Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-03-25
CHAPTER III.
ALICE GETS ACQUAINTED WITH HER NEW
pETATIVES

RELATIVES.
"Isuppose you're both ready for breakfast,
said Mrs. Fielding, when the various greet
ings had been exchanged. "Lay your thing
down on that table, child; you can take then
up stairs by and by. My! How white yol
look" she exclaimed, as Alice, removing hel
hat, afforded full view of her face; "hav'
you been sick?'
mo, maam."
"She's tired and used up, reckon" sale
Mr.. Fielding, laying kind hand on he
head. "Country air and country fare vii
soon bring roses to her cheeks again. Come
in to breakfast, little one, and let's see wha
appetite you can find for your aunt's biscuits
and corn.cakes. They're worth eating, car
tell you"
Alice silently followed into the next room
where tempting g-looking meal awaited them
Mrs. Fielding was capital house-keeperr
and prided herself on her cookery and though
there was sable genius who was supposed tc
preside over the culinary department, the
mistress active spirit would not suffer her tc
leave it entirely to her care. White, puffy
biscuits and breads of various descriptions
fried chicken, and crisp, curly slices of bacon
fresh eggs, and huge goblets Of delicious but
ter-milk, looked sufficiently appetising tc
tempt the weary Alice, who was really il
need of refreshment; for she had eaten scarce
ly enough for bird during the last three OF
four days, and was worn out with excitement
and fatigue Her uncle kept piling fresh
supplies on her plate, nor was Mrs. Fielding
deficient in her attention to her wants; and
though she found it impossible to accomplish
as much as they seemed to desire, she man,
aged to make good meal, and felt consider
ably the better for it. Her cousins, mean
while, stared at her in the intervals of eating,
especially the younger ones, who seemed to
regard her as natural curiosity of some
sort, which had come among them. Charley
and Bob being the most expeditions of the
party, finished their meal first, and slipped
off into the parlor, where they prowled around
the table on which Alice's parcels had been
deposited, and sought, by peeping, to discover
their contents, having a suspicion that their
father had supplied her with something nice
on the way.
81 bet this is candy" said Bob, feeling one
package with his finger. "Do you think she
Will give us any, Cnafley
"If she amt very mean, she will, J." said his
brother. "What funny looking bundle
this is! Oh, Bob, do look It's bonnet
What a queer old thing. wonder fits her
Sunday rig" And as the paper, which was
not very securely fastened, came open, Char
ley found it i'm possible to resist the tempta
ton to "have some fun" and perching the
bonnet on his head, walked up to looking
glass which hung between the windows, tc
contemplate the effect. 1t was certainly com
ical enough, and the young gentleman was SC
delighted with his appearance, and the ap
plause of his devoted follower and admirer
Bob, that he commenced parading up and
down and assuming various fantastic attitudes
to display himself to the best advantage, and
was quite unconscious of the approach o1
some of the party from the breakfast-room
until shout of laughter from Bob, in which
the others Joined, made him look round
He caught light of Alice in the doorway, and
attempted to snatch his head gear off, but he
had tied the strings under his chin, and they
slipped into a knot; and though he tugged al
it with very red face he could not get ii
loose.
Alice stood for a moment perfectly motion
less, and her face grew deathly white. Then
in sudden fury, she rushed forward with di-
lated and flashing eyes, and struck the often
der violent blow She could not help it
the spectacle had proved too much for her
equanimity. To see her mothers bonnet that
she had so carefully guarded, and brough ht
away to secure it against all risk Of unholy
handling, thus pulled about by rude boy
and laug ghed at by the rest! Every drop OF
her blood seemed to boil over at what, in the
first moment of passion, appeared to her like
deliberate and cruel insult, instead of the
idle prank Of mischiefloving urchin, who Of
course had not the smallest idea of the ten
derness of her associations with the object Of
his fun.
81 say you hit too hard; you are mean
spiteful thing" said Charles, as, having sue
ceeded in Kidding himself of his encumbrance
he rubbed his shoulder with wry face But
Alice did not heed him. Trembling from head
to foot, she smoothed and Strengthened the
bent and ill-used bonnet, which was certainly
not improved by the rough treatment it hac
Just received and, still holding it in her hand
made her exit by the front door, not knowing
and not caring whittier she went, so as sht
could only escape from the presence of hel
| tormentor.
: "Charley, you ought to be ashamed ofyour
SELF" said Carry, who, though she had laughed
with the others at first, felt very sorry tha
Alice should be vexed and offended on hel
first arrival in their midst. allow could you
make fun of her things in that way ?"
"Goodness, sis, auas that old thing really
hers? 1t was too big for me, know. Oh
hope she'll wear it on Sunday. Won't the
folks at meeting stareT
"You had no business to meddle with it
anyhow" said Carry; and leaving the culprl
to explain the state of affairs to their mother
who just then made her appearance on the
scene, to inquire into the cause of the "racket,
she went off in search Of Alice, whom, attel
some difficulty, she discovered under tree II
the orchard, where she lay on the ground with
her face buried in her arms, sobbing as if hel
heart would break. With many persuasive
words she succeeded, at length, in somewhat
quieting her excitement, and inducing her tc
listen to her explanation, that indeed, Charley
| had meant no harm, that he dearly loved
playing tricks, and would have served any
of their things in the same way, if he hao
got chance.
eff it had been mine, I wouldn't care,
sobbed Alice, whose overcharged heart felt tht
need of relieving itself of part of its burden
and could not but respond to Carry's sympa
! thy and kindness.
"Wasn't it yours?" asked the latter, in sur
prise.
"No-it was my mother's-she always wore
it" and breaking down again, in an agony
of grief, she wept so violently that her cousin
almost frightened at the display of such ex