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

again. Upon the contrary, perceived
clearly enough that Archer must be
sent away for his own sake and the
peace Of all Of US.
I blamed him bitterly. There was
never less excuse for any mans folly.
In the sixty years that I have been in
the world 1 have never seen a woman
whose heart could be read more cas-
lily than Dorothy's nor man whose
guilty thought had been hidden behind
q mask so impenetrable as that which
Carl had worn. If be had been mis-
taken in her, he must be mad, but it
seemed to me that not even the mystic
rious power which she had once pos
sessed could have warned her against
him. His manner toward her, as
would have sworn from constant oD-
servation, had always been perfect.
Yet it is true, Of course, that those VINO
stand nearest to such tragedies Of the
home are often most blind to their be-
ginnings. Mrs. Kelyin's hint about
Donald required to me, and wonder
ed with & shudder whether he had
looked into Archer's heart. If that
were true, it could have been only to
hate the man, never to fear him.
When I came out upon the veranda,
Dorothy was sitting IN big chair with
her son upon the arm Of it. I saw them
against the brightest Of the moonlight,
and this made Donald loom dark, like
a great statue Of bronze.
"Where is your father, Don" she
was asking him as 1 stepped out.
"In his room, writing" he answered.
"Shall I call him?"
She answered "No;" that she would
so up.
"I'll carry you," said he, and in an
instant he had lifted her with his right
arm alone by peculiar knack which
I had never seen the like Of before. 1t
was very easy and graceful, and Doro-
thy was perched upon his arm like
bird on bough:
"Oh, Donald" she cried. steadying
herself with o hand upon mis- bare
head, "I'm too heavy! I'll topple you
over"
81 have pond lily in my buttonhole
on the other side," said he. I'm bal
anced perfectly"
And he strobe away with her into
the house.
I waited there long time for Carl,
but he did not appear, and at last l
made up my mind not to speak to him
of my plan for sending him away until
I had had more time to mature it NO
immediate action was necessary, for
upon the following day Carl went to
visit q friend Of his who lived in a fine
country house about half way between
Tunbridge and the Junction. He had
made such visits before, and If had
not had the wretched fortune to play
eavesdropper I should not have felt
the need of any explanation Of his de-
parture.
a day or two later Donaldson laid
the whole case before me in a manner
most delicate and most affecting. He
spoke as if had been his father.
Archer had come to him, he said, in
such an attitude Of mind as to alter
his own feeling materially. He was
inclined to believe that the man had
been greatly overwrought by the e2-
icencies Of our common business af-
fairs.
"He believes" said Donaldson, "that
Kelvin will win in this fight and that
it will be the beginning Of the end, so
far as this business is concerned. He
has brooded OYER it and gone sleepless,
as he tells me, and I know what
strange things, contrary to his own
real nature, a man may do when sub
ject to such a strain. It is weak JUS
tifcation, but one can't look at him
and feel that there is nothing in it.
He has been beside himself for weeks.
I think his attitude toward Don has
been the result Of pure nervousness.
At any rate, acting under Dorothy's
advice, am unwilling to do anything
that may cut Carl off from the benefit
Of your influence. I know how strong
an affection you have for him
"That's the central fact, isn't IT.? I
interrupted. "You want to please me.
Well, then, let's wait. Let's trust bit
to him. We will not hastily condemn
a man who seems to be struggling to
redeem himself"
Now that my attention was thus di-
rectly called to it I perceived that Carl
had not been himself Of late, and was
weakly anxious to make the best pos
sible plea for him. he was my dead
sisters son and had been dear to me.
thought it might be well to have
long talk with him, and one day when
came into my Office after luncheon
and found him there alone I was upon
the point of burdening him with much
useless advice, but he turned my mind
into another channel.
"Who do you think has been here"
said he. THE last man you'd expect to
see, upon my word"
"Not Kelvin?" I queried, for a call
from him at that juncture would IN
deed have been unexpected.
Severn" answered Carl, 1.-The first
one-the pretender."
I was amazed at the impudence OF
this visit.
He wouldn't tell me what he want
ed" said Carl. "He inquired for you
and promised to come back"
"His reception will be more lively
than cordial" responded.
It was about half an hour later when
the man appeared. His looks had
greatly changed, but whether he was ID
disguise then or had been so before
could not have decided. He had an
official and solemn air as he entered the
office, and he laid card upon the leaf
Of my desk without having spoken a
word in the meantime. The card con-
veyed to my mind the information that