The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-12-03


bcguiled into some sort Of On experS
ncnt. 1t may have been cranky no.
ton, but this whole conversation has
been such a weird mixture Of business
and ghostsv'
The big clock in the corner struck 2
and surprised US all with the lateness
Of the hour. It was necessary for Don
aIdson to return at once to his Office
and so we could not ask him the ques-
tons which were pressing for utter
ance. l may say, however, that when
we had abundant opportunity there
after we obtained scant information.
Donaldson either could not or would
not tell how he obtained his psychic
messages. at is like suddenly. remem-
boring something that you have always
known" was the usual way in which
he lodged the question, and he would
never speak upon the subject at all
when he could avoid doing so.
Upon the matter Of Donaldson's rec
oenition Of his friend Writings pres
ence we made one discovery before
leaving the restaurant. Hackett sat
down in the chair which our young
friend had occupied and Immediately
perceived that owing to the position
of a hat tree upon which our coats
were hung the mirror in the wall could
not explain the phenomenon. I could
sec around one side Of this obstruc-
ton and Hackett around the other side,
but it was precisely in the necessary
line of Donaldson's vision.
About two weeks after this remark
able luncheon Deacon Donaldson was
added to our working force at Tun-
bridge and became q member Of my
household, and there a singular and
amusing complication presently came
about. Mrs. Jane Harrington, whose
husband is @ cousin Of mine and has
charge Of q branch Of our business in
the west, came to visit me, bringing
her daughter, a very charming young
woman Of twenty. In some mysterious
manner Donaldson got the notion that
Millie Harrington was the beaudful
psychic whose union with himself was
secretly plotted by the willy Stephen
Hackett and me. He had never been
able to rid himself Of the idea that
something of the sort was in the wind,
but he was entirely ignorant Of the
facts in the case of Dorothy Vaughn.
In fact, nobody in Tunbridge except
Hackett and me knew that Dorothy's
coming to teach our school had any
connection with our quest Of mysteries.
It was far more likely that Donaldson
should suspect Millle, who was there
upoa nv direct invitation and SEEM
ingly thrown into his way with malice
aforethought, than Dorothy, who lived
on the other side of the town and was
merely the schoolteacher.
Alillie was firt, I'm afraid, and as
the deacon was the most attractive
young man in her vicinity she pro-
ceeded to practice her innocent arts
upon him. I think he was not natu-
rally timid in such matters. He had a
very easy and graceful manner in the
company of ladies, and not even so
simple an old fellow as myself could
fail to see that he had learned his les
son in the school Of experience Mil
lie found him an admirable cavalier,
and she kept him busy in her service.
It may have been FIVE weeks that
Alillie and her mother were at my
house, and the place was so gay that
I did not feel at home. In the even
ings there would be music and dane
ing, and I would sit in corner alone
except when Hackctt strayed into this
scene of unaccustomed revelry or when
Dorothy could be persuaded to come
over after the school. She was in
mourning for her aunt, Of course, and
could not join in the sport, but she
held it no harm to sit in sober black
and watch the others. We had some
great talks in this way, but it seemed
to me that she was not in so good spir-
it's after this brief season Of festvity
got we'll under way. Indeed it must
have been a trial for young and pref
ty girl, as I thought more than once. It
never occurred to me that there could
be any special trouble. Even when
she advanced the opinion one evening
that she was not doing very we'll with
the school ard perhaps it might be
better for her to go away I totally fail
ed to comprehend.
That night after the house had be-
come quiet I was sitting before the
fire in the library alone when Donald
son dropped in to keep me company.
at my invitation he took a cigar, Sc
lecting one that was black and strong,
and when he had lighted it I perceived
that there was something on his mind.
4 man who wishes to conceal his men
tai state should not smoke in the pres
ence Of smoker.
"Mr. Harrington said he at last,
you have been very good to me. You
have put me in q fine way Of business,
so that my future is assured-if I be-
have myself. am very grateful in ev-
cry way, and I'm going to please you If
can. But, by jingo," he cried, sudden
ly springing up, 81 can't"'
"Why not?' asked as gently as pos
sible.
He dried the palms Of his hands upon
his handkerchief.
''It's a great HONOR he said, trying
to be calm. 81 told you so long ago at
Bertram's. OF course I didn't then
know that the young lady would be
related to you I couldn't foresee how
beautiful she would be, how admira-
BILE in every way. She doesn't care q
penny for me, to be sure, but Pm not
speaking Of that. I'm speaking Of my
own sentiments. She's got the most
wonderful eyes-dark, mysterious, mar
velous eyes. By Jove, can we'll be-
heve that she's the true psychic! And
perhaps that's what's the matter
care you speaking Of Miss Harring-
ton?' I inquired as he paused. And he