Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-01-10

which she naQ once DeeH prone, auu, III Ihe
desire to surround her charge with wholesome
influences, to strive for the attainment Of q
higher and better life than, without this in.
ceptive, she would ever have cared to lead.
But a darker time was coming, for which
they were totally unprepared.
Returning one night, about eleven o'clock,
from the theatre, Posy and her mother were
surprised to see, as they approached their
door, by little alley-way, which afforded
them means of entrance, light shining
through the window of one of their rooms.
As the key of the door, which vas always
kept locked during their absence, was in Mrs.
Manuel's pocket, they could not imagine how
it was that any one could have found their
way in.
"May be it's robber," whispered Posy,
fearfully. "Oh! nanny, take care how you
go in."
"Nonsense, honey. Why would robber
pick out our back.rooms to 60 into? If he
wanted to steal, he'd have gone to likelier
lookin' place, I guess" replied Mrs. Manuel.
MAYBE there's sickness in the house, and
Mrs. Cough" (Mrs. Cough was the landlady)
"bas come to get me to help"
Notwithstanding this suggestion, Posy clung
timorously, to her mothers skirts, as they
went in, finding the door unlocked, or rather
forced open. Nor were her fears without
foundation for Mrs. Manuel, as she stepped
across the threshold, uttered loud cry-a
cry, echoed by the young girl as she caught
sight of mans figure seated by the table.
He was a villainous looking man, with a
rough great-coat and slouch hat on, and he
was smoking pipe. He laid down the pipe
as the pair entered, and viewed them with a
sardonic smile.
$50, my DEAR" he said, stretching out his
hand to Mrs. Manuel, who stood trans6xed,
"you've come home at last! Ihope you mean
to welcome me as you oughtto
"Where-where did you come from ?" was
the tremulous rejoinder. The woman's face
had grown very white, and she had involun-
tarily extended an arm in front of Posy, as if
to bar her farther advance into the room.
"Where did come fromi Why, from my
last quarters, of course. Where did you come
from9 And who the devil is that young gal
you're tryin' to hide from me, there ? Let
me have look at her, will your" He rose
from his chair and made step forward, as he
spoke.
"Posy," muttered her mother, bending to-
ward her, and speaking in sharp, short,
breathless way, "Posy, run round to the front
door quick, and 60 to Mrs. Coughs room, and
stay there till I call you."
"Oh no, none O that" exclaimed the man,
springing towards them, SO as to prevent the
child from making her exit; adding with an
oath, as he shut to the door, "you amt ago
ing to slip out my way quite as easy as that,
little milk.face, can tell you. Who is she,
say?" be continued, with fierce grip on
the woman's arm, which made her shrink
with pain.
"she-she's child who-I'll tell you all
about her if you'll only have patience" Mrs.
Manuel answered with frightened, appeal.
ing look. He shook her violently in return,
uttering volley of oaths and abuse as he
did 80.
"Is she your child? answer me that" he
exclaimed. "You bag, you witch, tell me the
truth, or I'll crush every bone in your skin
do you hear?
"For Gods sake, don't hurt me, jim" said
the poor woman, alarmed at his menacing
look. "Only let me send the child upstairs
and I'll answer any questions you choose to
ask2"
"Is she your child, say?" he repeated,
more fercely than before. "Answer me that,
before you say another word"
"No-no-she's not my child indeed she's
not" the woman faltered forth, casting pit
eous look at Posy as she spoke. The latter
was terrified beyond measure at the situation
in which she found herself placed. She was,
in fact, too much overcome by her fears to
attach any Importance to her mothers words,
or even to understand them. Her only feel.
ing was desire that they might both escape
from the presence of this dreadful man.
[To BE Continued