The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-11-02

Cranston, as if he had forced the aD-
surdity Of her fears down upon her
by his warm words, but we must
handle her most carefully. I've tried
making fun of her country beau,' as
always call him to her, but I've never
been able to make out how she took Il.
She'd die before she'd let anybody
know how she felt about matter OF
that kind. III tell you what I'm going
to do. She has invited Kitty Cosby
to pay her q visit, and when Kitty
comes I'm going to get her to help me.
She's always had great influence over
Lydia, an Kitty is blue blooded to the
bone. ri coach her how to act, and
she will hold Lydia in check an keep
me posted
The major took up his naper.
Il rather admire the fellows way"
he said frankly. "I'm sure he doesn't
overstep himself; he hasn't been here
so often since his trouble, and that
looks like he had some idea Of the
eternal fitness Of things
mo, that's true admitted Mrs.
Cranston, and, really, I'm quite sure
there has never been an intimate un-
derstandins between them, and if We
play our cards right there won't be-"
The major resumed his reading. and
Mrs. Cranston went up the smooth,
winding stairs to her daughteNs room.
Lydia was seated before the fire, her
beautiful and abundant hair hanging
loose over her shapely shoulders.
II thought I'd see if Tom had made
you q good fire, DEAR" Mrs. Cranston
said gently.
"Oh, yes; it's all right mamma,
thank you," Lydia returned, with q
smile.
Mrs. Cranston hesitated. When do
you look for Kitty to Gomez she asked.
"Next week, toward the end, think,
mamma. She wanted to stay over for
the guards ball. Then she'll be ready
for rest here"
Mrs. Cranston pinched Lydia's FIRE
reddened cheek caressingly. Don't
you miss all those things, dearest?'
"Not one bit, mamma" Lydia gave
her mother her eyes trustingly. I'm
fact. sometimes I'm just little asham-
ed Of all l went through since realize
the beauty Of this full, vigorous life
here in the mountains. Mother, I can
have a better time on Prince. gallop-
ing helter sselter over these roads and
fields, than I ever had yying with 9TH
er girls for the most dances and IA
vors in the german with lot Of boys.
Oh, mamma" Lydia laughed, some
times I'm awfully ashamed Of having
done all that When-when'-
when what, darling?" Mrs. Gram
ston's lips We're compressed, her eyes
fixed half fcarfully on the speaking
countenance.
when there are so many Of Gods
creatures here in their shells Of power
" and misery trying to rise, trying to
grow out into the sunshine Of life. l
think I could be perfectly happy if I
could only help those people in some
way. I want to teach them, to encour-
age them, not to believe in their degra-
dation. Mamma, just the other day
saw an old woman selling eggs from
a wagon at the gate, and in the wagon
was her daughter, poorly dressed, but
her features were finely drawn, and
when I stopped to speak to them the
girl looked at me as If I were prin-
cess. Oh, mamma, that sort Of thing
cuts me. have not done anything to
deserve that, and, poor thing, what has
she in store for her? Nothing but to
fall into the sort Of life her mother is
leading
That's all true" agreed Mrs. Gran
ston, '.but there are different grades Of
society, and we can't alter the con-
ditlon.' Then the speakers face be-
came more rigid, her tone tens: and
tentative. And the mixing Of the
elements, my DEAR" she put in guard
edly, sometimes produces sad con-
plications. You remember how Halle
Dunwoody married beneath her in
Lexington and that it actually killed
her father and broke up a happy
homer
That was awful, simply awful" re-
marked Lydia. You know saw her
two months afterward, and the poor
thing tried to keep me from recog-
nizing her. She told me she was try
ing to adapt herself to the ways Of
her husbands family, but could not
do It. Her husband meant we'll
enough, but even he seemed unable
to make it bearable for her.
Mrs. Cranston sat perfectly still; she
seemed hardly breathing. She was
very anxious to have her next remark
seem casual.
II have never heard you say before
what you thought about that marriage,
dear, but I never thought Halle treat
ed her father and mother right
mo, she didn't" answered Lydia.
"Hallie knew the extent Of her father
and mothers pride, and she had no
Eight to crush it for her own selfish
love. If she had sacrificed her own
desires, and even those Of her hus-
band, she would have been happier
in the consciousness Of having done
her duty. I don't think self sacrifice
has ever brought about bad results
in the long run"
Mrs. Cranston breathed freely. She
was all aglow as she bent and kissed
Lydia good night.
Going down to the major. she said:
"I've had very, very satisfactory talk
with Lydia-oh, no, not openly on that
subject she FASTENED to correct as
he raised his brows in surprise, "but
In roundabout way. We need not
be afraid Of her. If she cares par