The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-11-16

life
They, OF sudden, clasp US with smile
A MONG other passengers allghung
"A from the train was tall, dark
.plexioned gentleman and short,
,nupby child, holding fast his free
hand. also mite Of blue parasol.
From the geneltman's other hand
swung travelling case and an umbreI-
a. lie sun was yet high and its rays
turning. 1t had been bseathless cay,
4,i.G although the station sat on the out
skirts OF Woodville, hanked by hay
lield AID facing meadow, the only
oSor ;.:loat seemed that Of plank and
va:rt. \ new sidewalk was being laid,
also the station platform was undergo
ing repairs; but Bools, the village
";ack-of-a!,-trades." lourged beneath
:, Big chestnut tree whose leaves hung
,e.iow and limp on dry twigs.
tan you direct me to the Locust
:est?" the tall gentleman asked this
ouBger.
You can't miss it; it hides in the To-
.ust wood; the bus stands around
ae:e.' and scrambling to his feet the
speaker led the way to low, narrow,
repellant vehicle which the child re-
fused to enter.
"'Tis considerable loose in the joints.
little miss, but twill carry you safe
enough. Good land, no! 'tisn't
hea!se."
They rumbled over bridge, turned
another corner, rounded the village
square, struck into the Rooney road,
;:scenGed hill. halting on its shoulder
:.efore a swinging white gate through
which a woman had just passed. The
house was delightfully."- old-fashioned.
DR.. Cyrus Flint ard little daughter ex-
changed words of approval as they went
Up the gravelly path leading to the
great door. Largeness seemed all about
them-"these cramped-up city folks"
end the bus driver who had run with
4 message to the back door, added, in
parting: your nest must be getting
right full; five last week and two to-
light" He was addressing Cathy, the
cock. whom Bools was courting.
Two front rooms off the upper hall
were assigned to the doctor, one OF
which jutted over the side veranda and
vas called the balcony chamber. In at
lie open window the locust branches
:.eered, and above, almost within reach,
3wayed an orioles nest. \ large waxen
COL sat in a chair and chiid's cot
stood in one corner. The little girl
entered the chamber to look about, lay
ing the blue silk parasol on the table
while she removed her hat and pushed
back her damp, tumbled hair. The wee
cot with its spotless draperies drew
her instantly. "See, father, this board
ing house lady must have known was
rather small. If your room is as pretty
as mine is let US live here for long
time"
A few hours later, refreshed, retoned,,
restored, the doctor and Grille went be-
low and met the boarders assembling
for dinner. When Mrs. Winters herself
approached the doctor started slightly.
Only Grille noticed the tremor and
,:ghtened her wee warm clasp OF his
big hand and looked up. A lady, a
very small lady, was looking down. The
very tip top of this lady comb reached
her fathers elbow. Bending to the
child. she said, with winning smile:
Il hope that we shall become very good
friends"
perhaps we may" replied Girlie,
with her most captivating nod and
smile, for she was greatly pleased with
every detail of her surroundings. After
dinner there followed an evening full
of chat. song and music. Each Of the
company seemed to have forgotten how
high the thermometer was running.
When the doctor left the circle that
evening Mrs. Winters again bent down
to his little daughter and kissed her.
Good night" returned the child. Il
shall dream of the angels all night"
and he1 father added: "Sbe is in love
with the couch, you see."
The next day the inmates of the nest
betcok themselves to wood and stream,
and few went in the down bus to the
station. where Is fresh-air children
were looked for, homes among villagers
and farmers awaiting them.
Mrs. Winters also went down and sat
IN her phaeton with the doctors daugh-
ter beside her when the train pulled up.
The children were handed out, each
with tag attached to his or her left
shoulder.
''Bools, bring me two of them. will
you? Prof. Fix-Rooney road?" Bools
stood at the Shetland's head, but moved
off at this word toward the newcomers,
returning soon with the Oldest and the
youngest of the group.
Pic addressed himself to the road,
but just here the doctor on his new
mare and his dog leaping before him
rode by, wheeled and trotted back to
the phaeton. ooh, good morning." as
&c lifted Grille to his saddle, and pony
and sorrel moved along together.
II confess, doctor, I stole your daugh-
ter. These boys are tagged for my cous-
in, who lives a half mile above the
Nest"
SIS your pony good traveller? Those
storm clouds are rolling up rapidly"
''Yes, very good; what bark that
dog has!"
''Soul-stirring, is it?' The speaker
smiled, touched his hat and the sorrel
darted ahead, whereat Pic shook him.
self and quickened his pace. By ten
o'clock the storm was raging through
TIE town. Two churches were struck
by lightning, also chimneys and win