Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-01-24

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belonged. But. Posy, you seemed to me one
of Gods angels, sent to save my soul, and l
couldn't let you go!"
"Mammy, my own mammya" was all poor
Posy could sob forth, in reply. She was too
much overcome by grief to take in the start
ling truth, all at once. She was bewildered
by it, without realizing its import.
GAY! call me so still" said the woman,
family. 81 likes to hear it, and it can't do
no harm. Maybe-you'll fnd-your own
mother. Posy, my precious, won't you say
prayer"
Feeling compelled to fulfill the request, the
poor child, though scarcely equal to the effort,
managed to falter, amid her sobs, through the
Lords Prayer. A kind neighbor coming in,
at the moment, asked Mrs. Manuel if she
would't like to see minister. She knew Of
one, who, she thought, would come.
"No-no I couldn't talk to none Of
'em-'twouldn't be no use. This chld's
minister enough for me-" was the reply.
And to Posy's weak hand she cung, as to an
anchor of refuge, through the long hours of
the day, as she slowly drifted onward toward
the dark shadows which would be lifted for
her no more on earth.
As evening approached she grew restless,
and kept looking anxiously out at the gath
ering dusk.
"They'll be missin' you at the theatre, Po'
sy," she said. You'd better 60 now--and
come back-when you're through"
"No, no, nanny, darling! Mr. Lacombe
said should stay with you now, all the time.
1 couldn't dance to night" said Posy, weep.
ing.
"He's good man, honey. There's some
on EN- as wouldn't let you off," said Mrs.
Manuel. She spoke more strongly than she
had done yet, and Posy was almost tempted
to hope that she might still recover. But it
was only feeble selfassertion Of that vital
power which was rapidly dying out, like,
the last flicker of an expiring flame. The
gray shadow of death already rested on her
face, which turned presently to her adopted
child with piteous, appealing look.
"It's COMMITS very near" she feebly
muttered, clinging more tightly to Posy's
hand. "Pray, Pcsy, pray ask Him-to
forgive"
Terrified, the girl bent over the pillow.
Her lips essayed in vain, at that moment, to
utter word, for all unread as she was in
the dread mystery hanging over her, she
felt, instinctively now, that the end had come.
A moment later, the hand that clasped hers
relaxed its hold; the halfraised form sank
gently hack on the pillow; and the struggling
soul, released from its lowly prison-house and
the dark clouds which had encompassed it,
escaped, let US hope, into the light of ever
lasting day.
There were not wanting those who, prompt
ed by charity that sought for no reward,
we're ready to give the aid of their services
in this hour of need, and Posy was not left
alone in her grief and desolation Of heart.
Later, when the performance at the theatre
was over, the manager himself came round
to see after her. He was truly kind
man at heart, Notwithstanding the touch of
native sharpness which he displayed in busi-
ness transactions, and the sight Of Posy, in
her forlorn surroundings, appealed to all the
sympathy he was capable Of feeling. But he
would not consent to her request to he allow
ed to stay until the funeral was over. 1t was
no fit place for her, he said, and she could do
no good there, now. So she went home with
him, as he desired, and the next day was al
lowed to attend the humble funeral, for
which she paid out of her own earnings, that
her adopted mothers body should not be con-
signed, at the city's expense, to a pauper's
grave.
1t was sort of satisfaction to her to do
it," Mr.. Lacombe said to his wife; "but she
shan't suffer by it. I'll take care to put it all
back after while. Well keep her now, Su-
san, out and out. She's good girl, and will
always do US credit"
So Posy stayed on with her present pro-
tectors, and in time came to occupy the posi-.
tion rather of daughter than anything else.
The manager was intensely proud of her tai
ents, while Mrs. Lacombe priced the qualities
of mind and heart which she had been, chief
ly, instrumental in developing. The young
girl repaid their kindness by warm affec.
ton, aud an earnest endeavor to meet their
wishes in all things. She strove to excel in
the profession which had been chosen for her,
loving it for the sake of her who had first
instructed her in it, and seeing no evil in a
line of life to which she had been bred up
from early childhood while at the same time
she passed many of her spare hours in read.
ing and studying, thus gradually mastering
the difficulties with which, through long neg
lect and ignorance, her mental progress was
surrounded. She could now read and write
correctly, and her speech was no longer what
it had formerly been, replete with uncouth
terms and grammatical errors. She looked.
moved and spoke like lady, and no one, ig-
norant of her profession, would have dreamed,
on seeing her, that she was anything else.
But still-poor PoSy she wore the tights
and spangles, and was but dancer after all.
CHAPTER VIII.
Let us return to Helen Forester, whom we