The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-10-22

colonel waS talking III an earnest man
ner to tho man at his side, civilian, 80
far as his dress would indicate, yet p
civilian with the erect carriage and
brisk stop Of soldicr--a handsome fel-
low, too, of perhaps seven and twenty
years. Loale turned from them with
somo impatienco.
''I'd bet months pay if over bet
cent in tho world" no nuttcred to
himself "that old Fcnton's nephew had
he came here in midwintcr. Tho uues-
ton is, What elso has brought him be-
sides what have already learned and
why docs he haunt Farrar from morn
ing till night?"
At the window tho fair, eirlish face
frightened an instant a5 sight of tho
coming soldier, then cloudol ~ Q,icbly
rs the civilian came in view. MIR.
Ormsby againp' InUruurCd Ellis below
hcr breath, and the bow Of recognition
which she gavo him in answer to tho
quick uplifting of his scalskin cap lack
ed al OF the warmth and interest that
bcamcd in Ormsby's 9 face at sight of her.
Sccing Loalc, the colonel pressed on to
join him on tho northwurd porch.
Catching sight Of Ellis, the civilian fell
back, entered tho gateway and came
briskly to the door. An instant later
and his stop was heard in the hallway.
Ellis turned to the window in some
thing not unlike aversion Tho mother
1t was who rose eagerly to welcome tho
coming guest.
''Prompt as ever, Mr.. Ornsby," sho
cried as he entered the parlor, fresh and
rosy from tho keen air. 81 wish you
might teach my husband to DO moro
punctual at luncheon.
'Indccd I feared I was OBTAINING
him, Mrs. Fa1Tar. He's merely stopped
one moment to speak with Captain
Lealc. Ho was showing me over the
barracks You havo no idea how vivid
ly interesting all this is to mo- l havo
shouldered the musket with the Seventh
for eight years and havo never visited
an army post before"
"Oh, didn't you SEQ your uncle when
he was at Riley? He used to write to
my husband Of you timo and again and
Of your pride in your regiment.
mo, ho was in Now York OH recruit
ing service then, II few years ago, you
remember, and wo used to get him up
to the urmory Or to our camp occusion-
ally"
"And ho was very, very kind to my
poor boy, my Royle, said Mrs. Farrar
wistfully, searching the face Of her
guest, land when you came to us with
letters from our old friend, for we had
known him before our marriage" she
continued, faint color rising to her
check. "it seemed almost like wclcom-
ing him. There was nothing too good
for Major Fcnton that our home afford
od after all he tried to do at least for
-him." The sigh with which she spoke
seemed to we'll up from the depths of
tho mothers heart. Ellis, with light
footsteps, had left the room to greet her
father Oh the piazza without, and for
the first time since his coming. three
days previous, just in time to DC hem
med in and held at Fraync by tho great
snowfall, Mrs. FalTar was alone with
her guest "Therc is something 1 have
longcd TO ask you, Mr.. Ormsby," she
went Oh, "somcthing l must ask you,
for Il mothers intuition Is kcon, and
feel sure you have seen or known my
poor boy in tho past Have you heard
do you know anything of him now"'
"Mrs. Farrar, l give you my word /
havc not the fajntcst idea Of his where
abouts. "
"Forgivo mo If 1 am intrusive, i'm
portunatc, she persisted. "}ut--Major
Fcnton-ho was Major Fcnton thon,
you know, and I think Of him with tho
title he bore when no was SO good--so
fricndly-whcn my unhappy 10y most
needed friends. You were with your
uncle often thon. Did you rot mcet----
did you not know my Royle?'
Onnsby's honest eyes betrayed tho
deep embarrassment under which he
laborcd, and she, watching every sign
with painful intensity, read tho truth,
despite his faltcring reply.
"Onco or twice, Mrs. Farrar. but
knew him only very slightly"
'"Icll mo still moro, Mr. Ormsby.
You have been most consideratc to me.
You have sought to spare mo, but in
my husbands sad face and abstractcd
manner / havo read the truth Ho has
heard ncws-Worsc news Of ROylc--and
so you havo been tho bearer. Is it not
so?''
''t' DiiiopJ ptli't llllllScll tp},ctHcl,
this timo at least like IL man, and
bravcd her.
81 assure you it is not so, Mrs Far
rar. From mo at least the colonel has
heard nothing ncw-nothing worse. I
beg you to dismiss the thought"
But he did not say that nc had como
prepared to tell, aye, instructed to tell,
Of crowning disgracc--como with tho
written proposition Of his employers to
relinqui3h pursuit Of Roylc Farrar pro-
vidcd tho father would make good tho
sum they had lost through tho son s
forgery.
"God bless you, Mr.. Ormsby, for the
load You havo lifted from my heart, "
she cried. ever since you cumo / have
dreaded l3oorc and moro each day that
you were the bearer Of evil tidinQs of
him who has almost broken his father s
heart and yet cannot, must not, shall
not be beyond redemption if mother s
love and prayers arc Of any avail. Even
Ellis has seemed to share my dread. |
have read it in her manner, as Dcrhaps
you have too. Sho did not mcu,. e. !,
n,,l-i,,l inbrurif a I,1n tn p,r ,.,so,. 49,.