The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-08-28
LOVE AND DUTY.

that runs westward by the sea IS
favorite walk in summer time tor the
VILLAGERS. It was late autumn ana
misty evening, however, when Mary
MicSlethwaite took her way thlther,
and there was no one on the road but
herself
The sun was already near the horl-
zon as she came in sight OF the sea; IN
the gray mist it hung like ball OF
fire, making a red pathway across the
water. The girl turned in among the
furze bushes out of sight Of the road,
and seating herself on pile Of stones,
absently watched the ball drop toward
the sea line.
She was a perfectly unromantic fig
ure, with a broad, good-humored face,
a thick waist, dressed in purple
gown, with red flowers IN her hat.
Presently, at the sound of footstep
brushing through the furze she got
up, and turned to meet 4 young man
who moment after came in view.
They shook hands awkwardly by
way of greeting, and the young man
said:
'.I'm sorry, my lass; I m afraid that
I'm bit late
Don't name it, said the girl. I
knew it was chance if you'd get OFT "
They moved slowly towards the
stones, and sat down side by side in
an embarrassed silence; the young
man made holes in the ground with
his stick, and the girl pulled off her
brown thread gloves and rolled them
up into tight ball in the palm of one
hand. The young man spoke first.
ssWell. Mary" he said, clearing his
throat, has your father an7thing diff
ferent to say today2"
'sNo, Jack, it's just the same-lts
all no use," returned the girl. Il
suppose we must grin and abide. y
''You told him about the place Of
Binghampton and all2" said the young
man.
eyes" said the girl, sadly, I put
the best face on it I could, but he
wouldn't let me say much. He's that
mad to think should want to have
you at all, and when he's like that you
can't change father, not if you were to
crown him with gold.
''You told him we didn't mind wait
ing?" persisted ithe young man. Il
dare say he'd think he couldn't do
without you in the shop first Oft, but
we're not to a few months, eh, Mary'"
never had the chance to tell him
that, was Mary's reply. He COM
menced calling me for what I'd done,
and said I wanted to disgrace him.
He says I needn't think to 60 to the
choir any more; he puts it all down
to that. I shan't mind that much,
when you are gone.
MARY" said the young man, sud-
denly and earnestly, will you come
in spite of your father? l don't see
but what we should think of ourselves
as well as Of him. I'll go to Blng-
hampton and get things ready for you,
and I'll put up the banns, and you can
come there to be married. !"
ssOh!" cried the girl in great dis
tress. "I couldn't 60 against father
like that. Why, he'd never hold his
head up again! You see, he's only
got me, now mothers gone, and l
don't know what he'd do in the shop.
I thought we could get one of my
cousins, and we ecould show her about
things, but to leave on a sudden like
that"
Jack was not easy to be turned from
his point; he was slow witted, as was
the girl, but the pain of this had
pricked him to a keener insight than
here. Mary was aware Of nothing but
the dull pain of parting; Jack had
forecast of the years to come. He put
it to her bluntly, with the unconscious
brutality of his class; they were young
they were poor, her father was old
was he to spoil their lives in this way:
A few years and he would be dead,
and it would concern him no more,
but they had two-thirds of their lives
to live, and was it right they souId
he spoiled for an old mad's wbim:
Mary had no logic wherewith to
meet this cogent reasoning; she had
only blind sense of duty to guide
her. It had, never come in her way
to question her obedience to her father,
and the idea now only frightened her:
ssDoesn'tit stand to sense?" cried
Jack, in last despairing appeal.
tsWell; yes, it stands to sense. the
girl allowed: II don't kaow as can
rightly say all I want, There's sense
and sense, Jack. When father talks
it'ssen and when you talk it's sense;
and it's as if I'd like to do one thing
and my conscience tells me to do an
other. I can't 60 against father, Jack
Il can't indeed"
There was little more said between
the two as they took their way home
ward Outside the village they paused
by common consent.
Then. I suppose it's good-by,
Mary"
i suppose it is, Jack"
They shook hands again awkwardly
and separated.
Jack left for Binghampton early
next morning without having seen
Mary again.
Simon Micklethwaite was a person
of consequence in Daignton. He was
the owner OF a small piece of land, On
which were half dozen cottages and
the shop he himself occupied, the only
price of freehold not attached to the
manor for miles around. There was
no other shop in the village, and be,
sides being thriving drapery and
grocery busidess. ''Micklethwaite's
possessed the only spirit license, and
was the district postotfice. Simon him
self was hard headed business man,
much respected by his neighbors.
He had been elected poor-law
guardian for the district, and folk said
that, since he had sat on the board
with the squire and clergyman, he
held his head higher than ever. II
he had been the squire himself. he
could not have been more indignant
at the idea Of his daughter wishing to
wed with the son Of one OF his own
Gotta UPrS