Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-01-14

them2 The we'll near the house was emptied
the pond was dragged, the woods for mile:
around were thoroughly explored, but ii
vain. Could the river, which ran mile from
their house, have disclosed the dark secret
from its cruel depths? Alas for the little
one, had she fallen in there! The deep ano
rapid current would soon have swept her fa1
away, beyond all hope of rescue or discovery
When finally they were constrained to ac
cept the conclusion that their precious chilo
was irrevocably gone from them, profound
and despairing gloom settled in the hearts Of
the forlorn parents, and over the whole house
hold of which she had been the sunshine and
delight. Old Dinah, the faithful nurse, tor
mented by feeling of remorse and self-re
proach for having left the child for an instant
during the absence of the father and mother
even to 60 on necessary errand, literally fret
ted herself to death for the misery of think
ing herself in measure the cause of the ca
tastrophe "a feeling which her kind mistress
in vain endeavored to dispeD joined to hel
intense griefat the loss of her petted charge
threw her into low fever, from the effects Of
which she never recovered.
A few days before her DEATH as Mrs Bland
ford, having come in to administer some med
icine to her, was sitting by the bedside, the
old woman unburthened her heart to her mis-
tress in regard to subject on which it had
long been sore.
"Missus," she said solemnly, 81 wants to
say word to you fore the Lord calls me
away. wants to warn you in time that
you've got danger and trouble ahead of you
unless you send that strange child out of your
house."
"What strange child, Dinah?"
THAT Estelle, missus, as you calls her. |
tell you there's evil in her; and b'lieve in
my soul she was the cause of my blessed
chile's goin' away. I've always thought so
and think so yet. I b'lieve she 'ticed her of
somewhere, and then she got lost, or some ac
cident happened to her."
Mrs. Blandford wept bitterly at this men
tion of her darling but she was not convinced
by Dinahs representations.
81 think you misjudge Estelle," she replied
gently II know you don't like her, Dinah
but she is not bad child. I never saw her
do an unkind thing to-to my poor little LOST
angel. Carrie was fond of her, toe"
"Missus, I tell you there's no good in her
She's underhand and 'ceitful in her ways.
wouldn't trust her pins length out Of my
reach. You think old Dinah's fool, maybe
or bad-hearted, to talk in this way; but love
you, Missus, and don't want to 60 out Of
this world thinkin' you'll come to trouble
fresh trouble, I mean, for the Lord knows you
have had enough already-if word of mine
could make you watchful against it."
Mrs. Blandford repeated this conversation
to her husband afterward; but they both
agreed in attributing Dinahs ideas to strong
natural prejudice against Estelle, now perhaps
increased by sickness and trouble of mind
and attached no Importance to them.
Carries old maumer died and was buried
and Estelle felt that she had gotten rid of an
enemy, and took no part in the grief which
everybody else in the house felt for her loss
No real part, that is She did, indeed, profess
sorrow, feeling, instinctively, that neglect tc
do so would retard her advance in the favor
of her adopted parents; for they bid bel
now consider them as her parents, and cal
them by those sacred names which, hitherto
they had heard only from the lips of theil
own children. "Uncle" and "aunt' were
changed to "father" and "mother," little va
ration from the tender, childish appellatives
which must still belong, exclusively, to the
memory of their lost Carrie, yet seeming tc
draw them together in closer bond than il
this outward form of relationship were neg
lected
1T seems providence Of God," said the
bereaved mother, "that we should be allowed
to keep no children of our own therefore il
must be that this poor orphan has been given
to US to supply their place as far as she can
and feel that it is our duty to treat her ir
all respects as though the relationships be
tween us were real one."
eve may yet have other children" rejoin
ed her husband "Still, even in that case Is
telle shall retain the position in which We
have placed her."
II dare not desire to become mother,
said Mrs. Blandford mournfully; "for if
have other children, it is likely that they, too
will share the fate of those who have gone be
fore. 1t is Gods will that [ should be al
Rachel; but must strive not to murmur
though the cup is bitter one indeed"
She did turn for comfort, when the first
keenness of her loss had been somewhat sot
tened by time, to Estelle, her adopted daugh
ter, fondly hoping to find in her affection ano
tenderness balm for her wounded and desc
lated heart. And Estelle seemed to give hel
what she craved. She manifested extreme
fondness for her, and appeared solicitous IL
every way to please her. She was remark
ably bright and quick-witted little creature
and learned with wonderful rapidity to adap
herselfto the tastes and wishes of those whose
favor she desired to win. 1t was this adapt
bilty to circumstances, perhaps, that poor ole
Dinah, with a clearer insight into her nature
than any one gave her credit for, had called
"ceitfulness," viewing it with anything but
approval or admiration.
Uncle Richard, in his beautiful home, a
"Silverlake," felt poignant sorrow at the news
of the calamity which had befallen his broth
er's household. Carrie, as has been told, wa:
an especial pet and favorite Of his and he