The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-04-08

pace was empty, the gas burning Ia Tue
Office. Roper went to turn it down to |
tar, as it was usually left, for the bene-
tt of the watchman outside. His hand
vas OH the key of the gas.fixture, when
lie noticed that the re-proof was open.
lie did not know how to lock it; that
was Toms function. Dared he leave
the place with that tire-proof open9
No; he must stay he,e till the watchman
came, at any rate, for there was money
ia the safe; there it lay-greenbacks-a
little pile. How careless rich people
were with money! There was paper
beside the notes. He stopped down;
the paper said the money was the rent
FOR some of old Boyd's property, and had
come too late for the bank to receive it.
So this also would go to the church
fund.
Roper picked up the bundle. How
strangely valuable these little bits OF
paper werel He turned over the notes, /.
counting them. Why, there are just
thousand dollars here, the amount old
Boyd had said he would leave him in his
will. Was this a posthumous rightlng of
q wrong2 The cold sweat came out on
his forehead. He looked round him.
No, there was no one there. Tom had
been the last one thcre-impecunious,
Incorporate Tom, the cut off, angry son.
He would swear Tom had said good
night to him on the step--and who had
ever known Sandy Roper to lie2 Melia
was delicate, and had an unpaid doctors
bill Mary Edith's husband did not get
on well, mere photographers assistant,
aud the photographers shop one of those
ON wheels; missus owed good deal, and
Blum wanted the money for that suit OF
black--aud here his wages were cut
down. HIS lips were pressed tightly to-
scther. He reached and turned down
the gas, then quickly fared it up to full
head, and left the counting house. As
he went out he dislodged newspaper
on chair, then reached down and placed
it Just rs he thought it had been. Then
he went into the street, leaving the door
unlocked, as he had found it.
A new recklessness came to him; he
felt like slapping some one on the back.
He came to the jewelers. shop, aud
thought of diamonds and missus. He
crossed the street, and plunged into
dark narrow way under the cloudy sky.
His head was burning; it was almost as
though he had been to one of the labor
meetings aud stood treat to a dozen men,
who must stand treat in return. He came
to the tall house be called his home.
There was Mother Jones II, tho hall with
Bill.
"Bill," she said, ego get them onions.
We amt having money left to ua. And
hurry for it's going to rain"
Roper laughed, aud told her it was a
large evening. lie went up to the third
floor. There was a buzz of voices there.
Mary Edith must have come to spend the
AFTERNOON with her mother. There was
also good smell; missus always had
something; nice for supper when Mary
coo Of a baby lie stopped short; he
seemed to have lived this moment be-
| fore; he was coming home, missus was
| getting supper, aud their first child was
i gurgling uuintelligibilitie in the cradle
| little Buster. Then the ioolishness Of
the thing struck him, and he threw open
| the door There was missus at the fire; /;
there was Mary Edith with her baby.
''tiaiioa, pop" she said.
"rhat you, Mary Edith?' he SAID in
-. -. .--rT---' i;--..-,
| YOU look warm"
you'd be warm, too," she retorted,
.if your eyes were broiling out of your
| head"
She had turned her eyes upon him,
aud she looked as though she had been
crying.
Mary Edith was danslling the baby.
| There WIS 4 sort OF awNwarduess il the
room. Roper went aud took the child.
Look out for her back cries Mary
Edith; 'it ain't strong"
''-As if | never mad u kid in my arms, ~
laughed Roper, littler boisterously,
throwing the child IN the air.
''Don't, Roper" said his wife from
the fire; 'she amt strong. She's han.
dlel like" siie did not finish the
sentence, but turned to the frying pap.
Mary Edith looked conscious. "What
allied little Buster, anyway, mother2"
quered she, gently.
"Spinem meningitters," answered her
mother. "He got it off of the paste on
the bill boards at the corner. He would
play there.
Roper wondered why, in the name OF
hca'ep, tuey nuu ueen tuikinS ABOUT llC-
tie Buster!
"Where's Melia2" he asked, sharply.
"Gallivautin' with Smith2"
''She amt that kind" said her sister
"and she won't marry Smith till she eau
| get some new clothes, she told me- She's
upstairs with Mrs. Jordrn. Jim's dead
at last. It's mercy, walking like
| that"
eyes, he did go little lame" as
sented Roper.
''lt was locomoter taxes volunteered
Mary Edith, voiubiy. Its queer name
Tor disease. Say, mother, did he ever
work in car shopsl"
"Not as [ ever heard tell Of" al.
swered missus, who, going over to the
table, announced that supper was
ready.
won't we wait for Melia2" asked
Mary Edith
"Melias delicate" said her mother,
"aud pities them that has sickness; be.
sides, Smiths sisters deiictte And she's
,~i, ~