The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-04-04

and buried his face in his hands and
sobbed aloud with n great and uncon-
trollable passion OF grief
l did not know what to say. There
was Il sacredncss in his great grief; a
noble, strong man sat there in the
nights silence, and his sole companion
was the spirit of sorrow.
AT last. when | could swallow the
lump in my throat and steady my voice,
l spoke, and | felt-likc one who has IN
truded into the hallowcd place of the
hearts sanctuary. Good master be a
man. fe haze suffered sairly, but God
has given his promise to those that
sorrow md are weary laden"
lie started up in mood changed
and sudden, and an ugly glance was in
his face and an angry snecr was in his
tone And tell me, Gillicuddy, where
is this God that promises so muckle? I
Gamma find him."
"'Decd, dear master" said I, Eve
should find him in Yer heart"
"Weel, he's no. there" he cried out
harshly. Hes but an absentee God,
and think there be no other thing but
the dell aye chuckling in his sleeve"
Then he seemed 10 utter Il sound like
a laugh, and there was Il weird, uncan.
ny tone In 1t that made me tremble
with dread.
"Oh, my dear man." said I, 81 hinnn
the heart to gainsay that ye haze suffer
ed sair, or to veX yc WI ony word O.
mine spoken tbOughtlessly, but We do
great discredit to yer manhood and do
but cast reproach on Gods greatness
when ye lose faith in the wisdom and
goodness O his providences. Oh, my
laird, God kens n things and orders
a things, and his hand will fashion a.
things Alright"
He laughed outright. and l think
never heard such q wicked and sneer.
Ing laugh. 1t sounded in my ears like
the laugh Of Satan himself, and the
fierce, scotfing cruelty Of it was terrible
to hear. looked up ut him in terror to
see him fallen SO sadly from the condi-
ton OF his own true, gentle self. His
race was transformed, and the features
thnt had been so manly and kind were
drawn into hard and harsh lines, and /
thought as he stood before me fl the
dim, yellow light OF the moon that I
was yet trembling with dread and
with the echo Of his mocking yetfn my
| ear, he turned and clutched me by the
shoulder, and felt his fingers pressing
hard on my flesh like iron.
Listen to me, Gillicuddy," he hiss-
ed. II hae long journey before me
and nae time to waste. Ye maun get
me off to Abbeyfont the nicht, for Pm
thinking there may be lugger lying
In the bay O Killochan that for price
wad talk me to France"
l was astonished beyond measure ut
his words, as one may we'll conceive,
FOR he was In no state of mind to be
left to himself nor yet to begin tour-
ney. / was Of strong mind to re-
monstrate with him as n bounden duty,
out dreaded sorely to make q bad
matter worse and feared to interfere,
seeing the terrible mood he was in
and having as well in mind his words
OF threatening Of two days before. So
l arose and, by dint Of industry and
yet scarce knowing what did, had all
things completed within an hours
space, and the two Of us took saddle in
the night for Abbeyfont, and the pace
we took fairly put me to my mettle to
keep my seat on the nag I bcstrode,
While the laird just few before me III
the dark like u mailman.
1t was in the very early morning
hours when our horses hoofs clattered
upon the quiet streets Of Abbeyfont.
There we drew rein and aroused the
landlord at Abbeyfonts principal hos
terry, ana, making inquiry concerning
the sea craft lying in the bay, we
round that the Mary Morris. Captain
hcfadden, would sail,at sunrise. Down
at the Quays we found the caDtain.
ana after short converse with him
my master had made arrangements to
be taken aboard. Already there came
TO us over the waters of the KilIocbon
the voices of the sailors singing at the
capstan, and the lights Of the Mary
MOTIFS were dimly blinking furlong's
length out from the shore.
You may be sure l had been busy
wondering at this hasty journey of my
masters. That he had found some
ciew to the secret of my lady's where
abouts l had n ready conjecture, but
was inclined to dismiss It rs but lit
te within likelihood. My conclusion
was finally that the whole matter WAS
best explained by my masters restless
spirit and his discomfort at bidine
quiet when the excitement Of travel
and search might give him some relief
from his anxiety and uneasiness.
confess found it quite beyond my
powers TO restrain divers remarks by
which sought in roundabout way to
get at my masters plans, but he was
not to be entrapped into any reply that
gave me one whit of satisfaction. 80