The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1900-08-24

:. w ''S'' iHtO winch the young never
D look except with gaze of hope and =
D feeling of security.
AN VIII be WELL" say the young who
, look into the mirror Of the future.
But the present and the Immediate
norrow-of these Pcrdita thought
nuch' thought deeply, and was iron.
oeu; what ought she to do? What
Wouid she DO? Two questions wore
'hese which might have n single an.
swcr or which might be treated ouite
differently. f'''e
What shall doT she asked herself
Thousand times. II love him so! How
can let him go away without me?
ho" can live without him? How
can refuse to do what he wishes?
Whcn woman loves n man. should
she not prove that love by making all
Sacrihes! Should she hesitate to give
hcrselr to him Mt all hazards? No. no,
love him! 1 must go! Tomorrow I
VIII go! 1t Is settled! am so glad
that Mt last have decided"
At this moment her mother. I'm bcr
dreaming of the past. was bending over
Ihe tiny babe and observing the LITTLE
hhSer Tying Mt rest within her own
uahu. AS Perdita looked up she met
'NhH gaze. and there was instant
"iS'on or feeling within her
ptcas' us she lowered her eyes again.
| Mo'hcr. what would mother dop''
sne thouSht. "Shc loves me so. She
| "ouiu uie III left her. But other girls
ea'e .neir homes. Yes, but somehow
s o'Hercnt with me and my mother.
| one loves more than other mothers
io'e' ana love her too. We have al
why's Deen SO much to each other. No.
no! 1 cannot go! Mother would die
ana then should reproach myself for.
ever. "A wife like that would be n bur-
ueh 10 any man. So 1 cannot go. The |
dream is over"
But she fell to dreaming again, and |
the burden Of her dream was her love |
Tor Matthew Mora.
They had sat down to dine later than
usual, and, though the dessert was inst
Drought ON, both women were relieved
10 nave their thoughts diverted by the
sound OF the bell. The butler announc-
ed Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell, and thew |
went to greet their guests.
We are so glad to have you comerJ
exclaimed Mrs. VAN Cortlandt, extendti
~,s ooun hands An cordial welcome fssl
Nrs. Mitchel. Il hope this is a pres, ~.
lies"
Indeed hope so," said Mrs. Mitc6S.
ei. You know our Rose Is soon toll
make her debut in society. and afterd
that cventful occasion we shall be
obiiged to receive more than in the
past. But during her childhood we
have lived rather quietly"
My wife has felt the resporsibility
OF rearing young girl to be n heavy
burden" said Mr.. Mitchell laughing.
She says that she will regain her
freedom after the child is fairly
launched"
Yes. indeed I WILL" said Mrs. Mitcli-
ei. "Of course you know, Mrs. Van
Cortlandt, that Rose is not our own
child. That makes a great difference,
don't You think ?-Onn NAV do -one
care of another woman's child, to wQ,o
der always whether you are doing as
we'll as the real mother would have
done, makes the responsibility seem all
the greater. But, then, you can hard
ly be n judge Of that, you who have
been blessed with n daughter Of your
own. And such daughtcrv' She add
ed the last words turning graciously
toward Perdita and smiling admiring-
ly upon her.
Mrs. Van Cortlandt WINGED little Mt
these words, but showed nothing by
her countenance, which had been
schooled for many years to guard her
secret. Before she could reply a serv-
ant entered and announced Colonel
Payton. ct which Mrs. Van Cortlandt
rose to receive him, at the same<rfmcfI
wondering that he of all men should
come on this night. What mystic con-
nectfon could there be between her
thoughts of him and his arrival? She
dared not venture n reply, even to her
self.
The colonel entered with dignificd
ease and self command, such as would
be expected from the man Of the
world and tie soldier that he was. |
Nothing in his manner betrayed that |
this was aught but the most casual |
call, nor was there anything In the
greeting between him and Mr.. Mitchell |
from which one might have suspected |
that they had seen each other before
on that day.
Advancing toward Mrs. Van Cort-
landt, lie bowed low as he said:
"My dear friend, hope you will par
| don me for having remained away
| from you for so long. 1t is almost q
| month, fear"
| "Fivc weeks. colonel" said the lady.
| laughing. "I fear time goes lightly
with you in your world of business and
pleasure. We two women, alone in a
great house like this night after night,
keep better reckoning Of the visits of
our friends, do we not, Perdita"
The colonel was charmed to find that
In the chronology of her heart she had