Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-03-21
Helen seemed to hover, like an angel, over her

thus before, looking almost exactly ike ner
true self, even while she had no knowledge of
her existence. Dreaming of her now, she
seemed to clasp her by the hand, and move
airily with her through infinite space. Around
them were scattered the golden stars, and far
below they could family see the fields and
woods of the dim, distant earth. Presently,
multitude of beings, in glistening white
robes, appeared advancing to meet them.
One, approaching nearer than the rest, took
her by the hand, and Helen whispered to her
"That is our mother" She looked with min
gled awe and trembling joy into the seraphic
face, and her mother softly whispered to her
"Ada GOMEZ At the same moment, Helen's g
hold upon her relaxed, and she felt herself
slipping away, down, down, while everything
around her suddenly grew dark and confused.
She awoke with the sensation of an icy hand
being laid upon her heart, and, in frighten-
ed voice, she cried aloud for Margaret, who
slept on a couch near her bed.
Margaret rushed to her, and in moment
more Helen, too, was aroused. Posy looked
from one to the other, her eyes resting longest
on her sisters face. She was very white, and
an unnatural light glittered in her eyes; but
she tried to smile, and pressed Helen's hand,
as the latter kissed her, with agonized tender
ness, again and again.
ut has come, DEAR" she family said. "We
won't make our journey together. I've long
er one to make"
"Oh! Margaret" cried Helen, in an ago
nv, "can we do nothing? Can't the doctor
Gomez"
Margaret shook her head. ut would be
no use," she solemnly answered. "Nothing
could do her any good now. It's the end, and
she knows it."
Posy overheard the words. "Yes, it's the
end," she whispered, "and I'm not sorry
except for leaving you, dear Helen-my own
sister"
They clasped each other close. Helen, by
a mighty effort, crushed back her swelling
grief, that in this last supreme moment, she
might still be Posy's comfort and support.
Quickly the young life was ebbing away.
Each moment her breath came more family
and futteringly; her eyes grew more rapt and
yearning in their look and though they we're
fixed on her sisters face, their gaze seemed to
stretch far, far away, into the unseen world.
For little space she continued thus, while
the two figures near her, hushed and breath
less, scarcely dared to stir. Then, with sud.
den movement, she half raised herself from
her pillow, and, with an upward glance, she
cried, in clear, joyful tone
ooh motherl Oh! how beautiful How
changed!'
In another instant, she had fallen back on
Helen's arm. Her lips were still parted in
smile her eyes still fixed in their heavenward
gaze but the spirit which had given life and
radiance was gone. In that last moment
of her earthly existence, glimpse had doubt
less been revealed to her of one whom, for
many years, she had loved and trusted as her
guide and stay, and who, having cherished her
with tenderest affection on earth was permit
ted, it might be, to be the first to welcome
her to the home, which, through the child's
innocent ministry, she had attained.
"She is an angel, and we mustn't wish her
back" whispered Margaret, as she reveren-
TALLY closed the beautiful eyes. Helen neith-
or heard nor replied. She was crushed and
stupe6ed by her sudden, startling loss.
Some months later, Madame Preville was
sitting in her high. backed red chair, with
Nanette, now grown very old, purring softly
in her lap, keeping time with the gentle click,
click, of Madame's needles as they moved
through one of Victors woolen socks. The
clock ticked on the mantel; the fire tinkled
in the chimney. The silence was unbroken,
save by these gentle, domestic sounds. 1t was
all very comfortable and holnelike, just as
it had been when Helen was there. But the
old lady seemed to find the loneliness oppres.
sive for after little while she rose, letting
puss slide, much to her Indignation, to the
floor, and moving to the fireplace, commen-
ced pushing about the half:consumed logs
in restless sort of way.
30 dear it's very dull" she said, aloud.
"Iv'e been thinking so much of that child, all
this afternoon. wonder if shall ever see
her again ?"
The "child," of course, meant Helen, who
was constantly in her thoughts. But this
particular thought must surely have sprung
from an inspiration for she had scarcely given
it utterance when the parlor door opened,
and Helen herself stood before her
"Mon entant, mon angel! cried Madame,
in transport "And is my prayer answer
ed, and hast thou come back to me once
more?"
Yes, she had come back, as she told her
old friend, to stay with her and take care OF
her for long time just as long as she would
have her. Fond as she had been of her uncle,
she could not be happy or comfortable now in
his home, and he had permitted her, in return
ing to France, to follow the dictates of her
own heart.
There was so much to be told so many
questions to be asked and replied to! Mad
anne, touching Heleu's mourning dress with
an anxious look, had made with her eyes, the
inquiry she would not put in words, aud the
story of Posy's life had to be related to her.
Helen wept as she dwelt on the circumstances
of their re. union, and the brief, happy period
they had been permitted to pass together; and