Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-10-21
not improved her in any respect. She was
gaunter, bonier and more vinegar faced than

- eS, SalQ snc SLOWLY, anu perhaps you
don't remember that it is just twenty years
ago to day that you threw ten.dollars away
on that woman and her child. l told you
then that you'd end your days in the poor
house, and don't see but what my prediction
is likely to come true. Didn't l say you
would live to repent it? ?"
81 won't deny, Hannah" said the old man,
"but that I've done good many things, I've
been sorry for. We amt none of US perfect
YOU know, wife-but that is not one of them.
No, never for minute repent being kind to
the widow and fatherless."
Hannah shrugged her shoulders, but made
no answer.
didn't you say you were going up to see
that rich lawyer about the FIVE thousand dol
lar note to day" she said.
ayes, but l don't suppose it'll be much use.
He'll be sure to sell the old place from over
our heads, however. They tell me he's a
hard man. / mean to explain to him just
how the matter stands and"
81 told you how it would be long ago -
CALCULATED Hannah, unable to retain her vex-
alton. "What on airth ever possessed you to
sign for Jesse Fairweather ?"
II s'po ed he was. an honest man, and
wouldn't see an old friend wronged."
"Fiddlesticks! That's just your calcula-
tion, Job! There; Zeke has brought the
wagon-do start off or you'll be too late for
the New York trainr' And Job meekly
obeyed, only too happy to escape from the
endless discord of his wifes railing tongue.
The rays Of the MONDAY sun shown bright
ly throug Oh the stained glass easements Of Mr..
Everleigh's superb Gothic library. The room
was decorated with every appurtenance of
wealth and taste. Velvet chairs, with tall
backs of daintily carved rosewood, were scat
tered here and there; marble vases occupied
inches besi<' the doorway, and the rarest pic
lures hung on the paneled and gilded walls.
But the prettiest object of all-the one which
the rich lawyer oftenest raised his eyes from
his writing to contemplate, with an involunta-
ry smile Of pride and affection-was lovely
woman in a white cashmere morning robe,
trimmed with white velvet, who stood oppo-
site, arranging flowers in bouquet. She
wore spray of berries carved of pink Nea-
politan coral at her throat, and tiny pendants
of the same rare stone, in her small, shell.lke
ears, and the slender waist was tied around
with bright pink ribbon.
"There, Walter, isn't that pretty?" she
asked, holding up her completed bouquet
every pretty" he answered; looking not
at the roses and geraniums, but directly at
the blue eyes and golden curls of his beauti.
ful young wife. ,"
"You are not even noticing it," she said.
because 1 see something so much better
worth looking at" he said, playfully.
"Do you really love me so very much ?" she
asked, throwing down the flowers, and coming
around to his side 20, Walter! if mamma
could only have lived to see how happy we
are! -
Mrs. Everleigh slipped from her husbands
arm with the prettiest blush in the world, and
was very busy with her flowers, when the rich
lawyers fright hand man" put his grzzled
head into tt room
"The old man wants to see you about the
Fairweather business"
"Show him in. Don't look so disappointed,
love-" he said, as the grizzled head disappear
ed Il shall not be detained three minutes,
and the horses are at the door,"
Mary Everleigh never troubled her pretty
little head about business matters so she new.
er looked up as the halting sound of old MIR.
Raynesfort's crutch echoed on the carpet.
But the instant he spoke, she started as it an
arrow had smitten her, and stood with her
eyes dilated and her slender hands clasped to-
grther, listening as intently as though her life
depended upon hearing every word.
The old man was pleading and sorrowful-
her husband politely inAexible. At length,
job Raynesford started to 60.
"Well sir" he said in subdued tone, 81
don't know much about law and law-books !;
but it does seem hard that an old man should
be turned cut of the home that has sheltered
him for sixty years, and all for no fault of his
own They say you are very rich gentle
man, sir. i've thousand dollars may seem
small sum to you but it is my all !"
Mrs Everleigh's soft voice broke the mo-
mentary silence that succeeded this appeal.
"Walteri come here one minute-I want
to speak to YOU
He obeyed, somewhat surprised. She drew
him into deep recess of the stained glass
bay window. and standing there with the rosy
and amber shadows playing about her lovely
brow like some pictured saint, told him
how twenty years ago wearied child and its
mother were fed and sheltered by kind
hearted stranger; how he had given them
money and kind wishes when they were ut
terly alone and desolate in the wide world
"But, my love, what has all this to do with
my business matters?"
"Much, Walter am the little child!"
"You, my dearest?"
81 am, my husband; and the noble man
who, l am persuaded, saved my life that
night, stands yonder, with gray, bowed head
and sinking heart.
MARY, you must surely be mistaken"
II cannot be mistaken, Walter. should
know him among thousand. You said you
loved me this morning-now grant me one
little boon p
"What is ii, dearest ?"
"Give me that note he spoke Of"
Mr. Everleigh silently went to small ebo-
ny casket, unlocked it, and drew out folded
paper, which he placed in her hands. She
glided up to the old man, who had fallen into
a reverie, and laid her soft hand on his arm
"Do you remember the little golden haired
Mary whom you found, with her mother,
wearied out on the roadside, twenty years
ago?"
"Do I remember her, lady? 1t was but
this very morning l was recalling the scene" :"
"And don't you recognize me?" she said,
smiling up into his face as she drew back the
dropping curls. 81 am little Mary"
He stood in bewidered silence. All Of a
sudden the truth seemed to break upon him,
and he laid his hand upon her head with a
fearful blessing. "And your mother, my
child"
"She has been dead for years; but it is my
dearest task to be the instrument Of her graft