Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-01-15

heard. But she had already caught some
scraps of it, and guessed at the trouble which
was stirring at the boys heart.
Later in the day, as he was passing near
the room in which she usually sat at work,
she came out and accosted him with
"Oh, Master Edward, will you kindly step
here one minute? I've got the lid of my
work-box fastened so that I can't lift it, and
I'd be obliged to you if you could get it loose
without breaking the hinges"
It was 80 rare for her to address him, and
above all for her to ask of him any favor, that
he was quite taken by surprise; but he fol-
lowed her Immediately, to see what it was she
wanted him to do
'This must be locked, I should think" he
remarked, after trying the refractory lid.
"Have you turned the key?"
"Yes, I've turned the key; but it isn't the
lock that's at fault, I'm sure; the lid sticks
some way. May be you could prize it open
with q knife"
THAT would spoil it. Let me see the key,
will you?"
"The key? What did do with it, I won
der? l had it a minute ago." said Charity,
fumbling about in an uncertain sort of way,
without apparently making much real effort
to find the object of her quest.
"Why, isn't it among these?" asked Ed
ward, taking up bunch that lay on the table
$50 it is. How stupid am. I'll find the
right one for you. See, it's this little one
with the bent handle. bent it one day in
trying to open another lock that itdid not 6t"
AS Edward applied it to the lock, she
stepped toward the door, and closed it, so
noiselessly, that he did not notice the action.
"Why, there's nothing the matter with this
box. 1t was locked, as l thought" he an.
nounced, as he opened it without the slightest
difficulty. s. a.t.
"Is that so Well, now, just to think Of
my being so foolish Thank you kindly, I'm
sure" said Charity, in an affable tone. III
hope you will excuse me for taking up your
time for nothing"
"It doesn't matter" replied Edward, as he
moved toward the door.
"Stop minute, Master Edward" The
woman spoke half under her breath, putting
herself between him and the door.
He looked at her in wonder, stopping, how
ever, in obedience to her request.
"Ive got something here that, | thought,
maybe, you would like to have. I've kept 1t
this long WHILE" said Charity, hurriedly open
ing drawer, and taking from it folded pa.
per, discolored by time. He took it from her
hands mechanically, opened it and read a
little penciled note which it contained:
"My Dearest Hal: received yours this NOR,
ming. will be punctual, as you request; but
sv,of
feas % ssong s ge
father think of me? Pray, pray reconsider what
said to you last time. am not sure that can
get this to you, utwill try. Your loving
"I don't understand this" said Edward,
with puzzled look, when he had read it twice
through. "What is it to me-"
"More than you think" was Charity's mys-
terious reply. "That was written twenty-five
years ago."
"Well, what of it p
"Don't you know who wrote it? p
"How should l, if it was written four years
before was born p
"Shall 1 tell you p ......
eff you choose" replied Edward, somewhat
impatiently, for her tone annoyed him.
"Well, the person who wrote that note was
your nearest trelation-your own mother"
"My mother!"
The mingled astonishment and incredulity
of his tone showed her how greatly he was
startled by her words.
did you know my mother?"
GAS well as I know you"
Edward was silent. A tumult Of contend
ing emotions were agitating his breast, making
him uncertain how to act Should he accept
this woman's testimony, and seek farther in
formation on subject of such deep and ab'
sorbing interest as she had brought to his no.
tice? He neither liked nor trusted her. But
intense anxiety to obtain some light on point
so long shrouded in darkness, overcame the
repugnance he would otherwise have felt to
establish any confidence between them.
"Tel me more" he said at last, with an
effort.
"Not now. Come to my chamber tonight
when everybody is in bed, and I'll tell you all
you want to know. You had better 60, now
think hear Mrs. Thorndale coming"
She opened the door, quickly and quietly,
and in a sort of dream he went out.
[To BE CONTINUED.