The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1895-10-04

moved TO nelShOorluG town the year
before. From somebody, presume
1t Was my father, had inherited COP.
siderable independence and ambition,
and rs soon rs l was old enough
commenced to try TO make for myself
a way in the world How far I have
succeeded you can perhaps be the best
and most impartial judge. 1t was
only within the last few years that L
have entertained any active interest
in my fathers family. One day I
asked an old woman who had been my
mothers nearest ne,ghhor aid closest
friend if she had ever heard either OF
my parents say anything about his life
before he came West, and she told me
that Just previous to his death he had
spoken to my mother of Judge in
st. Louis to whom she could write if
she ever found it necessary or expe-
dent to make any inquiries about his
past. There was but little hope that
the Judge was living, or if SO he could
be found, but relying OH that slight
bit of information, l set at work.
Strange to say, he was still we'll known
in st. Louis, although he had retired
from active lille. All he could tell me
was that my father had lived in the
southern part Of this State; that he
had been wild and had run away from
homo when only boy. His father
married. again after several years and
they had issuc-a daughter named
Abbic. ! followed up branch after
branch of the Coleman family, but
I
such praenomen. At last heard of
you and straightway started to see
you. Guided by some strange and
perhaps objectionable impulse l tele-
graphed you the news of my expected
arrival withot taking time to notify
you i'll n moro formal manner of my
existence and discovery of your where
abouts. So here l am, your wayward
nephew, ready to atone, so far as it is
possible, for my own transgressions
and those of my fathers"
John had finished his work, and for
several minutes after Tom ceased talk
ing they looked out in silence over the
garden of rose bushes aud the fruit
orchards beyond.
81 thank you for your confidence
she said at length, catching her breath
between words, as If choking with
some sudden emotion. "You have
made mistake. l knew it from the
first, but for my own sake | did not
like to undeceive you. My fat her and
mother both died when quite young,
as did my two little brothers. never
had relative who could possibly
have been connected in any way with
your people. / knew it when your
telegram ca me, bnt [ told John we
would find ont who you really were.
Tnen after you came it seemed very
hard to set Hhe matter straight. You
see, 1 have cen SO lonely sometimes.
she said ini tone OF self justification.
"and you Funot know what n comfort
it was to ne even to claim relation.
ship with scme one who only fancied l
was MS aunt. nm very sorry let
ron Crfrt on and on ID your false I'm.
preston SO long. OF course, I saw it
would all have to come out some time.
Pray forgive me.
"My dear aunt" he said with
laugh, ''for so l shall continue to call
you in spits of the absurdity of the
title when applied to you by
2Juo.a5" IN r7ruEWap sisoIeluI s!H
..',mc"t9M oG *ArMlu iiM noI,,
'roAoMsu" aVs ..loU Alu!nlIoIn
..cArMu Avs [ loql GI0ssooau =! 81
ana 'MoIl0W-ol aAeoG gIHqs lsud aQ@
10 Su!V} r7}unoo oq pInoqs d!qsuo!l
-uleI Ino AUM oas lou op I 'oHsls!m
oQl 10 al!ds III PIP So 4sIypuoQ Iea
-lSu Qua olu! pafun.d eAeq 4ou pIuoqs
I nos emsIq aouuso 1 'sm
III many places and John was trim.
ming the rose bushes the next summer
when ne came again.
''l found out the truth OF the case
during my Absence" he explained,
when he again brought up the old Sub.
ject OF their relationship. My father's
s:StIr Ahhie iiol when only little
rhiii. The same S"ythG that has laid
yolr o:Tu house iow seems TO have
rcapci At rich inve,S in nine as we'll.
We are the ONLY Colcmars left ir
which either of Us has any interest.
Do you think it well that we should
spend our lives apart?'
She looked ut John, who was toiljnc
patiently over refractory trailing
rose bush, and then she glanced up at
lin.
81 don't know" she said, paivciy.
"How can it be helped?"
He laughed again.