Graham guardian., 1900-05-18


day she drove back absolutely alone /,
search OF her husband and chad. Nea
the spot where she had been separate,
from them she found her husbands hat
the little cap worn by the baby, staiuet
with blood. and pool OF blood by h
roadside. She spent all that day alon
on that road and returned at night T.
the farmhouse. Here she stayed
month making inquiries and searehe
in all directions for more conclusiy.
proof Of the death of her child ans
husband. Finally the old farmer cam
10 her one day with the report that en-
Of the robbers had just died ard tha
he had made deathbed confession tha
he had shot and killed Capt. Lancaster
fhe baby. he said, was not killed al III
time, as there WAS some reluctanc,
among the men as to who should 90 i
They had gotten over this difficulty b
drawing straws and the man upol
whom the task had fallen had prom
Used hat he would drown the child, tina
it's death might be an easy Cne. This
was the only crumb of comfort tn,
poor lady got; think OF that, gentle
men. she could only hope that her sons
Death had been quick and painless. The
dying man refused to tell who had un.
dertaken the crime" The colone.
paused, strcking his gray Van Dyke
beard. "ls il any wonder that her face
is sad and her hair white9"
at il reported in Charleston that
she has had many advantageous Of
fers Of marriage" put in MIR. Hardy.
as he emptied his wine glass.
"llundreds of them" enthused the
colonel. why. Gen. Beauc!are fol.
lowed her about like slave and so did
Senator Waugh: couldn't count the
men who were in love with her, but
rhe turned 'em all down"
The promenaders had quilted the
vcranda. and there was light touch
on the piano in the drawing-room and
swee; voice ainging an old song.
THAT is herl' cried the colonel.
whose enthusiasm was not often gov.
erned by rules OF grammar.
This WAS the signal for leaving the
table. and the men went into the big !
ancient.looking parlor where the
lights burned low and the breeze from
the distant mountains famed the lace
curtains into the room. Evelyn sat IN
a rocking-chalr, her eyes on the siry
er's face. Caroline was noiscless,y
placing whist table and playing
cards rear the center of the room
She, hei father, Mr.. Hardy and Cap,
Wrinkle were the only ones who were
fond Of the game.
But we shall interrupt the sing.
ing" protested the colonel. when he
noticed the preparations.
IL shall stop If you don't go on witt
the game" declared the gentle old
lady. smile crossing her sweet. ssi
face; "and furthermore. shall r
sing unless you all talk over you:
game"
To this the jovial host agreed un.
der protest and the whist-players too
their places. Evelyn sat at thr a.
of the piano near enough to touch tn
tlhow Of the singer. There was in.
finite rathos in Mrs. Lancaster's voice
US she sang;
"Dey ain't no use fer to fret an pine.
Steady on de way, believers
It's de same ole worl' wen de sun don't
shire
Steady on de way. be levers
The colonel was dealing the cards.
but he made mistake in the count
and with a low laugh he threw the
cards down. Il must wait lii! that g,
is over, anyway" he whispered. That
blamed thing always gets the best oil
me-"
IT'S de same OIL wor.' in de sun an de
rata
Sane OF de hiHtop an same on de plain.
80 keep up go shoutin' an keep on yo
prayia'-
Steady on de rav he''orers
'Dey's great Dig blossom en- de water
melon vine.
Steady on de way. believers:
Fun peace come long wen you done wid
So keep up so shoutin' an keep on 20
prayin'.
Steady On de way. believers "
There was just the fain,est quiver IN
Mrs. LanCasters voice. which Evelyn |
alone noticed, and hint Of moisture
IN her eyes as the melody died in the
still room. She turned towards the |
ard players. who. with the exception |
Of the dupper captain, seemed deep |
y moved hy her song.
II knew would stop your game"
she laughed, 'you are too polite 10
enjoy life. Come. Evelyn. let's take
smother stroll
l'he view from the veranda was
Seaut;ful. and as the two walked back |
and forth across the wide floor arm in |
arm they enjoyed il silently rhe moon |
mad risen and hung like great globe
IF yellow light just beneath a iloat. |
!ng canopy OF filmy clouds. Two
rows Of wind-moved elms stretched
out past the great iron.wrought gates
md between CLEANED the white cher,
Irive. On sloplng lawn to the left
.ay luxuriant parterres o! tiowers di
1erslted by well-kep, walks. and
smooth plots of grass. Near the cen.
Ter stood a fountain. its sprays gIeam
ing like rain in an April shower
rgainst the dark background OF mag.
nolia trees. The air which tanned |
their faces was laden with the per.
'ume OF hyacinth and roses. When
they had walked several minutes In
'ilence they paused at the window
rom which they had reached the YER
tnda, anil looked in on the players.
lr. Hardy was dealing the cards and
apt Ninklr was relating some sort
experience of his own which
,eemei 10 have reused the interest of
his host.
OF course" the captain was saying.
the fellows challenge was great sur
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