The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-09-16

per Of protest She ran back to the
reception room. 4 founding! And
on her doorstep! 1t was incredible.
What in the world should she do? 1t
prestige Of the school. Some one had
mistaken her select private school
for a farmhouse. 1t was frightful-
Then she unwrapped the child. 1t
was about g year old, dimpled and
golden haired. 4 thumb was in its
rosebud mouth and its blue eyes
looked up trustfully into her own.
why, you cherub!" cried the old
maid, a strange turmoil in her heart
She caught the child to her breast and
then for the first time noticed the
thick envelope pinned to the child's
cloak. She put the baby into a chair
and broke open the envelope.
Name this child Florence Gray. I
will send annually liberal sum for
her support and reclaim her on her
eighteenth birthday. The other half
Of the inclosed bracelet will identify
NE. Treat the girl well, for I shall
watch over her in secret"
Into the fixed routine Of her hum
drum life had come a mystery, a tan
TALKING. fascinating mystery. She had
read Of foundlings left on doorsteps
from paper covered novels confs-
Gated from her pupils-but that one
should be placed upon her own re-
spectacle doorstep! Suddenly she
smiled down at the child and the
child smiled back. And there was
nothing more to be done except to
bow before the DEGREES Of fate. Like
all prim old maids, her heart was full
Of unrequited romance, and here was
something she might spend Its floods
upon without let or hindrance. Al
ready she was hoping that the man or
woman who had left 1t might never
come back
The child grew. Regularly each
year, upon a certain date, Miss FsrloW
received a registered letter with
money. These letters came from al
parts Of the world; always the sane
sum, always the same lne-"l am
watching"
Thus seventeen years passed; and
to Susan Farlow each year seemed
shorter than the one before. For she
loved the child with all her heart She
had not trained young girls all these
years without becoming adept in the
art OF reading the true signs Of breed
ing. There was no ordinary blood IN
Florence; the fact was emphasized
BY her exquisite face, her small hands
and feet, her spirit and gentleness'
And now, at any day, some one with a
broken bracelet might come for her
AS the days went on the heart OF Su'
san Farlow grew heavy.
Never mind, aunty," said Florence;
"I shall always come back to see,you.'
She meant 1t, poor child; but no"
was she to know the terrors which Lay
beyond the horizon?
The house of Stanley Eargreave
IN Riverdale, vas the house OF no or
6inary rich man. Outside 1t was sim
pie enough, but within you learned
what kind Of a man HargreaVe was
There were rare Ispahans and Saruks
on the floors and tapestries on the
walls, and here and there a fine paint
ing. The library itself represented
fortune. Money had been laid Out
,avishly but lever wastefully. 1t was
the home Of a scholar, dreamer, 6
vide traveller.
IL the library stood the master OF the
house, idly lingering some papers
which lay on the study table. he
shrugged at some unpleasant thought
settled his oyercoat about his shoul
ders, took up his hat, and walked from
the room, frowning slightly. The but
ler. who also acted in the capacity o.
valet always within call when his
master was about, stepped swiftly tc
the hall door and opened 1t.
az may be out late, Jones" sale
Hargreave.
"Yes, sir"
Harsreave stared into his face keen
", as if trying to pierce the grave
face to learn what was going on be
hind it.
How icng have you been with neT
Fourteen years, sir.
Some cay ! shall need YOU"
"My life has always been az you'