The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1900-09-12

Nadine. The world Ia: shrouCed III
white vestments through which the
train plowed narrow track bearing
them farther and farther from their ac-
customed scenes. Tatters sat IN Ma
dimes window looking wistfuliy out OF
the window at the flying panorama OF
skeleton trees anG hedges till the traiu
stopped at a wayside station. Ted took
him out for little walk, and he
scudded along the narrow path smiling
the frosty air delightedly, and present
ly disappeared under the car Wheels 70
be caught up By someone on me op-
poSite side.
TED heard a mans coaxing voice 81:
Hello, my beauty! Look, Tess, ISL
that a perfect little beauty The as
swer was a delighted little feminine
exclamation, then a lady stepped' oIt
of the coach and confronted him, 1oi-
lowed by Dion, who icoke6 yecv wan
and weary beside that radiant vision.
Ted looked into her face and forget
everything but the thought that Ma
dine muSt not see them. He got pos
session of Tatters and walked the
length of the train and back before he
dared TO confront Nadine, ard!ihe train
pulled off witha few preliminary saocks
when he swung aboardi the smoking
car. He sat staring duly before him,
until he was recalled to realization oi
things tangible by a keen sense OF W.
pending danger.
There was shrek OF escaping steam.
q sickening crunch of wheels, an eXplo-
sive crash, then he was seized by some
blind force and flung down amid the
debris of wreck. Tatter's dolefu! lit
tie whine recalled Ted's scattered
senses. He woke to find himself lying
in poor little roadside hut, where
they had carried the deadJand wound
ed. Dion's wife lay not an arm
length from his couch, and beside him
sat Nadine unhurt.
1T is not fatal?" Dion asked n a
husky whisper.
The doctor moved away very softly,
but the dying woman read the bitter
truth in his eyes, and shivered with
mortal terror.
Dying" she cried, incredulously.
."Oh, no. It simply isn't possible! 1t
can't be; why should be chosen when
so many others don't care to live! on,
no. not l; life is far too sweet to die!"
Tatters whined anu, ;hrust his nose
close to Ted's face, and he opened his
eyes and smiled understandingly, then
the clear, tuneful voice broke the
deathly silence again. Dion, If 1t
should be true! am afraid to Gle with
an unconfessed lie on my soul. 1t was
all nv fault that she left you. ! want
ed YOU to believe Nadine unfaithful.
You'll forgive me, Dion, won't you. 1t
was because 1 loved you so-and she
couldn't have cared one hundredth part
as much as do. You loved her, dlcD I
YOU, Dion? Yes, l knew, but tried to
forget. If l should die you will marry
her. Dion, love you so that wish
only for your happiness.
But will not die, Dion, l Wiz mott
the young voice trailed off in half a sob,
then woke again very faint acd tremu-
lous, like the echo of distant music.
How dark it Eas grown" it mur-
INJURED. Have they left US alone at
last, Dion? Come closer, cannot see
you"
There was no more sound or motion
from the darkened pallet; the long
lashes Auttered down and lay like rays
of darkness on driven snow, and the
childish lips parted in a faint, sweet
smile upon which death had set his
holy seal as if God had, forgiven her
guilty soul.
Roses everywhere! Stately bride
roses under fringed canopy OF maiden
hair fern. long-stemmed beauties
queens OF hearts in such lavish con-
| fusion that Tatters was obligedto walk
very circumspectly through the maze
of blossoming stuff to the window
where Ted stood with folded hands
breast high, to rose bower.
There We're white rose petals on the
sidewalk leading to the Tront entry ano
three little urchins were chattering ce-
lishtedly over their trophies OF an easy
conquest.
Tatters found d little bare space on
the window and looked out too, but
failed to discover anything OF signal
Importance. So he frisked about unit!
Ted reused himself and took the fluffy
little head between his palms ane
smiled with the pathetic cheerfulness
Of complete remuneration.
"All the fuss and furry is over at last.
Tatters," he said. land: now we've got
to take life in hand anG make some
thing out Of IT. We shall be very happy.
too-not quite as happy as Nadine and
Dion perhaps; still You have me and !
have my work. Nadine? Well, Tatters.
she doesn't need either of US now
SOLDIERS PAROLE.
Ia Understood "a Purely Voluntary
Contract Duri1S Active
Service.
Parole, it must be understood, is
a purely voluntary compact The cap
tor is not obliged to offer to parole
his prisoner-the prisoner Is not
i I y -