The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-10-01

laughing. -Ah. uI!I!N dliO SdIOuSt' ipl'
yet her whose heart you have broken.
Fniov yourself. while the victim OF
your brutality seeks the only refuge
left hcr-dcath. The river is near,
one plunge and it vii! all be over. May
nv DIVING shrek Of despair ring in
yOur ears as q neyer-ending curse"
And in the extremity of her anguish
the wanderer rushed toward the wall
and tie sudden death she sought.
Goaded by despair, the unhappy wo-
man was about to yield up heS lie 10
her Maker in all its sin. forgetting
that as it was too vile for this Worlo,
What would be its appearance Iilere
where all was holy.
As she was about TO commit tnlS
rash act her wild and almost manlacal
raZc rested on several persons who
were passing near. ard she drew back,
shudGering.
No, ii is not yet dark enough" She
muttered. II should be seen and per
hapS saved"
IS she said this she clasped her
hands on her head, and seemingly be-
wiidered by the conflict OF passions,
sunk down upon the cold, damp pave
mcnt.
Henriette, who had been regarding
the strange appearing woman, eX-
claimed as she fell.
What can be the matter with that
woman? She has fallen: she must be
i'll"
60 to her and see if you can aid
her: go-go, sister," exclaimed Louise,
quickly. and in her excitement rising
from Tie seat and endearOring to
grOne her way to the PROSTATE woman.
Like some angel Of mercy Henriette
went to the world-weary woman. and
in voice that reSembled a Sllfery
chime c; veSper bells, so gratefully dlo
they fall upon the wanderers ears:
asked:
Pardon me. madame: can | do any
thing for you?"
You can do nothing"
You seem eXhauSted:are you Su1ler-
ing?"
"Yes-yeS. l am suffering"
AS she said this, thus inviting the
pity, us it were, Of the good angel be-
side her, she arose from the ground;
and Louise, who had been listening to
the short conversation. eagerly SAD 10
Henriette-and there was world OF
pathOs in her voice:
She said that with voice full OF
misery and despair. Help her: sister"
Henriette needed not to be prompt
ed to do a charitable action; but her
sisters words caused her to redouble
her efforts to assist the poor woman.
Madame, have confidence IN Us,
she said kindly. I'VE are not rich, but
we can help you-'
y have already told you." interrupt
ed the woman, fiercely, that l want
nothing. There are griefs that can not
be consoled, sufferings that can not
be alleviated. l only wish TOTO"
you wish to die" exclaimed Lou
ise, as she clasped her hands in an ago
ny Of grief at the thought OF the
others suffering.
"Who told you that?" added the
woman, passionately. How 90 you
know want to die?"
Il feel it while I listen to YOU an
swered the blind girl, who, standing
with her hands claSped, resembled
more one of Raphaers Madonnas than
a simple country girl. DO you know
that we who are blind-whom no eX-
ternal object distractS, listen with our
whole being?"
Tell Us your troubles" said Henri
ette, soothingly. perhaps we can re-
lieve them"
The woman gazed sadly at the fair
girl who would thus take anOther'S
sorrows upon herself, in the hope OF
Tightening the unhappy ones burden.
why should ! tell you when you do
not even know me?" she said, slowly.
and at the same time as if she wished
to pour out her troubles. You have
never seen me before, and yet you pity
me. No-no, there is no help for me.
Leave me, leave me, and do not at
tempt to save me-;
AS she finished speaking, the unhap-
py woman turned away and would
have left the place, but that she heard
Henriette'S voice.
Stay" she said. in pleading tone.
For the love of Heaven, do not leave
me thus" entreated Louise.
The poor woman was not proof
against these pleadingS, and yet she
heSitated to open her heart, wicked as
it was, to these poor girls.
Il am pursued by the officers OF the
law" she said hurriedly. Il have not
strength to fly further, and they will
arrest me
What have you done?' asked Hen
riette, pityingly.
Il have stolen" answered the wo-
man, and as she saw the young girls
shudder, she added quickly, as if in ex-
tenuation: u have stolen money COM
mitted to my care: all the savings Of
poor working girl. I stole it for him,
for a wretch whom | fear, but whom,
alas, I love-"
At this moment Jacques voice was
heard from the cabaret, and it sound
ed like some mocking fend eXultlng
over its triumph.
Good joke-a capital joke"
What demon could have put into his
mouth those words, which probably
would have expressed exactly his idea
of the repentance of the girl whom he
had wrouged!
'.Listen!'; said the woman quietly,
while d look Of pain passed over her
face. THAT is his voice. He is there
wasting in debauchely the money pur-
chased by my crime. When ! am away
from him my reason returns, and I on
ly feel the hate his baSeness inspires.
Alas, when he speaks to me my hate
disappears: cover and tremble before
him and am his slave. l have stolen
for him, and l believe l would kill at
his bidding"
She remained silent for a moment,
and then. hiding her face in her hands
burst into an agony Of tears, and eX-
claimed:
"NC-no. it is better that I should |
die
You can not atone for a fault by
committing crime" said Henriette.
IF l am found they will arrest-im-
prison mew exclaimed the woman,
clasping her hands.
And repentance will pay the debt
you owe 10 Heaven" added the blind
girls low voice, like song, sweet and
veilad.
Heaven. Do you believe there is a