The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-12-17
CHAPTER *.

MYSTERY OF THE PRINCETON PROFESSOR.
a RRS. KELVIN insisted upon
RAEH ordering the carriage to
Nv take US home, though it was
not far enough to warrant
the trouble She overwhelmed Donald
with expressions of gratitude and as.
surances Of her great and triumphant
faith in his powers.
The poor boy was dazed as if by
some sudden and Weighty sorrow. BE
repeated, THANK you; thank you, Mrs
Kelvin" in the manner Of one who
receives condolences that are power
less to draw his mind away from bis
bereavement. While we were riding
home he was unable to restrain his
tears, and, being at the age when one
is most ashamed Of them, he knuckled
his eyes diligently.
The deacon and Dorothy were on the
veranda rs We drove up, and Carl
Archer came out Of the house a mo-
ment later.
"Uncle will tell you," said Donald,
eTading questions and questioners with
nervous haste. "I've got to dress for
dinner"
He vas half way up the stairs, as
I judged by his speed, before any one
could utter a word to restrain him.
Thus deserted by the hero Of the oc-
casion, I told my story as briefly and
clearly as could. Carl occasionally
interrupted me with 4 question. but
Dorothy and the deacon said nothing.
Obviously they viewed the story in a
different light.
Before I had finished Donald thrust
his head between the wings Of the
screen door.
Mother" he called, "can I have my
dinner served in my room? I don't
feel very we'll"
The tone in which the last words
were uttered was intended to be con-
vincing, but it made US all laugh.
"Come out here, you big stupid" said
Dorothy. "We won't talk about it"
He advanced with hesitation and
embarrassment. Presently we sat
down to dinner, which was served out
Of doors in the red rays Of the sunset,
and throughout the meal Dorothy
made good her pledge, checking every
reference to the adventure Of the day.
Late in the evening I had a word or
two with Donaldson upon the subject.
Dorothy and I have tried to talk this
matter over two or three tines" said
be, 'sbut it results in mutual recrimina-
tons, so we have tacitly agreed not to
mention it again"
"Recriminations?' I echoed.
"She says Don inherits this from
me-" he replied, with a smile, "and I
say that he inherits it from her. That's
as far as the discussion ever goes.
don't know what She has said to Don.
l haven't said anything. He'll stop Of
his own accord"
I knew from old experience that any
attempt to draw him out upon this sub
ject would be futile. Three minutes
was the limit OF time that his mind
could be held upon it. So we passed
to other matters, and said that I was
glad to have heard him sing with Doro-
thy that evening, Of late years he had
sung so little.
"My voice is getting. old and worn
out" he said. 81 am past my singing
days"
l assured him with sincerity that
their two voices had never sounded
SEeeter than on that very evening.
"Dorothy's IS as fresh as a girls"
replied ITO my ear, certainly, it hasn't
changed at all"
"It seems to me that it has improved
in the last two years." said l.
"She has used it MORE" said he. "a
singing voice needs exercise, and after
mine grew rusty Dorothy neglected her
own until Archer came. She likes to
sing with some one else. wouldn't
call Archer a great tencr," he added,
with smile, "but his voice has the
ring Of youth IN it"
Donaldson" said 1 somewhat impa-
tiently, that gray hair Of yours has
made q crank Of you"
He walked up to mirror and con-
templated his image.
81 look like q big old weather beaten
gatepost in snowstorm," said he
Dorothy came in just then and in
sisted that we must go out to see the
beauty of the night. She was in high
spirits and throbbing with life. The
moon then rising, she declared, was the
most glorious that had ever risen, and
we must look at it from the high gate,
as we call that entrance to the grounds
which is on the brow Of the hill.
Donaldson leaned back against the
mantelpiece, with his elbows upon it,
and surveyed his pretty wife, who
stood there eager and impatient as 3
child.
"This reminds me- he began, but
Dorothy broke in upon him.
"Now, deacon, don'tr' she cried.
"Don't be reminded Of anything. Isn't
this night good enough? Come out
and see the moon"
So we all went up to the high gate
together.
On the following morning met Kel-
vim, and we exchanged growls, moth
ing more. The affair Of the diamond
collar seemed not to have improved his
disposition nor to have altered his at
titude toward me. Kelvin was begin
ming to be somewhat Of a puzzle.
There was and had been from the first
a queer look in his eye that lacked an
explanation. I could not account for
it by anything that l knew. Indeed,
it seemed to have its basis in some
thing that he knew and didn't. a
sly and waiting look it was, glimpse
of treason, stratagem and spoils, but
what it boded l was unable to guess.
For some days following the affair Of
the diamonds l met him frequently
upon the streets of Tunbridge and al
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