The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-12-06

uee Sparkled. and the small cottage
clock ticlscd the happy moments away.
How is Mrs. Leach:" he asked a.
last. Does she pray as fervently at
every meeting?'
Just the same replied Tel;y, "and
always will as long as she has breath.
It is, as father says, her only consola-
ton
Il have thought Of that evening
many times since" he continued, "and
the impression that poor old lady made
on me with her piteous suppltcation. I
wonder how it would affect Boston
church congregation some evening to
have such an appearing figure, clad as
she was, rise and utter the prayer she
did. 1t would startle them, I think!'
i do not think Mrs. Leach would
enter one Of your city churches" re-
sponded Telly, "and certainly not clad
as she has to be. She has little pride
even if sne Is poor"
"Oh. meant no reflection, only the
scene was so impressive [ wondered
how it would affect fashionable
church gathering. think it would do
them good to listen to real sincere
prayer that came from some ones
heart and was not manufactured for
the occasion. Those who wear fine
Silks and broadcloth and sit in cush-
toned pews seldom hear such prayer
as she uttered that night
Then as Telly made no response he
sat in silence few moments mentally
contrasting the girl with those he had
net in Boston.
And what g contrast
This girl clad in gray dress severe
in its simplicity and so i'll fitting that it
really detracted from the beautiful out
lines Of her form. Her luxuriant tress-
es were braided and coiled low on the
back Of her head, and at her throat
tiny bow Of blue. Not an ornament Of
any nature, not even ring. only the
crown Of her sunny hair, two little
rose leaves ip her cheeks and the
oueenlike majesty Of throat and shoul-
ders and bust, so classic that not one
woman in a hundred but would envy
her their possession.
And what q contrast in speech, ex-
preston and ways-timiG to the verge
of bashfulness, utterly unaffected and
yet sincere, tender and thoughtful in
each and every utterance. beautiful
flower grown to perfection among the
rocks of this seldom visited island, un-
trained by conyentonality and unsul-
lied By the world! Il wonder how she
would act if suddenly dropped Into the
think Of her" Then, as he noted the
sad little droop Of her exquisite lips,
and as she, wondering at his silence,
turned her pleading eyes toward him,
there came into his heart in az instant
feeling that, despite her timidity and
her lack Of worldly wisdom, he would
value her love and confidence far
above any woman's be had ever met.
Miss Terry" he said gently, ''do you
know I fancy that living here, as You
have al! your lie, within sound Of the
sad sea waves, has woven little Of
their melancholy into your nature and
little Of their pathos into your eyes.
! thought SO the first time saw YOU,
and the more I see Of you the more
think it is So"
"l'he ocean does sound sad to me"
she said. land at times it makes me
feel blue. Then l am so much alone
and have no one In whom to confide
my feelings Mother would not un-
derstand me, and If father thought I
wasn't happy it would make him mis-
erable." Then, turning her pathetic
eyes full upon her questioner, she add
ed: "Did you ever think, Mr. Page, that
the sound Of the waves might be the
voices Of drowned people trying to be
heard? l believe every human being
has soul, and for all We know if they
have gone down into the ocean their
souls may be in the water and possibly
arc trying to speak to u.s."
"Oh, no, no, Miss Terry. That IS all
Imagination on your part and due to
your being too much alone with your