Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-01-20

hope of his returning. And yet, she dreaded
tv think of remaining there with only the do.
mestics for her protectors In the wild and
unsettled state of the country around, how
could she tell to what dangers she might, in
such, q lonely, situation, be- eiexposed = While
under her husbands guardianship, she had
been troubled with no fears. But without
him, the case would be very different. But
Oh! the bitter anguish of thinking be would
not return She tried to Danish the thought
it seemed too terrible for her to endure. =
On the morrow, Alasquez returned with
fatal news-he had been entirely unsuccessful
in his expedition No sign or trace had he
discovered of the missing man, though he had
carefully prosecuted his enquiries in every
quarter where there was the remotest chance
of his obtaining any clue to his disappearance.
"Then" said Esther, with the calmness of
despair, II shall sec him no more-he is lost
to me for ever" ......-:..-
The words, which sounded a-death.knell to
her own hope, had scarcely escaped her lips,
when sickening faintness seized her; cold
chill ran through her veins; the room swan
before her darkened eyes, and. total uncon-
ciousness came to her relief. . e.. .,5.. -,
Long hours of oblivion, in which the outer
world was as completely shut out from her
mental perception as though it did not exist,
followed this swoon. The sun had set and
risen again, ere. she once. more opened her
eyes upon surrounding objects; and wLcn she
did, it was some time before she could fun.v
comprehend what had happened. She lay in
l.. IL. .~.h,, :otn ,rb;oh tba Echt uo q ht ma r
TALLY admitted through the closed blinds.
Picciola sat near her pillow, noiselessly NOV
ing fan to and fro and an old Indian wo-
man lowered about, apparently engaged in
putting some things on the table to rights.
But while she looked and wondered, with q
halfstirred consciousness of something new
and strange in the existence to which she had
awakened, faint, weak cry saluted her ear
a cry that thrilled through every fibre of her
frame, and startled her into a sudden, keen
perception of one vivid reality, unknown to
her before. ..,- = ~.1 .. 3
"Oh bring it to me-" she cried, in tremu.
lous, eager tones And the old squaw, bust:
ling up to huge wicker-basket, that stood
near the fireplace, lifted from its pillowed
depths her baby-boy, and fetching him to the
bedside, laid him in her arms. ..' -
This event, happening at time when Es-
theirs nerves were 80 highly wrought as to be
in danger of failing, utterly, through their
unwonted tension, saved her, probably from
lapsing into state scarcely short of insanity,
and, by diverting her thoughts into new
channel, served to restore, in some measure,
the shattered faculties of mind and body to
a more healthy condition. The tender, sacred
mother-love, Just sprung into being, warmed
and revivi6ed her half fbroken heart, and kin
died within her fresh interest in life. This
child, which she received as gift from Heav-
en-, brought with it consolation which moth
ing else could impart./ And as she caressed
it, or hung over it while it slept, with yearn-
ing love no words could express, the tears that
would fall upon its little unconscious face
were not those of unmixed sadness; but the
memories which called them forth we're blend
ed with feeling of deep thankfulness, and a
promise of hone in the future. ceptred in The
tiny being which had taken so firm hold
upon her heart.
She rose up in due time and went about in
her changed household; subdued and sorrow
full indeed, yet bearing her trouble with pa
tieut resolution to endure, and an earnest en-
deavor to neglect no duty which presented it.
self to her to be fulfilled. Thus several weeks
passed by, without any new event of impor-
tance occurring, or any tidings arriving, to
break the monotony of this quiet life. Little
Paul-for so she called the child-grew and
throve like valley blossom. But his moth
ers beautiful face was pale and wan, and her
once beaming smila was seldom seen, or when
it was called forth, by some innocent baby
vile, cleaned with but faint reflection of its
former brightness, like moon-beam shining
through veil of mist.