The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-09-18
woman TO undress her.

OO SOu w Gl4lI 1CT
II lonely" she said. wants to
sleep wiz you.
oh, no." he said, rather shortly,
in his surprise, that's quite out of
the question.
He turned his back on her, hoping
she would return to her room.
But moment later he heard a meek
little sob, and turning again found
that she had fully carried out her SUI
preme threat and was crying.
I He tried to be angry, but some.
thing tugged at his heartstrings and
he reached out his arms and took her
to his bosom, where she purred a mo-
ment like a kitten and dropped to sleep
with the peace of a perfect trust on
her queer little face
But the next day the trouble began
again when, after looking over his
morning mail. he found that Mary
had disappeared.
Good gracious he exclaimed,
where has she gomez
He called but she did not answer.
He went into the next room, but she
was not there
He looked into the kitchen, but
the old woman declared that the
blessed little imp" had not been near
her.
Upstairs went the professor in great
haste, loudly calling for Mary. He
tried to reason with himself that he
ought to rejoice at her sudden disap-
pearance and hope that she never,
never would return, but his argu
| ments could not hold their ground
against that new thrill of anxiety
which had got possession ofhis heart.
He went out of the house and called
loudly:
Mary
"What you wants." came the shrill
answer from the other side of the
fence.
There was Mary, comfortably seated
in Mabel Riker's lap, while the girl
affectionately patted her tangle Of
black curls.
60 ah-yes-I beg pardon, stam-
mered the professor; you see-well- =
she went away when 1 was not look
ing"
professor replied Mabel, pretty
flush mounting to her cheeks. Il
should he anxious if were in your
place. She's such a sweet child.
II wonder if she's making game of
me-" thought the professor. Then
he said. ''Now, Mary, you must
come horne; you mustn't bother Miss
Riker."
"Oh, but she doesn't" exclaimed
Mabel.
wants to stay here, said Mary.
"Let me keep her little while, .
pleaded Mabel. She could have kept
the professors entire world.
"Oh-why-of course, certainly, if
you like"
''Uncle Art'ur's dood to me-" cooed
Mary. Lets me s'eep in he's bed,
and I kiss M
''Ha! Hum! Good morning." said
the professor, retiring in the utmost
confusion.
After that little Mary spent most
of her time with Mable Riker, and
the professors hours of studious re-
tirement were not greatly abbre-
| waited
And he was always glad when the
child came trotting in at meal time
with some new story of Mabels good
ness.
Eyes, Mary" he said, emphatically
one dav ssshe's the best pirl in the
world"
Little Mary treasured that astound
ing declaration and in the afternoon
remarked to Mabel:
"You'se dood to me; you'se best
girl in de world"
"Oh, Maryl' said Mabel; "that's
too much; you mustn't say that"
will say date. You'se best girl in
de world; Uncle Art'ur says you is"
"Oh-oh-oh!" said Mabel in low
tone, her eyes softening and her face
coloring.
When little Mary returned to her
uncle she was bursting with eager
ness to repeat Mabel's reply. Sud
denly, while the old woman was
pouring out some milk, the child ex-
claimed:
Uncle Art'ur, you'se handsome.
Saints alive!" cried the woman,
spilling the milk.
"Why--why-Mary" calculated
the professor.
''You is Mabel says you is
The professor said not word, but
he ate heartily and after supper
smoked his pipe with uncommon
zest.
When Mary went to visit Mabel
the next day she carried with her {;
very pretty box of bon-bons for that
Young woman and when she returned
She bore some choice berries plucked
in Mrs. sRikers garden by Mabel's
own fingers.
The last detail caused the professor
to refrain from eating the barries.
He put them away in a secret place,
where they were subsequently found,
lot of hard, black pellets.
How long this communication Of
spirits might have gone on it is i'm
possible to say, but it was interrupt
ed in way which brought great tanxie-
ty to the professors heart.
One evening Mary was much paicr
then usual and she complained o!
pain in her head.
you've been playing too hard,
said the professor, with his neWl y &C
quired air of paternal wisdom.
So he sent her to bed early-to h>,'
own bed, in which she had finaliS
consented to sleep.
But in the silence of the night Size
came to- his side, crying and con-
planning of the pain. He found her
in feverish state.
The professor was man Of decision
in most things. He promptly dressed
himself, aroused the old woman, bade
her sit by the child and went for the
rivine looked wise and said:
CT ono afraid she is in for the meales