Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-01-01

Mark that, my lady!"
The bitter words did not reach Lide's ears
and she walked along the passage.way ano
paused at the door of another apartment, oc
cupied by the "clothes.cleaner," Mrs. Din
widdie, and knocked hesitatingly at the door
"Come in, come in !' cried the Cheerful
voice of woman from within, and Lide en-
tered The occupants of the room were
hale, hearty old woman and a young girl abou
seventeen years of age. The latter was busy
kneading dough for the evening loaf, the
former patching the skirt Of a worn and faded
but cleanly calico dress.
AS Lide entered she cried out in surprise
"My goodness, girl, what ails you? You
look like you'd seen ghost you're so pale
Lide did not answer Immediately, but sank
into the nearest chair, gasping for breath.
20, granny, she's dying!' cried the girl
leaving her bread-trough and running toward
Lide, and catching her just as she was about
to slide off her chair
"Mercy sakes alive" exclaimed the old
lady in turn, pouring out a glass of water and
hastily holding it to Lide's white lips, who
looked up after moment with the mournful
est smile on earth.
81 am better-I was only faint and dizzy
Mrs. Dinwiddie 1t is over now; only my
brain throbs so, and my heart beats tc
suffocation" She put her hand to her head
as she spoke.
"What's the matter with your" asked the
girl, whose name was Benna, in sympathetic
voice.
"You'd better be gone, daughter" said the
old woman aside to her grandchild.
"No, Benna, no." returned Lide "Don't
notice me just now; I'll be all right in few
moments. Go on with your task; after you
put in your loaf there'll be time to talk. ]
had rather wait"
"But"-objected both together.
"Please !" said Lide, earnestly.
The girl went back to her bread-trough
and commenced kneading the dough energetl
cally, while the old woman took up her sewing
and silently stitched away at it. For some
seconds there was profound silence. Then
Lide began in trembling accents
"Mrs. Dinwiddie, I believe that you and
Benna here like me-"
"Like youw Mrs. Dinwiddie interrupted
Lide's speech with the exclamation, dropping
her work and lifting her hands-"Ake you
my dear heart, we love you, dearly-don't we
Benna?
"That we do, granny. We're humble folk
and not read we'll like Miss Lide, but we love
her dearly" said the girl, with an affectionate
smile.
II know it-dear friends" answered Lide
and then for few moments she did not give
any additional response, but sat with her eye;
fixed on vacancy. She was deadly pale, and
kept pressing her hand to her head, as though
the pain was in her brain.
"Mrs. Dinwiddie," she said, at length, 81
have come to tell yea that I feel strange
and terrible presentiment that something aw
full is to happen to me-"
LANDS alivc!" exclaimed the old woman
"you mean you feel the shadder O somethin
stealin' over ye?-somethin' sad, and moi
PLEASANT"
"Just that, Mrs. Dinwiddie,"- responded
Lide, with deep, involuntary sigh.
II am to be disgraced or to die very soon,
said Lide, solemnly.
"Disgraced ?-Die ?" repeated Mrs. Din
widdie, running the needle under her nail ii
her tribulation, while Benna upset the cuE
of melted lard on her bread-trough; "and is il
that ye mean?"
"It is," she answered, hurriedly.
20, Miss Lider' cried Benna, in reproach
full tones that aUT What should make
you die?"
"Or be disgraced-as good gal as ye is ?
chimed in the grandmother.
"No matter I want you and Bcnna to make
me a promise"
"a promise? Fifty of 'em, if you like, an
I'll keep 'em tool"
"When I am dead"
"Don't talk that way, Miss Lide," CRIED
Benna. "You in'tagoing to die-you're toe
young and pretty, and smart. Don't talk
about tits all notion
Lide shook her head with great gravity anc
said earnestly
"It is not notion, my friends. Now lister
to me. When I am dead, promise me thai
you will let no one approach me, except in
your presence"
"But your sister-she will have right
miriam Halstead? Yes that is true, fol
she is my sister; but it is from Miriam, living
or dead, that would be free"
"What mean ye by that? said Mrs. Din
widde.
"What mean ye?" chimed in Benna.
"You will both remember what I say Mi
riam Halstead wants me to dishonor mysel
for two hundred dollars, and don't believe
if were dead, that even my corpse would bt
sacred from her desecrating touch. Dom
forgetw And so saying, Lide rose and slow
ly left the room, leaving her two faithful
friends staring at each other in amazcmen
and horror.
"She looks wild Did ye notice her eyes
granny? My poor loaf amt half made, sh'
kinder startled me So"
"She did look awful qucerT said Mrs Din
widdie, squeezing her thumb, under the mai
of which she had run her needle. Whateve
can all her? I wonder if she amt a dream
ing about Miriam"
"Dreaming?" I'll warrant not, granny
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