The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1894-02-16

W|s8SSSSH of the old year made
" MIN, under that hospita-
.A9.-/ bic roof, and the
large rooms rang with merry laughter
when one of the party was unwittingly
caught "beneath the mistletoe bough."
Having wearied of dancing and
games, we gathered in the large, old
fashioned hall-another of our time.
honored customs and then, in front
of the great open fireplace, piled high
with blazing hickory logs, we passed the
last hours of the old yea" in story-tell-
ing. One of the most remarkable of
these stories was told by my aunt, anil
I sha,. cn>'va,ur to repeat IL as nearly
as possible in her own words:
There is always one story which
comes to me on New Year Eve and
seems peculiarly appropriate to that
time, although it is not II joyful one
When ] was sixteen, nv mother
died, and soon after her death my
father sold our old home, and removed
to large farm. | had been born in
the city, and until that time had al
ways lived there. | keenly felt the
change from the gay metropolis to the
solitude of the country, but fortunate
ly was fond of reading and was also
great lover of nature. SO that in
measure | was compensated for the
life which | had left. saw little of
the outside world; therefore the most
trivial things became of interest to
me.
One afternoon in June. when we
had been living on the farm two years,
l was sitting on the porch
reading novel and crying
over the snd fate of the heroine,
when suddenly my attention was at.
tracted by the sound of wheels.
looked up quickly from my book and
saw buggy rapidly approaching our
house. My curiosity was Mt once
aroused, and my disappointment and
surprise were great when | found that,
instead of u stranger driving behind
the thoroughbred little mare, Lake,
one of our rough farmhands, held the
reins. Presently he drew up beside
the porch, and his errand was made
known in n few words There had
been runaway about n mile from us,
and the gentleman who was driving
had been thrown from his carriage
and seriously injured. Lake saw the
man fall and went Immediately to his
rescue. He managed to get him to n
barn near by and, after capturing the
horse and buggy, both OF which were
unharmcd, hal driven over to SEE
what could he done. 1t would be sew
eral hours before doctor could be
brought to him, and he was suffering
so much pain that Lake did not like
t. leave him SO long alone
Just then my father came np, and.
having heard Lakes story. said that
the man should be brought ut once to
orr house, anI ordered one of the
men t. harness two of the horses to
the farm wagon. a mattress was then
laid on it and of they started, leaving
me at home to put things in readiness
f0r the in jured man.
Our pretty spare room. with its
fresh mqtting and Swiss curtains, was
the one which selected for him. II
was on the ground floor, and would
therefore he more convenient than any
other. Our guest. who gave his name
rs John Graham. soon arrived and
was carried carefully to his chamber,
and before very long the doctor came.
Having set the broken limbs, for one
o. his legs md one of his arms were
broken, and applied some cooling
wash to the bruises, he left the patient
to our care.
IT was many weeks before he was
able to move from his bed, but he
tween the doctors skill and our care.
1nl Nursing he slowly regained his
strength, Remember, my dears, in
those days vour white headed old aunt
was Young and romantic. and Il man
fnr less fascinating and handsome than
John Graham under such circum.
stances might have turned my silly
head. ] confess to you that my head
was wholly turned, my heart entirely
given away to this stranger. For
weeks | was hands and feet to him
Never wish was uttered by him that,
were 1T IN my power. ] did not CRAFTY.
Tie vas very fond of roses, and early
every morning / would gather the
choicest from our garden for Johns
room. was perfectly delighted when
he one day told me that my "cheeks
put the roses to shame Vt was the
first compliment ne had ever paid me,
and for days the thought of il made
me nhsurdIy happy.
At last felt that John loved me. I
never moved that his eyes did not fol.
low everv motion, and how the light
came into his eyes when ] returned to
him after some short absence This
was my first love, and hy it my duh
mOn0tonOus If. Il, omcd changed into