The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-07-22

.---HAea he had finished he seemed qu it
denx0ssed, for one who had seen st
Qman beings sente84eas to deatt
Showing the leastSnotfon
A tssheS saitIss Ssthrowfhg me tb,
lafSssmissives
Here are thescontents:
YOUR HoNaR: My trial is set for to
morrow. l have Fendeavored to explai,
my case to the young lawyer who defend
me, but from his manner think my his
tory only amuses him. I am afraid t,
speak of it to you, and for that reason ]
write. Pardon the liberty. Believe me
sir, am an honest man, and not a genu
inc thief.
| have not always been the poor wretch
am now. In times past l was quite
well off. / was by no means the richest
man in Sorgas when married Dilonne,
but was certainly the one most in love
She was so pretty More than one gen.
tleman envied me on our wedding day.
We were very happy. Every evening
when | came home, tired with the day's
work, Just to see her smile seemed to resi-
me. A little girl, beautiful as the angels.
came to crown our happiness. Employ.
ment was not lacking. and l worked with
good will. fear my letter will be very
long, but must give you all the details.
BY and by, tiuding ourselves better
of, Gilonne contided to me her ambition.
She wanted to own donkey. She sold
butter aud eggs in the town, and the
distance was long on foot. HWith a
donkey" she said, 81 can easily go to
A,arket and take Solange with me-" We
laid aside tive franc pieces for the pur.
chase of our little beast, and one beauti.
iul spring morning we started at 8
o'clock to be first ON the field at the
County Fair. We walked along gayly
under the fresh green foliage, and can
still recall how merrily the money
clinked in my pocket. After walking
for an hour and half we arrived at the
grounds. We had taken turns carrying
little Solange. She was four years ole
and solid on her tiny feet, but not adj,
TO walk such distance.
There were at least thirty donke VS. fo
saie. l chose one, but Dilonne said il
had wicked look. At last, by careful
search, we found u very small one. III,
was young and had playful little air al
he paved the ground impatiently will
his small hoofs. He had handsome
dark eyes aud wagged his long ears o.
every sound. We knew he must be gen
tie, for sclange, having slipped away tt
get nearer to him, he patiently allowed
her to pat him.
The owner, seeing that the beast
suited us, asked foIty francs for him
offered twenty-five. After an hour spent
IN bargaining, we agreed upon thirty.
Toward evening we started for home,
the good little animal following us very
willingly with Solange on his back. The
installation OF our new possession was
quite an affair, but he appeared to appre-
ciate it all, for from that time think hs
really loved us. We named him "Ri
quet." Every morning at breakfast time
he used to come for his bit of breid tc
the window; his pretty head framed in
sweet peas and morning glories, he would
rub our hands gently with his nose t.
express his thanks.
Just as we had planned, twice week
Dilonne went to t own with her butter, egg:
ard fresh vegetables in one basket, and
Solapge in the other for counter bal
ance. I could watch them from a long
distance as they approached our home,
always little tired.
But there came day, after three years
of continued happiness, when Dilonne
could not leave her bed. My poor darl-
ing She had the typhoid fever. Doc.
tors came from town. They cut her beau
tlful black hair; they put ice on her
head; but nothing could save her. She
died while attempting to sing little
song ! could have wished to die also, all
was SO changed for me--but Soange was
left She was growing very fast, and
looked exactly like her mother.
On Sundays we two, Solange and I,
would go to the cemetery which sur.
rounds our little church, and stay there
by the grave until afternoon, when We
used TO take walk, the little on,
mounted on Riquct. Thus. we woulc
ramble on for long distance, gathering
great punches OF grass for the donkey's
supper.
One afternoon-it was during tn,
olive harvest! there were signs of n
storm, and the master made us work I'm
TIL daybreak to finish the picking.
could not 90 home that day or the next,
but the following evening started, hap
py III tHe tnOhSnC OF once more seeing
Solange. To my great surprise, she did
not come to meet me, and on gettino
nearer our cottage / could see no light
IN the windows. Trembling with fear,
entered the house. Isaw my cherished
little girl lying on the bed all dressed
Trembling with fear, entered the house
The door was open, and Riquet stood al
The sill watching her, but only his hea6
was stretched into the room. She wai
in burning fever, having caught cold
the night before while watching so late
for me.
Forgive me, your honor, for telling
you all my troubles; but when saw the
poor child so i'll, nearly lost my senses.
rne fever never left her. She had q
thousand fancies. Sometimes she grew
pale rs the moonlight, her great eyes
shining very brightly. Riquet was the
only friend who could make her smile.