Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-05-03
@, THURSDAY, MAY 3, 1885,

twinge of conscience, fortunate thing
when such direct appeal is made; but sh'
was struck with the extreme delicacy of the
child's appearance, and languid, dreamy
expression in her large blue eyes.
"There, George" And Mrs. Porter turn
ed to her husband, who had just come from
the house. "George fancies she looks thin
and goes on very absurdly about it. I dc
believe he'd like me to shut myself up anl
become a child's nurse to all intents anC
purposes"
ooh, no, Eleanor. But do you think
Mrs. Dalton, she looks as well as she did
You have not seen her lately, and would be
the best Judge. I don't wish to be unrea
sonable, Pm sure"
"She certainly is not as stout" was al
Mrs. Dalton trusted herself to say, for she
did not wish to alarm Mr.. Porter unnecessa
rily; but she resolved to speak more plain
ly, if she thought the child really i'll.
"Of course, she's not so stout" Mrs. Por
ter said, with an air Of an experienced mat
ron, "she's beginning to teeth; and teething
children never look we'll. Mrs. De Cham
bourg says so, and tells me not to listen tc
George. She is delighted with Minnie, and
thinks, as do, that she's a perfect prize
She does Mrs. De Chambourg's hair every
afternoon. take it as quite a compliment
to her skill" ....
"Your new friend takes it as quite con-
venience to herself" Mr.. Porter said, rather
testify for him. 'As general hair-dressel
and ladies' maid, how does Ella get any
care?"
''I am glad you are satisfied" was all
Mrs. Dalton returned, as she walked away
from the momentary cloud ofill-humor; but
though the mother was, she was not, and
being asked still more plainly by Mr.. Porter
for her opinion Of the child's health, she
gave it as frankly.
"She cries so much more than she did, al
times, the anxious young father said; land
then, again, she has languor that does not
seem at all natural to her. I'm here but
once week, you know, and Eleanor is SC
inexperienced can't see how thingsgo on. u
Mrs. Dalton could, for, with Mrs. Porter's
pleasure-loving disposition, and the oppor'
tunity she now had of indulging it, the ba-
by was left entirely at the mercy Of the all;
accomplished nurse. Evenings, particular
lors, dancing, singing, and chatting with the
gay circle, and, more than once attracted by
the child's cries, Mrs. Dalton, had found it
entirely alone. If the mother thus deserted
it for her pleasure, it was scarcely to be sup
posed that hired attendant would be more
faithful to her trust.
81 really wish, my dear Eleanor" Mr..
Porter said to his wife, as they were dress
ing for dinner, "that you would see to Min
ME and the baby a little more than you do"
81 really wish, my dear George, that you
would attend to the counting-house, and
leave the baby to me-"
"But 1 don't think you realize how i'll she
looks, Ellie. Last night I came in, and
found her sleeping as heavily as if she had a
fever"
"Nonsense! She is as we'll as 1 am this
minute. I declare, shall get jealous ifyou
waste all your thought on the little puss.". :.
"And / shall return the compliment, ii
YOU waltz much more with that little pup
by, Cleaves," Mr.. Porter returned, as play
fully. "But seriously, Mrs. Dalton saysshe
is afraid Minnie is not as careful as she
might be-"
'Iwish Mrs. Dalton would leave me to
manage my own affairs" And the glass
reflected very unamiable face at that mo-
ment, though very fair one. ''She never
did like Minnie from the first. She wanted
me to take some abominable rough Bridget,
as Irish as possible. Why, Minnie's man
ners are so ladylike it is a pleasure to have
her near me. All the other ladies speak OF
it, and say how fortunate l am; Mrs. De
ChamDOurg ana all.
''NIrs. De Chambourg likes any one she
can use. Mrs. Dalton is worth ten of her."
returned Mr.. Porter, warmly for Mrs. Dal-
ton called forth a general respect, while
he heartily disliked, and rather dread
ed the influence of the heartless, worldly
belle his wife had suddenly grown so init
mate with.
'I shall do as 1 please" was all Mrs. Por-
1p,, fofl IN Ia ,nry hnN
husbands reply was equally laconic, as he
left the room: "I dare say" 1t was the
first time they had ever parted coldly.
Meantime, Mrs Dalton, through repelled
almost rudely by the mother, kept her silent
and loving watch over the delicate little
child, for She had no infant; and it remind
ed her of the days of her first maternity, as
she soothed the moaning baby on her bos-
for hours together, while the jar and clash
of the band and the dancers came up from
the room below.
Busy preparation were making for the
principal chop" Of the season, and Mrs.
Porter, among the rest had ordered fresh
dress in town, and calculated largely on the
brilliancy of the evening, although her
husband would be detained. Minnie had
surpassed herself and dressed her mistress
hair "to perfection" as Mrs. De ChambOurg
declared. Mrs. Porter was by no means
displeased with the performance, still she
little cot bed, cried almost incessantly
through the hour and a half which the
toilet occupied. 1t fretted and worried her.
"What on earth's the matter with baby,
Minnie? Is she sick 2" she asked petulant-
ly, as if the creature had no right to dis
turb her repOse Of mind, particularly when
she desired to look her best. "Alamrna'S IS
darling baby sick?"
The wailing hushed for a second, and the
almost transparent arms were held out
beseechingly.
"No, beauty, mamma can't take ELLA
now; mamma all dressed" And Mrs. POr-
ter turned for full lengh suvey in the mir
ror "Do you think the skirt is quite long
long enough, Minnie? And how is this
glove band to go on? Oh, so. Minnie,
rock mammals pet to sleep; do Minnie,
that's a good girl" for the cries from the
1 should feel quite wretched all the evening,
if thought she was crying up here"
"Oh, don't worry yourself, ma'am; she
isn't sick the laste, only fatigued with walk
in so fur this afternoon"
eyes, and the sun was very hot" You
must be careful of going out with her in the
sun. Why do you always go at four O'Clock,
the hottest part of the day."
Minnie did not explain that that was the
hour which best suited "a gentleman's own
gentleman" to promenade, his master being
at dinner, or that she had received an invi-
tation to 90, in company with several other
members of the servants hall, on Il little
boating party that evening, to be finished
by a petit sonper worthy of a better cause.
If Mrs. Porter had not been so late, by rea-
son of lending Minnie to Mrs. DeCham-