Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-11-29

! "DOn't talk nonsense, Stephen, Sne mao
said, with Il laugh.
But it had not seemed like nonsense III
the secret depths of her heart.
She had pondered many and many "a time
over his emphatic words, but they had fail
ed to come true.
Probably Stephen Gregson hadn't made
the expected fortune. Certain it was that
he had not come to marry her. And ursu-
la was beginning to coincide with Grand
father Halls misanthropic theory-that all
the word was askew.
Grandmother Hall was silent. She was
glad now that she had never told her hus-
band and Ursula about the twenty-five dol
lars that she lent cousin Abby Miller-the
boarded store of silver in the stocking-leg,
which she had parted with to help the
friendless old maid to open little millinery
in the city.
"I'm afraid it's money thrown away"
thought Grandmother Hall. ~ did s'pOsc
Abby would at least have written word
about it. But there what is the Use of cry
ing.abOut spilled nilk2 / dare say Abby
feels as bad about it asI do, poor, solitary
creetur! Anyway Ursuly," she said, break
| ing the oppressive silence, "there's one
thing we have to be thankful for-the
pumpkins ripened splendidly in the corn
stubble, and l guess you'd better slice up
one to night for the pies; and father must
cut the hen-turkey's head off bright and
early. 1t may be our last Thanksgiving in
the old place, and We'll keep it as it ought
to be kept. Come, the tea is draWn-we'll
all feel better for good, hot cup"
"Tain't no use," said old Mr.. Hall, shak-
ing his head. "Nothing amt no use"
Ursula, too, was discouraged. Grand
mother Hall saw it in her face, even though
she spoke no word. -,
They had scarcely seated themselves at
the little round cherry-table, when knock
came to the door.
s'Its the sheriff to serve the mortgage
paper" said old Mr.. Hall, whose ideas OF
the law were rather vague.
"Ius Lewis Crawford after the eggs, y
said Mrs. Hall, more hopefully.
"But it wars neither one nor the other.
1t was little old woman in Il black silk
hat, respectable cloth cloak and brown
stuff dress-NIiss Abby Miller herself.
"Good evening, Cousin Hall ~ said she.
'I've come to spend thanksgiving with
YOU"
"And you're kindly welcome" chirpedl
the old lady. "Ursuly, set chair for Abb
by, and take her things"
'"But first" said Miss Abby, 81 must pay
my debts. Here's the twenty dollars bor-
roWed of you, with ten dollars for interest !;
and know, Cousin Hall, you'll be pleased
to know that I've prospered and made mon
ey in the millinery business, that | never
could have got into it if it had not been for
your good nature and generosity. And
here" producing willow basket nearly as
large as herself, "is the finest turkey in Full
ton Market, and three quarts of cranberries,
and dozen of oranges, and pot of guava
Jelly my contribution to tO-mOrrOW'S house
keeping. And ifit was forty times as much,
it wouldn't be half what / owe you, Cousin
Hall ~
And Miss Abby Miller, failing in an at
tempt to laugh, began to cry, and ended up
by hugging old Mrs. Hall with all her
might.
Tea was hardly over before a new visitor
arrived on the Scene-DOctOr Purdy, the
chairman of the local board of trustees.
"What's this about Squire Deans daugh-
ter oustingyou from your place, Miss Hall:'
he asked.
81 have been told" began Ursula.
''No matter what you have been told"
said the doctor. "I've seen Mr.. McAllister,
and he and l both agreed that you are not
to be disturbed. You suit us exactly, and
we intend that you shall retain the position,
vided for. You'll remain, eh ?"
"Gladly, if you wish it," said Ursula,
yisibly frightening up.
"And if Dean don't like it, he can lump
it," added Doctor Purdy, independently.
He had not been gone half an hour when
the knocker-they never had arrived at the
dignity of door-bellat Grandfather Halls
sounded again.
"Why," cried the old lady, who sat where
she could see the door, "it's-it's Stephen
Gregson," said a deep, masculine voice.
"And he's travelled night and day to be in
time to spend his Thanksgiving day with
the best friends he has in the world. And
| should have been here earlier" cordially
wringing the hands of all the group as he
spoke, ,r'if hadn't stopped at Squire Deans
to clap a stopper on that confounded mort
gage business he's so sharp after"
'Ain't the place to be fOreclosed, then ?'
said Grandfather Hall, in Il half-compre-
hending manner.
s'Foreclosed !" shouted Stephen Gregson.
"Not if | know it. And the thing never
would have been thought Of if the lawyers |
wrote to in New York hadn't been scamps
and cleared out with the money / sent 'em
six months ago to pay up the mortgage.
However, here | am in time ut last, with
the amount Of the debt | owe you, safely
lodged in the Wickham Bank, and enough
besides to settle up all costs and charges.
Why, how well you all look! And Miss Alb
by Miller has actually grown young, and
IrSula'S cheeks are as pink as crape-myrtle.
Yes, yes, Ursula, our old dreams have come
true. Ive made my fortune, and l've come
back to marry YOU"
All, inconsiderate lover that he was thus
to blurt out his cOurtship before the old pco-
pie and Miss Miller.
But it never was Stephen GregsOn's way
to be secretive and they all seemed to be
as much interested about it as Ursula her.
self But they had the discretion not to
look toward that particular part Of the
kitchen where the big tiSh-geranium grew
in painted tub, when Stephen and Ursula
had gone there to look ut the new scarlet
buds, just opening out.
"It seems like a dream ~ said Ursula.
ecstatically, as she and Stephen together
stood at the window, watching the moon
wade through the masses of struggling cloud.
"Grandfather and grandmother provided
for the dear old home all our own; you
back here, faithful and unchanged, and our
wedding to be in February. Oh, how can
ever be thankful enough 20
While Grandfather Hall was saying the
same thing by the tireside.
"We shall keep thanksgiving tomorrow,
with good reason, eh, mother ?" he uttered.
And old Mrs. Hall answered, fervently {:
81 shall keep Thanksgiving all my life ~
A NATIONAL. TEMPERANCE PARTY
Some of the active prohibitionists in the
Republican party, including Mr.. Price, the
commissioner Of Indian affairs, express the