Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1860-05-10

" aou, uCoi
sCome here
sHere I am, Joe,' said Nellie, placing
her hand upon bis shoulder.
g tYou want me to come in 2
'Yes, DEAR
well, the fact is, 1 don't think such
feat practicable just now without consider
able assistance, you OBSERVE
sJoe,' said Nellie, coaxingly, sdo, please
come in! Charlie and myself will helI
you
Come along, Joe,' said Charles, impa
|tiently. I'VE don't intend to stand here al
night to listen to your nonsense. Nellie
go in.' So saying, Charles gathered hi
arms around Benson and carried him, BY
main force, into the house. There, now !!
said Charles, .sit down there awhile, until
you feel better
'All right, old stump !-I'll take the
chair, and call the meeting to order, since
you express wish to thateffect.' And thus
saying, the poor inebriate dropped into a
chair, muttering some unintelligible non.
sense about the subject 'before the meeting.
Nellie, said Charles, observing his sister
weeping 60 in the other room and lie
down. I will sit up with Joe, or try to gel
him asleep
Il do not feel sleepy, Charlie
That's fact, said Benson, taking q
bottle from his pocket, and swaying his
body to and fro; that's my candid opinion
I move that the chair have recess of three
minutes, during which he be allowed tc
takea drink -
mo, no, Joe !! said Nellie, rushing tc
his and seizing his arm, NOW don't drink
any morep
That's motion quite, out oforder, my
DEAR said Benson, endeavoring to release
his wrist from Nellie's firm grasp. r
Benson said Charles, 'as I am living
man, you shall not drink any more.p and,
as he thus said, he snatched the bottle from
his hands and shattered it upon the hearth.
stone. In twinkling of an eye the liquid
sent up its blue, hellish flames, and, before
her brother could rush forward to prevent
it, Nellie's light garments were in blaze
and her slight form completely enveloped
in flames.
A shriek-a long, piercing agonizing
shrek, broke from the lips of Nellie, as the
fire curled around her body and came in
contact with her delicate skin. Charles
threw his arms around her; and throwing
her upon the floor, covered her with the
hearth-rug to smother the flames, while the
terrified husband staggered hither and thith
er, like madman, utterly unable to rende,
any assistance whatever.
The flames were finally subdued, but
alas poor Nellie was terribly burned; 81
much SO, in fact, as to be scarcely recog
nizable by her almost broken-hearted broth
er. Gently, amid her means and dspasmodi'
twitches, he conveyed the dear form to th'
bed and, kneeling down beside her, brok'
out in the most lanentable wailings of grief
Nellie poor, poor Nellie my own dea
sister! Oh my God has it come to this
and his whole frame shook under the infu
ence of his terrible grief.
what shall I do he suddenly exclaim
ed, starting to his feet. Icannot leave her
and yet she must have medical assistance ;
and the distracted man, ran into the mex
room to arouse Benson. The wretched hus
band was standing stock still in the centr
of the room as Charles entered. Not mus
Gle moved; even his eyes seemed fixed il
death /; and
''Like sta:ue solid set, .-..
And moulded in colossal calm"
he moved not-could not move-from be
meath the terrible weight of the sudden wo'
which had come down upon his heart.
Joe, what shall we do?' said Charles
For heaven sake arouse yourself, man.
Il am aroused' said Benson, looking
wildly around. s[ am sober, Charles quit,
sober now-ba, ha, hap Then steadily ant
slowly walking up to Charles, he continued
in low hollow tone of voice, that startled
him: You did it!'
4 did it, repeated Charles. mo, Mr.
Benson I snatched the bottle from you
hands for your good and poor Nellie's, too
But for Gods sake, Joe, run down th'
street and call in physician at once!'
go yourself; I shall not leave Nellie
poor little Nellie = and the eyes which hat
not known tears for many years, were nov
filled to overAoWing with the tides of sor
row and grief, far too mighty for the tongue
to tell or the pen describe.
X X X X
Nellie
The poor sufferer opened her eyes ant
looked up.
Don't you know me, Nellie?-poor, dea1
Nellie d!
Joep
Thank God she knows me- said Ben
son. 'Are you in much pain, dear?'
yes; but it will soon be over, Joe.'
Don't say so, Nellie Charlie has gone
for doctor; and maybe-Oh! knop he
will--do something to alleviate your pain.
Il am going to die, Joe.' said Nellie.
Poor thing! Don't say so, Nellie
what will become of me when you die?'-
Then burying his face in the pillow, he
groaned aloud and said. IF you should
die, Nellie, I shall nevor see you again, fol
the terrible thought of having rendered
your life so miserable and murdered you a
last, will drive Inc to desperation, ruin ani
hell. Oh how I wish 1 could die for you
when | am gone, Joe-and it will mo-
be very long now-'you must send little
Lily home to mother, and
Nellie, if you can love such wretch al