The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1894-06-22
"Are You daft Mandya What

Are you DAFT, Mandy? What
money do you mean?"
II mean. that Squire Bean money. !
might have knowed / couldn't have
kept it, knew it that night we was
to meeting, when you told me about
Mandy Liz beth"
Mrs. Chilcott stared. Whatever
suspicious she may have had, she haa
stiiied them.
'It was this way, Susan. Squire
Bean, he really intended that two
hundred dollars to go to your neice,
Mandy Elizabeth Guptill; but when
they come round askin' for Mandy
l.. Guptill, forgetting to spell Liz
beth with an E, and my name being
MANDY l.. Guptill, l."
Mrs. Guptill could go no further.
She looked as if she were about to
faint.
"Great earth and seas |" exclaimed
Mrs. Chilcott from the pantry, whence
she presently returned with q steam
ing portion of composition tea, "
which she made Mrs. Guptill drink.
"Swallow it all down, Mandy; it
will calm you." she said. Mrs. Cup.
till reviveda little.
"'Twas All awful path I tread,
Susan !" she gasped. "The stones WAS
CALLING to my feet, and the briers was
reaching out to catch me and keep me
back, but 7 kept on. I says, they was
after Mandy l.. Guptill, and that's
me, and let them dispute it, says Il;
till come last night felt different.
''What set you to thinking" de-
manded Mrs. Chilcott.
"Tve done nothing but think, but
last night 1 had kind of PRESENT..
ment, and believe just as much az
anything Hiram's gone down along
with his father-anda all the tackle and
oars WAS bought with stolen money -
Then for the first time she began to
rock herself to and fro, and sob and
cry out that she could never see her
son again, and that his mother was n
thief.
"Hush up, Mandy! You amt
neither thief-quit, tell you, the
children will hear you! You're all up
set. There, sit up, and don't let us
have any more such carvings on. It's
nothing but the Guptill luck !"
81 shall never see Hiram again u
Mandy sobbed.
81 don't know about that. 1t looks
to me terrible sight like smoke coming
out of your chimney. / guess it's
most likely Hiram building your
fret
Mrs. Guptill stood up and peered
toward the house. without any out.
ward demonstration she drew her
shawl about her shoulders stifflv, rs if
the passion OF the moment before was
as much n thing of the past as the
storm of the night.
ri must go and tell Hiram" she
said; but just then the gate clicked
and boyisb, laughing face looked in
at the door.
SIS marmy here?' he asked.
"Well, l don't know, Hiram, "
laughed Mrs. Chilcott. "We've got a
crazy woman here that seems to be.
long down to your house"
Hiram looked steadily at the two
women. The agitation in their faces,
or some fine sense within him, told
him that disclosure had been made.
"Oh, that's all right, motherdy," he
said. eve fixed it all right. We
won't have you grooming round any
more about that"
"What do you mean, Hiram?" de.
manded his mother.
Just what L said. I happened to
find out, accidental like, what you was
worrying about. SO l just straight
ened it out That's what 1 went over
to the Cove for"
For all the lands sake!' laughed
Mrs. Chilcott. "Your mothers wasted
n sight Of tears about ye-enough to
sail boat"
"HIInm Guptill, tell me this min.
utc what you've done!' exclaimed his
mother.
"Wcll," began the youth, counting
off the items on his fingers, 81 heard
the men down at store talking about
the Bean money, and when they saw
me sitting there on berrcl they shup
up. But heard enough. Then ma,
she was moping round Here he
winked boldly but Enthusiastically Mt
Mrs. Chilcott. "Thcn / added it all
up, and went over to the Cove and
forked over the money, interest and
ALL"
'Hiram, you young !" laughed
Mrs. Chilcott.
'Let's go get some breakfast" said
Hiram "I'm hungry"
Mrs. Chilcott stood looking at him
with amazement. The children were
trooping down stairs wide-eyed and
wondering rs Hiram drew his mother
lovingly away.
"My land-earth and sea" OK.
claimed Mrs. Chilcott. "Don't ex-
pect me to stand M and cook meal
nrtcr the tantrum I've had here with
Mandy Guptill. [ expect I'll see
scarlet for week" Then she said tc
herself. with softening smile:
''But now isn't that Hiram just n
regular critter Of young one -
Youths Companion.
A Bucking Pony.