Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-05-03

dear Mrs. Dalton can't you tell me what
to do? Look at mamma, my darling, pre-
ciOuS mammal
But the stiffened lids opened to no en-
treaties; even when the paroXysm had
passed, the child lay passive, but in sense
less heavy stupor. Mrs. Dalton did all she
could, and that was almost all that an ex-
perienced physician would have ordered !;
| but it was fearful nall hour before the
medical assistance came.
"'This is more than simple cOnvulsion oc-
casioned by teething," the young PHYSICIAN
said, gravely. "Did any one administer
an opiate before l was called?"
A sudden suspicion passed through Mrs.
Dalton'smind Minnie, upand gayly dress
ed at this unusual hour, was crouching half
kneeling behind the bed, unable by fright
to be of any assistance.
"My good girl" said the doctor, soothing
ly, following Mrs. Dalton's glance, "do you
ever give the baby anything when it
cries"
The vehemence of the girls manner at
tracted even Mrs. Porter.
"No one blames you, Minnie" she said,
trying to conquer herself for moment.
"Oh, doctor, is there nothing you can do for
my poor, darling baby?"
''If YOU suspect laudnum has been given,
do not hesitate to treat the child for it,"
Mrs. Dalton said quickly
eff l was sure that there was poison to
counteract. This looks very much like it..
But the child is so very delicate, l do not
like to use such powerful remedies unless
absolutely necessary. AS it is, there seems
such an unnatural lethargy. Are you sure
the nurse has not administered an overdose
of paregoric, at least? The child seems to
be cutting her i teeth very hard, and would
be likely to cry and fret"
"Oh, give her anything, doctor! Oh, if
her father was only herew said Mrs. Porter,
as the paroxism returned more violent than
before. "Do you think she will die :? She
can't have taken anything. Minnie, tell
the gentleman"
| But Minnie was gone, and Mrs. Dalton
followed her out, confronting the startled
girl in the long corridor. She had seen the
stealthy movement toward the door the in
stant they had turned away from her, and
knowing how much depended on ascer-
tanning exactly what was given to Ella, and
when it was administered, she resolved, If
possible to eXtOrt confession.
Much as she doubted the girl, Mrs. Dalton
was staggered at her repeated and steadfast
denials; but, at length, cowardice betrayed
| the very thing she was trying to conceal !;
and, plying her with questions, threats Of
punishment and promises, the guilty nurse
confessed all.
"But, oh, ma am, it was only three drops
left in the bottom of the bottle, not the half
full of the teaspoon an she cried so, an
they was all Waitin' on me; an had it
recommended to meself when l had the
toothache, an I didn't mean the laste of
harm. Will they put me in prison, ma'am,
E oh nt mo on tOI6
all I can tell. AM it niver hurt her the
laste before; an Pm sure it was her teeth,
ma'am, she's gettin' so hard. Pm sure
meant no HARM"
The physician had already acted on the
supposition that laudanum had been given,
| when Mrs. Dalton returned but there were
| many hours of suspense and mental torture
before the unhappy mother had any surety
that her child would be saved. Even the
careless throng that sauntered and slept,
and trifed through the intense heat of the
summer day, were moved to something like
sympathy when they caught glimpse Of
| the closed shutters of her room, or missed
| the lively Mrs. Porter from the lunch-table
and the drawing-room.
The ladies talked it over among them
selves; and those who had chosen to con-
slider Mrs. Porter rival, were not slow to
blame her for negligence of her child. Even
Mrs. De Chambourg, to whose influence it
was so greatly owing, shrugged her pearl
whitened shoulders, and hoped ''it would be
lesson to her." The wish, uncharitable as
it was in spirit, certainly was gratitied; but
the knowledge of public censure could scarce
ly have added a pang to the anguish of re-
morse and sorrow with which Mrs. Porter
received the physicians final verdict, that
the little one would not then die; but the
l. L. oil nfl1yI In1
constitution, that it was scarcely possible
she could live through sickly childhood.
Her husband met her with no word, nor
look even of reproach, when he came; it
was not needed but he opened his arms to
a changed and sorrowful woman, who watch
ed henceforth with untiring patience and
love over the young life doomed, by her
own neglect, to one of suffering.
81 don't think I've met Mrs. Porter out
this winter" mutual acquaintance said to
Mrs. Dalton, at an evening party.
"NO,n returned the kind and steadfast
friend, cher little girl is so delicate she sell
dom ever leaves her"
"Oh, remember. Shocking thing, wasn't
it, At West Point, Mrs. De Chambourg
told me all about it. She says she f1irted-
Mrs. Porter, l mean-with young Balsell
(they say Mrs. De Chambourg is engaged to
llllll3 NY UllC way dilu 90 90 SoS "1 Pos''i
BILE. l could have told her not to trust that
Minnie too far. She lived with me WHILE"
eyes. And did she have a recommended
tiOn from you ?"
ooh, of course; you know one always has
to do that. Poor creatures it is their bread
and butter. So l said she could sew we'll,
and all that sort Of thing but, if a lady
comes to me herself to inquire, that's anotha
er thing"
"But you were out of town." Mrs. Dalton
said, with some displeasure. And, now l
think of it, it was your name Mrs. Porter
particularly noticed"
"One doesn't like to be hard," the lady
returned lightly. "I've got blessing in
Bridget, though. was very much obliged
to Mrs. Porter for not engaging her. saw
her drive away that day just as turned the
corner. She has lived in a physicians fam
lily so many years, that 1 trust her to man.
age all the little sicknesses- in the nursery.
Nothing serious, you understand. l went
to Mrs. DR.. Jeffrey myself to inquire about
her, and she gave her the highest character.
Mr.. Johnson thinks we've been very fOrtu-
nate"
And so it was that Mrs. Porter missed the
"perfect treasure"
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