20 employ subtler artiice.
In the first place, the minister's wife
fell ill.
This gave the scheming woman her
chance. She managed that Mrs. Myers
and herself should divide one day and
night between them as "watchers."
She knew Joe would bring his mother
over at dusk to begin her period of
nursing. Then when he came Mrs.
Farman, ready to leave, had an erraud
prepared for him which entailcd long
walk to the farther end Of the Struggling
village, after which he must return to
the parsonage.
In the meantime, breathless, trembling
aud glowing, Rachcls mother hurried on
her homeward way and hustled into the
quiet kitchen where her dau yhter sat
brooding over tt, fire in the dreary
autumn twilight.
"Sakcs alive" she cried a. once. IL
fergot m left my gold trimmed specs t.
th' minister's. Like ez not Mis- Myers III
wear 'cm home fer hers. Wotever shall
l do2"
"Oh, I'll 60 after en-" Rachel re-
piled indiilercntly, catching up a blanket
shawl. "D'yc remember where ye laid
'em down, ma2"
'Mis Myers II hunt 'em up fer ye,"
was the impatient rejoiuder, ''ef ye amt
afraid t start out now; it's gittin' so
dark. She knows right were / was
settin' when she come in. | shoIldn't
wonder ef they're on tn cubbard there by
the ed'cine. Anyway, don't come back
back without 'em child. I amt apy
thing l set more store by'n wot do
them specs. They were til las thing
yer pa give me before he died, guess"
Ractel vaguely wondered that her
mother should seem SO fluttered and in
coherent. Yet her mind was too fully
occupied to dwell deeply upon this un.
important fact. She listened in a dreamy
listlessness and in few moments was
out upon the lonely road.
Joe had told Mrs. Myers Of the scene
at the Fafman gate. 1t gave her much
more ienient judgment of his lady love.
A. ogether, and after the manner of
mothers, seeing day by day misery be.
yond her help, she be gan. to think she
would not be sorry to bring the two to.
gether.
cts turrible dark night, amt it1"
she remarked god naturedly, as, after
little search for the missing spectacle,,
sue followed Rachel to the parsons
door. "My son'll be here d'rec'ly. Ef
ye mind t wait he'll he pleased t. see ye
home, Pm sure"
The wretched girl turned to stare in
the kindly face above her. Perhaps, in
that moment, the -fercely erected barrier
might have come tu milling down but for
the words that follow cd: