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

wan, the closed eyes, that used to be 80 lus
trous, sunken and circled by deep purpl
rings, their dewy violet hidden by the long
fringed lids that would never be lifted again
but in spite of all this change, and the un
mistakeable seal set upon it by Deaths sterl
hand, something in the face, the form, th'
beautiful long bright hair, touched keenly
chord of recollection and thrilled it into life
in the heart Of the aunt who had once giver
her almost a mothers love. And Johl
Thorndale felt it too. Although in, the frs
moment of surprise and CONSERVATION he hae
repelled his ~ife's suggestion, yet more ane
more strong and persistent grew the idea tha
she was right after all.
Poor wanderer-poor, forsaken Helen
She had, indeed, come back to her old home
with the hope of winning her fathers for
giveness, and regaining her treasured place II
his affections, little knowing how impossible
barrier was set between them now; bar
rier that no love, however tender, could break
down. And seeking this dead father, te
claim his pardon for herself, his protection fol
her child, she, too, had reached with weary
steps the dread bourne from which she coulo
not return; beyond which, let us hope, she
was united to him again in the bonds of
deathless, unutterable love, full and free re
Cancellation, that nothing could shake or mai
forever more.
Human judgment is stern; and it must be
owned that Farmer Thorndale's first emotions
of pity and sympathy, merged into harder
feeling, with the gradual assertion of the
truth in his mind. What had this young wo
man come back for, to bring trouble and
shame upon their household, at least in leav
ing a heritage of her disgrace among them
if not by her actual presence? He had nc
children of his own, and did not want such
child as hers imposed upon his care. After
all the misery she had cost her father, il
would have been far more proper that she
should have kept away altogether. What
right had she to suppose that she could ever
again 6nd place in the home she had blight
ed, or that her nameless child could lay claim
to its shelter and its care? These thoughts
passing through his mind, darkened his brow
and compressed his lips, though they did moi
cause him to relax in the efforts he felt it his
duty to make for his niece's restoration; and
when at last he found, as he had anticipated
from the first, that such efforts were totally
vain, and that life was indeed extinct, he
muttered as he turned away
"God has dealt justly with her. This is the
Citing reward of her sin"
"Husband, husband!'' answered the wife
whose tears were falling fast, "we are not tc
condemn her. God has no doubt forgiven
her; let US do the same"
He made no rejoinder, but walked into an
other apartment, where he remained, gloomily
musing, while the women busted themselves
with the needful melancholy Offices for the
dead At length, Mrs. Thorndale joined him
and, coming to his side, laid her hand gently
upon his knee.
"Have you got through ?" he asked.
"Not quite Charity proposed to do the
rest, and she's so handy, l agreed to let her
combed out the poor child's hair. 0, John
many time have I combed it before, and
braided it, when she was dressing for some
girlish frolic, and came to me to make hel
look nice! And to think that should do il
for her as she is no,D!"
Gas she is now, it's best to think no more
about her." said the farmer, abruptly.
"She's an angel, now, John. can't look
at her face and doubt that. So peaceful it is
so different, already from what it was when
first you brought her in. The old, old look
almost, has come back. 1t breaks my heart
to see it"
"There, there, Martha, don't cry" said hel
husband, touched by her grief "It's far bet
ter for her, and for US all, that she's gone
Does Charity know?"
"I'm sure she does, though she hasn't said
o word-she never does. l can tell by hel
looks. Not that she seems sorry bit. She's
Just as hard and cold as flint"
"Where's the child ?" asked the farmer
presently.
"Asleep-dear little cherub! Hes the
most beautiful baby l ever saw"
"We'll have to make some arrangement
about him, I suppose"
arrangement? That's easy enough; he'll
be no trouble to me at ALL"
"What are you talking about, Martha
You don't imagine we can keep him here"
"What!" cried the wife. "John, you'll moi
turn away my own niece's child ?"
"You don't mean to propose that we should
saddle ourselves with the charge of "a"
Mrs. Thorndale's hand was on his lips
"Hush don't say it, John. Let us forget the
past. He is innocent, at any rate innocent
and utterly friendless, if we desert him
Would Christian charity, setting aside family
love, let US cast him off? Think Of her ii
the next room, as she once was-pure, good
happy, our brothers cherished darling"
"And as she afterwards became" put il
the farmer.
"As she is now," the wife continued, no
needing the interruption, "purifed and for
given in Heaven. And judge if our con
sciences would let us sleep at night if we re
fused to befriend her poor orphan babe"
"Doubtless there's one living whose duty
it is to befriend him. Let him come forward
and acknowledge the claim" was the sterr
reply.
"How do we know he's living, John ant
if he is even, it's far, far better they should b.
n,r+oI froro ono onotbor VVa oon do wal