The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-11-19

two men kissing each other, like wom-
en-, sent me again to my horses heads.
There's Connor, mother" shouted
cat Graeme, and the dainty little lady,
in her black silk and white lace, came
out to me quickly, with outstretched
hands.
"Ycu, toe. ere welcome home" she
said and kissed me.
| stood with my hat off, saying some
thing about being glad to come, but
wishing that l could get away before
should make quite fool of myself,
for rs looked down upon that beauti-
full face. pale, except for faint flush
upon each faded cheek, and read the
story of 1ain endured and conquered,
and as l thought Of all the long yeaSs
cf waiting and Of vain hoping, I found
my throat dry and sore, and the words
would not come. But her quick sense
needed no words, and she came to my
help.
You will find Jack at the stable"
she said, smiling. "He ought to have
been here"
The stable. Why had not thought
Of that before? Thankfully now my
words came:
'Ycs certainly, I'll find him, Mrs.
Graeme. suppose he's as much Of q
scapeeracc as ever" And of I went
to look up Gracmc's young brother,
who had given every promise in the
old days Of developing into as stirring
q rascal as one could desire, but who,
IS ! found out later, had not lived
these years in his mothers home for
nothing.
"On. Jacks q good boy!" she an
swered. smiling again, as she turned
toward the other two, now waiting for
her upon the walk.
The week that followed was happy
one for US all, but for the mother 1t
was full to the Erim with JOY. Her
sweet face was full Of content, and in
her eyes rested a great peace. Our
DAYS were spent driving about among
the hills or strolling through the ma
pie woods or down into the tamarach
swamp, where the pitcher plants aid
the swamp lilies and the marigold
waved above the deep moss. In the
evenings we sat under the trees on the
lawn till the stars came out and the
night dews drove us in. Like two low
ers, Graeme and his mother would
wander off together. leaving Jack and
me to each other. Jack was reading
for divinity and was really Z fine, man
ly fellow, with ell his brothers turn
for Rugby, and took to him amazing
", but after the day was over we
would gather about the supper table,
and the talk would be Of all things
under heayen-art, football, theology.
The mother would lead in all. How
quick she was. how bright her fancy,
how subtle her Intellect, and through
al 4 gentle grace. very winning and
beautiful to see!
Do what I would. Graeme would
talk little CT the mountains and his
life there.
My lion will not roar, Mrs. Graeme,'
l complained. He simply will not"
"You should twist his TAIL" said
Jack.
'That seems to be the difficulty,
Jack" said his mother. "to get hold of
his fale."
"Oh. mother" groaned Jack, "yoc
never did such thing before. How
could you? is it this baleful western
influence"
q shall reform, Jack" she replied
brightly.
But, seriously, Graeme." l remon-
stratcd, you ought to tell your people
Of your life, that free. glorious life in
the mountains"
Free! Glorious! To some men per-
haps!" said Graeme and then fell into
silence.
But l saw Graeme as q, new man the
night he talked theology with his
father. The old minister was splen-
did Calvinist, Of heroic type, and as he
discoursed Of Gods sovereignty and
election his face glowed and his voice
rang out.
Gracme listened intently, now and
then putting in question, as one
would keen knife thrust into foe,
but the Old man knew his ground and
moved easily among his ideas, demoll
ishing the enemy as he appeared with
jaunty, grace. In the full flow Of his
triumphant argument Graeme turned
to him with sudden seriousness.
"Lcok here, father l was born a
Calvinist, and can't see how any one
with a level head can hold anything
else than that the Almighty has some
idea as to how he wants to run his uni
verse, and he means to carry out his
idea and is carrying it out. But what
would you do in case like this?
Then he told the story Of poor Billy
Breen, his fight and his defeat.
"Would you preach election to that
chap"
The mothers eyes were shining with
tears.
The old gentleman blew his nose like
q trumpet and then said gravely: .
"No, my boy. You don't feed babes
with meat. But what came to him?'
Then Graeme asked ME to finish the
tale. After l had finished the story Il
Billy's final triumph and Of Craig 5
part in it they sat long silent till the
minister, clearing his throat hard and
blowing his nose more like trumpet
than ever, said, with great emphasis:
'Thank God for such man in such
4 placel wish there were more Of us
like him."
81 should like to see you out there,
sir" said Graeme admiringly. YOU'D
get them, but you wouldn't have time
for election"
Eyes, yes" said his father warmly;
81 should love to have q chance just
to preach election to those poor lads.
Would I were twenty years younger"
'It is worth mans life," said
Graeme earnestly.
His younger brother turned his face