Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-08-16
an 0rigiual Stnrg.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
A PRINCESS ASTRAY.
BY MRS, HENRY DEAS.


The ruddy freight shed its pleasant glow
over the walls of the cozy little parlor, in
which, on bleak winters evening, Roger
Laselle and his young wife we're sitting-she
engaged with her needle, he reading aloud the
much. priced newspaper, lately brought by the
mail.csrrier, which conveyed tidiugs from the
outer world, every item whereof was precious
to those dwelling in that semi.civilized spot
of creation, California mining town, in
"early days." A tempting-looking magazine
Law on the table, waiting for Esther Laselle to
investigate its contents; but she was too polite
to take more than peep between its uncut
leaves, until her husband should have disposed
of the political and other news, which ne
could never thoroughly enjoy unless he shared
it with her.
"Here's fashion.letter, my dear" he said,
as be turned to the third page. --latest
modes from Paris-loves of bonnets, and so
on. dare say you'll like to read that, pres:
emily. 1t doesn't specially interest me, so LII
skip to something else."
"Much good will it do me to read of loves
of bonnets, indeed" rejoined Esther, turning,
in her pretty hands, the useful'looklng, home
ly garment she was manufacturing for Rogers
wear, and regarding it, at the same time, with
somewhat doubtful air. "Ishould be better
satisfied if could gain little enlightenment
in regard to cutting out clothes in decent
shape. However, am beginning to learn.
don't think Paris modes would help me
very much, in this case. Hark wasn't that
a knock I heard p
"Only the wind, I fancy" said her hus-
band, whose attention was just then too fully
absorbed by list Of, prices current, under
the interesting heading of "Commercial In
telligence," to be easily diverted. "Dear me !
what surprising fluctuations in the grain mar
ket. Listen here, Esther; from January 4th
to January 9Th, the decline in wheat"
az beg your pardon" said Esther, throw
ing down her work as she rose from her seat,
"but that certainly is some one knockipg-l
knew was right. Wait I'll open the door"
She did so, and the tall figure of an Indian,
wrapped in a blanket, stepped across the
threshold. In answer to the cordial greetings
of Roger and his wife, to whom he appeared
to be we'll known, he gravely inclined his
head, and marching up, without word, to
the fire. place, he unceremoniously took pos
session of the chair Esther had just vacated
"Old Tom" was privileged character in these
parts, and no one ever considered it liberty
in him to look after his own comfort; and
Mrs. Laselle good, humoredly drew forward
another seat, saying as she did SO
"What have you got under your blanket,
Tom ? You seem to have something wrapped
up there. Is it present for usY'
"Good present." replied the Indian, as he
gently opened the folds of the blanket, and
displayed to her astonished eyes little white
baby, rolled in an old shawl, lying comforta-
bly, asleep on his arm! Bending forward he
deposited it very carefully on corner of the
rug. Then resuming his upright position,
slowly nodded his head twice or thrice glanc'
ing from one to the other of his hosts, and
breathing, at the same time, long. relieved
sigh, as if heavy responsibility had just been
lifted from his mind.
"Why, where in the world" said Roger,
staring at the unexpected apparition as if it
had dropped from the clouds, "where in the
world, Tom, did you pick up that-thing" "
81 fnd," was the laconic reply.
"Thing, indeed The dear, pretty little
creature" cried Esther, all her warm, woman
ly compassion beaming in her eyes as she
tenderly lifted the babe from its improvised
couch, which was, indeed, somewhat too close
to the fire to be desirable one. "Oh! Ro-
ger, look, it is waking up. Oh ! what beau
ty! Where did you find it, Tom?"
"By the hill, down yonder. I walk along,
hear cry, look around, and find this-all
alone, almost froze up. Ipick it up and make
it warm"
"Oh what cruelty to desert it. And on
such night. Poor, helpless, forsaken little
babeP
II say to myself-you kind people; plenty
room, plenty room in your house; white child
no good in Injun house; l bring it to you,
you take it. May be your Good Spirit send
it to you. You don't keep it, it will die. l
no carry it away again"
"Well, that Is cool" began Roger, perplex-
ed, and uncertain whether to laugh or be an
gry at the air of decision with which the last
sentence was uttered but Esther interrupted
him.
"What he says is quite true, Roger. The
little thing will perish if we send it away-he
can't take care of it. May I-shall we keep
it? Please, say yes-won't you, Roger"
esther? Do you consider"
eyes, yes. I consider everything-how
lonesomeit is here sometimes, and how often
YOU have wished for young faces to brighten
our hearth-and now perhaps this little one
is sent in answer to the wish," said Esther, with
a culver in her voice. "Don't let US refuse
the gift. We cannot tell how much comfort it
may bring u.s."
"It comes in rather an unexpected form,"
said her husband, drily.
$50 it does but that does not lessen its val
ue. Look, how it turns its pretty bright eyes
toward you, as if it wanted to plead its own
cause! Roger, you cannot refuse"
Mr.. Laselle was man deliberate in action
and slow in speech. He bestowed critical,
not wholly uninterested, glance upon the small