Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-01-02

1t would have been strange, indeed, if they
had not loved her. During the ten years
which she had spent in their home, filling as
completely the position of daughter and sis
ter as if she had been born to it, no fond, un-
selfish act, no gentle and dutiful ministry, had
been wanting on her part to testify how truly
her heart responded to the kindness which
had been extended, freely, to her from the
6rst. Mr.. and Mrs. Crofton had never, out
wardly, shown the slightest mark of favor to
their children, which had been withheld from
her, from the day when, a dependent orphan,
she had come beneath their roof, and well had
their generosity been repaid. Her bright and
buoyant disposition shed sunny warmth over
the household, and if her native activity did
not infuse itself into the more indolent minds
which surrounded her, it, at least, made itself
felt in way which they could all admire and
envy. The love of ease was, perhaps, the
strongest characteristic of the Crofton family.
Even its head, though forced, in the business
world, to exert his faculties in order to win
success and prosperity, seemed, when once in
his own home, to lapse into the same condi-
ton of luxurious idleness which was his wife
and children's normal state. For Mrs. Crof:
ton, perhaps, there was some excuse. She
was really not strong or capable Of much ex-
ertion, and Mildred, she declared, was, her
greatest comfort in life; she was always so
ready to wait on her, and so clever and un-
derstanding in her way Of doing things.
Alice was three years younger than Mildred,
and Ethel, four; but this difference in their
ages seemed really greater than it was, from
the contrast between their childish incapable
ty and her womanly helpfulness and self'as-
sertion. She was, at the time Of the com.
mencement of my story, nearly twenty, and
the sisters respectively seventeen and sixteen
years of age
Mildred's history was not common one.
Her father, an English officer, had married
in early life, an accomplished and beautiful
young lady, against the will of her parents,
who had, in consequence, cut off all commu-
nication between their daughter and them
selves. Notwithstanding this evidence of
their anger, Helen Rathbone had lived a hap
py life with her husband, for twelve years,
during which time several children were born
to them, of which, however, only Mildred, the
second one, survived; the others dying in very
early infancy. Mildred was, of course, great
pet, and brought up with all the indulgence
compatible with rather limited means, for Col.
Rathbone had but his pay to depend upon.
When she was nine years old, her first great
trouble befell her. Her fathers regiment was
ordered to India, and the question arose:
What was to be done with her I? It was alike
anguish to Mrs. Ratbbone to remain separated
from her husband and to desert her child, yet
it seemed as though one of the two alterna.
tives must be chosen, for neither parent could
bear the idea of exposing little Mildred to the
perils of the Indian climate, or the many
other. disadvantages which residence in that
country would entail upon them. After a
struggle, which, though severe, was necessari.
ly brief, Mrs. Rathbone determinedto accom-
pany her husband, promising herself to re.
turn to England within year, to assure her.
self, personally, of the welfare Of the little
girl, who, in the mean time, was to be placed
in quiet country boarding-school, among
people she knew and esteemed. Now it was
that the true heroism of Mildred's character
developed ITSELF Although suffering bitterly
from the knowledge that she was to be parted
from her father and mother, of whom she was
devotedly fond, she resolved to soften their
grief, especially her mothers, by appearing
outwardly, as cheerful and calm as was posi-
BILE under the circumstances, that the con-
sciousness of her pain might not add to the
keenness of that which they felt; and she was
rewarded by finding that they understood and
appreciated her efforts, and were comforted
by her selfcontrol. The day of separation
arrived, and she received their farewell en-
brace; never, as it proved, to be reunited to
them in this world.
The voyagers arrived safely at their desti.
nation, and some months elapsed without any
event of Importance occurring. Mildred con-
tinued well and comparatively happy at
school, and frequent letters passed between
her parents and herself. One day, however,
as Col. Rathbone was riding out, accompa-
MED by few of bis men, on an exploring
expedition into what was supposed to be a
hostile section of country, he was shot by
concealed foe, and borne home insensible to
his wife, in whose arms he soon after expired
from the effects of his wound. Mrs. Rath-
bone we'll nigh sank under the shock; but
the remembrance of her daughter came to
her aid, and for the sake of their dear absent
child, she tried to rally her powers and stem
the tide of sorrow which overwhelmed her.
While making her preparations (Which she
Immediately did) to return to England, she
received letter informing her that her father
was dead, and that her mother, desiring to
heal the painful breach which had so long ex-
listed between them, was ready to receive her
once more if she would return to her old
home to live This letter was written in ig-
norance of Col. Rathbone's death, and also of
the fact that Mildred was alive; for the sepa-
ration had been so complete between the two
families, that the old people, only receiving
vague tidings occasionally, and from casual
sources, of their daughter, supposed that none
of her children had survived their early in
fancy, but had all alike shared the same fate.
Now this letter was very important one,