The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-12-31

the very presence Of God in his own
temple to me. Be sane and honest,
Carl How can you deliberately sacri-
fee the friendship Of my husband and
Of Mr.. Harrington, to say nothing Of
mine"
GAS for you, Dorothy" he replied
with an emotion Of which would not
nave thought him capable, 81 cannot
be your friend. God knows that have
tried"
eff God had known it." said she, "you
would not have failed. He would have
given you the strength to succeed. No;
you have not tried"
81 cannot be your friend" insisted
Carl. GAS for the friendship Of the
others, do you fancy that I shall tell
them"
"Do you fancy that shan't?" retort-
ed Dorothy, almost in tears from shame
and rage. How dare you hint that I
would share secret with you and ex-
clude my husband? wouldn't do it if
it were about a pint Of peanuts, and
you should have found that out by this
time"
had a glimpse Of Carl at this mo-
ment, and his face was so white that it
seemed to shine.
"You will tell him." said he slowly.
'sIt is honorable But upon the other
hand was equally bound in honor to
| tell you"
"You were bound in honor not to
have any such thing to tell" replied
Dorothy with spirit.
1--WE will not QUARREL said he sadly.
81 have only one word more to say.
| The time must soon come when shall
offer you the deepest sympathy Of my
heart. I cannot offer it to you in the
name of friendship. won't lie to you.
That is why tell you now that love
you"
sIt seems to me that if you foresee
trouble coming to me you have now
put it out Of your power to help me.
But what do you mean? Do you ex-
pect harm to come to my husband!'
"Will you keep the secret"
sNot from him." she answered firm
". 'If there is good reason, will
keep it from everybody else"
"I cannot speak on such terms" said
Carl. Indeed, I would better rot speak
on any terms. 1 have lost your es-
TEEN. 1 cannot count upon your help.
You would distrust me. But, Dorothy,
remember this: There is some one very
near and dear to you-much dearer
than he has any right to be-Whom
have honestly tried to save, but have
failed"
Dorothy was more bewildered than
alarmed.
81 know that my husband has lost
money" she said. "Mr. Bum has led
him into q very foolish investment. He
may suffer heavily, but it will be no
such catastrophe as you imagine"
This, by the way, was the first hint
had received that Donaldson had gone
with Bum into q certain wild dream
Of finance which l will here describe
simply as the Harbrook Land CON-
pany. I had earnestly advised Donald
son against it, and 1 supposed that he
had beeded my warning. AS for Bum,
I understood that he had drawn out
with a marvelously small loss. My con-
science had been dragging me away
from that window; now it dragged me
back again.
"That is but a small part Of the
trouble" said Carl. And then sudden
ly: Dorothy, don't disclose this. You
will regret it. l have spoken to you
from really good motives, even though
they may seem to be mistaken, and ID
the strictest confidence"
"There can be no confidence Of this
kind with a wife," said Dorothy, IF
she really is one. But, Carl, l begin
to see some sort Of sincerity in you,
and this is what will do to reward 1t:
I will tell my husband that you have
spoken in q way to offend me, but
that I have forgiven you, and l Will
beg him not to ask me any questions.
I will not say, unless directly asked,
that you have spoken to me Of his busi-
ness difficulties, which I believe that
YOU greatly exaggerate. But can take
this course only if you promise me to
change from the heart outward-to be
to me in all your thoughts that which
you may honorably be, and no more.
Will you do this?'
"How can I look at YOU he began,
but she interrupted him crying:
"Carl, this is monstrous! l am an
old woman. I am the mother Of
grown man. l have lived my life, and
it has been a wondrous and beautiful
life to live. I have had such love-
such perfect love-"
"You trife with me" he said in sud-
den rage. Your husband is as cold as
the dead. He neglected you openly.
He has no eye for your beauty, for this
living miracle Of your unfading youth
which has been bestowed upon you,
in my belief, that you might wait for
real love-"
81 have not had to wait" said Doro-
thy in a voice indescribably sweet.
"And now," she added, "this is the eno,
absolutely the end. I asked you for
promise. Give it to me and think upon
whatever is most sacred to you While
you speak"
81 will think upon that which is most
sacred to me-" he said, looking straight
into her face, "and for the sake Of it l
will either conquer my heart or sur
render it with all my mortal part to
the dust Of the earth-to the uncon-
scious dust that cannot suffer"
This pledge struck me as somewhat
theatric, and yet it was spoken with
heartbreaking sincerity and seemed to
have a considerable effect upon Doro-
thy.
"The way to cease 10 desire some
| thing" said she "is tc desire some