Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-01-24

affGCCeQ. CeleSClQe' ) neaFG Sduh lOHeI dllet
lower; she was quite inexperienced as
sick-nurse, and knew not whether her alarm
was as well-founded as it appeared, or
whether these symptoms which terrified
her were but natural attendants on this type
of disease she could only watch, and try to
hope, and send up constant, silent petitions
for one to whom she had learned to turn to
in trouble as her best friend. :.-.
When the doctor came in the morning,
she took him aside and entreated him to
tell her frankly whether her husband was
dangerously i'll.
'Frankly, then," he replied, after mo-
ment's scrutiny of her face, 81 do not con-
slider him in any danger, at present, but we
will have to be very careful of him, and
watch him closely, The fact is, he has been
working,l great deal too hard. have warm
ed him more than once, that he would sut-
fer from it, but suppose he felt such con-
fidence in his own strength that he did not
believe he could ever break down. Now,
Mrs. Warren, YOU must really have some
one to help you nurse him, because | am
quite sure YOU will not be able to do it
alone." ~
''Indeed, / don't need any help" said
Celestine, earnestly ''at least not now. l
am quite strong, and able to do anything
that is necessary. If l break down, l
SIldll SCllll lOI AhlSo lLdtlllCl NHo" ''iS
will come"
/. But she didnot break down. The strength
of a loving heart sustained her, and enabled
her to MAINTAIN her watch, day and night,
with such snatches of rest as she could get
during her husbands quiet intervals; She
could not bear that any one else should share
the duty of nursing him. She was thank
full, however, when one of the neighbors
sent in from time to time to help with work
in the house or kitchen which she had no
longer leisure to attend to; and with such
aid she got on very well.
But oh, those terrible hours of anxiety
and suspense, as she sat beside him and
watched the ravages of the fever, not know
ing whether she could dare to hope! For
he was very, very ill. For many days his
life hung on a thread, and no one could
foretell the issue. There was one night in
particular, when she quite lost heart, and
told herself, over and again, with a calm
ness born of despair, that it was absolute fol-
ly to cherish the delusion of hope any Ion
ger. Silas must die--she feltsure of it, now.
The loving care that sheltered her, the
strong heart that beat for her sake, would
soon be taken from her, and she would be
left alone.
However, it was differently ordained.
Silas was not going to die; but when the
and the doctor pronounced the crisis past,
he was SO wan and Frustrated by his long
fight with death, that he looked as though
a breath would watt him to the spirit-land.
One day letter came addressed to him,
which Celestine opened.
It contained a notice from the Board of
Missions that the Missionary Fund, having
fallen far short of the demands upon it,
would be unable to supply the Rev. Silas
Warren with the usual remittance for the
present quarter, but would make up the de-
ticiency as soon as practicable.
Now this remittance, small as it was, had
been anxiously expected by Celestine, as her
only present resource; for the slender fami-
ly fund was at it's lowest ebb, and she saw
no way of replenishing it. What was to be
done :? Occupied as she wasin her husbands
sick room, she could find no time to look
for any employment by which she might
manage to earn little more money; and
her chances, at the best, of obtaining such
employment were very small.
She thought and thought until her brain
ached from thinking. Should she try and
borrow some money from any of her hus-
responsibility of a debt however trifling.
Still they could not starve.
At last it occurred to her that there might
be something among her possessions which
she could sell. She got out box which
contained her few valuables, and began to
look them over. Alas, how little there was
which she could hope to turn to any ac-
count! Trinkets valued chiefly as gifts
from friends, little keepsakes which no one
would care to oWn-What could she do with
them? She paused when she came to a
cross, set with diamonds, which her father
had given her on her sixteenth birthday.
She remembered we'll the circumstances at
tending the gift. He had unexpectedly re-
ceived a considerable sum in payment of an
old debt, and, with characteristic generosity,
spent it all upon this gift for her-hiS pet,
his darling, as she had always been, for
whom nothing was too expensive or too
good. She had scolded him gently for his
extravaganza, reminding him that he need
ed many, things for himself, but afterwards
yielded, with pleasurable girlish vanity and
stisfaction, when he fastened the cross to a
chain she wore around her neck, and told
her with kiss, that she was as worthy to
wear diamonds as any lady in the land.
Could she bear to part with it, this souve-
mir of her dead fathers love? She looked
at the glittering trinket, then at the sleep
ing husbands shadowy face, and her resolve
was taken. She would sell the cross; but of
whom, in small place like Sandville, could
she hope to get an adequate sum for it?
Finally she dispatched note to Miss Lat
inner, asking her to come to her, as she
wished to consult her OH Il matter of impor-
tance.
1t happened that Miss Latimer had been
for some time absent, Visiting her brothers
family on the coast, and had but just learned
on her return, of the Warrens' trouble.
She came full of condolences and regrets,
and hearty offers of assistance in any form
that would be most acceptable; and Celes-
tine did not hesitate to accept the offer.
81 can do very we'll here, dear Miss Lati
mer, as | have done all along; but outside
business / can't attend to, and SO have
sent for you to ask if you would kindly un-
dertake commission for me-" Then she
showed her the cross, and asked if she would
try and find purchaser for it, as soon as
possible.
Miss Latimer looked at the jewel, then
at its owner, with a troubled and doubtful
expression. o,
eyes; my father gave it to me, long ago."
"And you want to sell it,"
81 must" said Celestine, gently. "We
need the money badly, and there no other
way"
''Dear me !" said Miss Latimer sympa-
thetically. "Are things so bad as all that"
cat present they are. l trust they will
mend. BY and by, when Mr.. Warren gets
well, may find something to do, by which
l can earn a little; and perhaps the Mis-
sionary Board will be able to send his sala-
ry before long. But you see we must raise
some money some way; and | hate to bor-
row. After all, the cross is of very little use
to me. When do | ever get chance to
wear it? 1t is an expensive thing altogeth-
er unsuitable for my circumstances. The
Il iply