The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-11-26

At this point Miss Vaughn interrupt
ID me by suddenly falling forward,
with her head in her hands. I think 1t
must have been five minutes that she
wept and sobbed, and was both dis
tressed and alarmed, though she kept
assuring me that she was not III and
that she was very happy. When she
had recovered some share Of self COM
mand, she begged me to give her
trial in the school.
81 should so love that work." she
said over and over again. "I know
should succeed"
The idea seemed to enchant her. She
spoke Of her own powers with conf
dence. She became brilliant, enthusias.
tic, splendid-in fact, precisely the sort
Of girl to inspire the right feeling in our
young women Of Tunbridge who must
take up too late in life the heavy men
tai tasks of childhood.
I was greatly embarrassed and vic
tim Of that nervous dissatisfaction
which comes to a rational, practical
man when he blunders into good and
judicious action. It is a species Of i'm
posture. I perceived that it was
most fortunate thing for both Of US
that I had come to call upon Miss
Vaughn, and it distressed me to know
that she would always credit me with
O kindness, even though should con.
fess in the most open manner that ]
had como upon a wholly different er.
rand.
While I hesitated the poor girl was
on the rack. Her nervousness was IN;
controllable. She began to scribble
with the pencil and to twist the sheets
Of paper In her fingers without know
ing what she was doing. Seeing this, J
came straight to the point.
"It's a simple matter Of business
said I; rather sudden, Of course, but
you mustn't mind that. The position ii
yours If you'll take it, and, for my OWL
part, I'm more than content. Wei
make the salary satisfactory and let II
begin Immediately, though the schoo.
doesn't open for some weeks"
The crazy pencil stopped, and the
dear child who has been like my OWE
daughter from that moment looked uE
into my eyes while the tears shone up
on her cheeks.
Now, this may seem a small matter
to cause so much emotion, but It must
be remembered that Dorothy had beer
at her wits end since her aunts death
We forget sometimes that the term "a
living" has close connection with the
verb sto live" Whether a penniless
girl is alone in the world or man
fighting in the heart Of a mob feels
pistol pressed against his head, it Ii
much the same. We should not loos
for perfect calm. And that Is the evil
Of our present social system, that II
puts the poor and the distressed ever
at their worst and their weakest. It L
grand to see q human being stand IN
moved in deadly peril, but as a busi:
ness man I cannot say that we produce
the best possible results in this world
by making life one long, mortal emer'
gency for the majority Of our species.
While I was endeavoring to make
Dorothy understand that I was no an
gel sent from heaven, but only carpet
manufacturer from Tunbridge, n. j.
my glance happened to fall upon the
sheets of paper on the table, and I OBJ
served with surprise that she had been
writing a mans name. She must have
written it, in whole or in part, at least
q hundred times. 1t was Donald Don
aldson.
81 was only scribbling," she said, de-
tecting me in the impertinence Of read
ing over her shoulder. 'sThat's nothing
at all"
'Do you mean that it's a fictitious
name?" 1 asked, greatly surprised.
"It's nobody that I know" she said,
with a glance Of quick inquiry at me.
assured her with all sincerity that
the name was total stranger to Ey
ears. 1t was such an awkward, tongue
twisting name that no one could for
get it.
'.Did you fancy that it might have
been suggested by my mind to yours"
asked; that might have been think
ing Of this man"
"Oh, nor she cried hastily. 'That
is mpossible-c certainly impossible for
me. I am a normal minded girl just
like any other. Whatever have done
in-in that way is only what all people |
can do if they are silly enough to try.
Please, please don't ask me about itV'
I was very anxious to do so, being
thoroughly convinced that had STUN
bled upon a genuine and remarkable
manifestation Of occult power, but Miss
Vaughn was in state Of great nerV- |
Gus tension, and it would have been
cruel to press unwelcome questions.
So we talked q little while about the
school, and she was soon at her best
happy, hopeful and earnest. Her mind
was as bright and quick as a birds
eye, and she loved the sunny and pure |
heights.
That evening, in Mr.. Burnham's |
room, I mentioned the incident Of the. |
name. There were present-a half doz-
en- Of the instructors friends who had |
assisted in the tests that had been |
made Of Miss Vaughn's power, and
they were all sincere men with trained
intelligence. They were greatly inter
ested by the occurrence, and they Ques-
toned me closely. 1t was with much !
difficulty that convinced them that |
had never known a man named DON
aid Donaldson and could not have in
fuehced Miss Vaughn in this matter.
Various views were expressed, though
none was Of any great importance,
but when Hackett and had gone to
our hotel and were smoking together
before retiring, my partner, who had
preserved an almost complete silence
during the evening, said: !
II have an idea"