Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-11-25
The Stary Teller.
WILLIE'S EARNINGS.
A STORY OF woMAN's DEVOTION.
swine, grapes, oranges r

swine, grapes, oranges!'
The delicate looking girl repeated the words
slowly and sadly, as she quietly ascended the
stairs that led to the sick room. On the
landing she halted a moment to brush OIL tive
great tears that trembled upon her eyellds
and then choking down sob, she softly opened
the door and advanced to the bedside
The sufferer had fallen into light slum
ber, and the tears that she would have driven
back, had he been awake to see them, now
raining down her cheeks as she noticed how
ghastly white was the face, how sunken his
ewes, how thin and pinched were his lips.
ale will, he must die" she breathed to
herself, as, turning away, she went with
noiseless step into the next room; "tor how,
ho,p can get the money to buy anything for
him that he really needs? Wine, grapes and
oranges Oh, how easy it is for physicians
to tell what their patients need-but how
terribly, how fearfully hard, for their nurses
to get it! What can [ do what shall l DO Z
as Alfred worse?"
"No, darling at least I think not. The
doctor was here little while ago and said
he was doing as we'll as we could expect. Al
be needs now is nourishing food Oh Will
lie, if there was some way that we could get
wine, and grapes and oranges"
And the tears started again.
eyes, Willie; and they cost so much. And
then l must pay the rent, and"
But her voice failed her, and in the convul.
sive sobs that shook her whole frame, there
was a bitter, bitter story of wants that her
slender fingers could never hope to supply.
"Don't, Lillie-don't cry so. Only say
that you will let me stop away from school
this afternoon, and I'll earn money enough to
buy him some oranges, at least. know can.
Won't you let me, Lillie?"
What could such little fellow as you
do?" And tender pity settled in her eyes
as she glanced at his slight figure and slender
fingers. :,
II could run an errand carry bundle
and carpet bag-oh, could do something !;
l know I could Do, sis, say yes-just this
oncew
And he coaxed until he had won reluc.
tant consent. Then, eating his slice OF bread
and butter, and making very sure that his face
and hands were clean, and his hair neatly
brushed, he kissed his sister, said goodbye
in a cheerful tone, and went OUT
"Have a fly, sir?-fy, sir?-hy, sir2-car-
ry you to any part"
Ralph Belmont found his exit from the
station prevented by three burly hack-drivers,
each the owner of stentorian voice and
heavy whip, which was brandished to the i'm
minent peril of many poor travellers head
and shoulders.
"No," said he impatiently motioniug at the
same time to make way, and adding, under
breath to himself; "and if | did could ask
no one Mo-" lifting his voice as the third
and most persistent fellow of the three laid
hand on his arm as if to lead him toward his
chaise; 81 choose to walk"
And he brushed hastily through the portal,
and set his feet firmly on the pavement:
As he did so ma gazine dropped from the
pocket of his overcoat. 1t was picked up
and respectfully offered to him by bright,
eyed little fellow, who at the same moment
asked timidly:
Don't you want your bag carried, sir ?
"And if do," the traveller replied. good
humoredly, "do you think I'd trust such
little monkey as your"
The boys cheeks Redeemed, and there was
a suspicious moisture in the blue eyes. But
mastering his confusion, he said, quietly:
"And why not, sir? Do you fear Id run
away with it?"
II think l could catch you if you made the
attempt, my little one; and what do you sup
pose I'd do with you when caught ?"
"Oh, I'd promise never to do so again, and
you'd let me go!" replied the boy, fearlessly
this time, for, with the quick intuition of
childhood. he read the heart of Ralph Bel.
mont.
"But you don't look as if you were used to
carrying bags"
"Nor am I-but-oh sir, I do want to
earn some money very much indeed this at
ternoon~ And his voice was choked.
"Well, take it up, then, and come on"
And the traveller strobe away toward hotel
which, fortunately for the young porter, was
only a short distance.
The bag was large and heavily packed, and
Ralph Belmont watched the boy with much
amusement, as he noted how the little fellow
tried to act as if it were as light as feather
how he shifted it from one hand to the other
in seeming carelessness, and then with
merry WHISTLE would hold it before him,
clasping the handles with all his fingers.
The perspiration stood in great beads upon
his face, and his face grew crimson but still
he bent his shoulders to the task, and bravely
kept up with the owner.
"Quite lift, wasn't it, little one?" asked
the traveller, kindly, as at last they stood
together in the hotel. "And how much do
you charge me?" taking out plethoric port
monnaie
"I-I don't know what it is worth but I
wish you thought l had earned the price of a
few oranges"
"And, if I did, and should pay you shil-
ling, what would you do with the iruit?"
"Carry it home to Alto my sick brother,
sir?"
"And was it to buy oranges for your sick
brother that you worked so hard, my little
MANI" And Ralph Belmont's hand was
placed softly, tenderly, on the strained shoul'
ders.
That gentle touch dissolved the boys high
wrought ambition, and he burst into tears.
"Come up stairs with me y and taking the
small, delicate hand, the palm Of which was
nearly blistered, the traveller led him into the
spacious and richly furnished parlor, which,
having telegraphed for two days before, was
awaiting his orders.
"Tel me all about it," as sinking into an
easy chair, he drew the boy between his
knees. "Has your brother been i'll long p
eyes, sir" wipiug away the last tear.
"Very long. We have many times thought
he would die but the doctor thinks now he
will get we'll again if he can only eat some
thing nourishing. This morning be said we
must get grapes, and oranges, and wine for
him and s;star cried because we couldn't