Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-10-23
uI have seen her several times.n said

"I have seen her several times" said
Horace. "She knows 60 there to see her
daughter she is always within sight and
round. wish sometimes she was not quite
so omnipresent."
Yes, he had determined to marry the
innocent, unsophisticated and lovely coun-
try girl. He fixed to think Of her in the
delightful dress which his money would
buyothe pearls and rubies that would re-
ceive an added splendor from her fresh
young beauty. He had thought her face
in the village choir the finest thing he had
ever seen-fairer than the faultless Madon-
mas of the old masters that he had wor-
shipped abroad. It never occurred to him
that she might not love him. What, he!
the darling of prosperity, refused by little
country girl! Besides, he really loved her.
Upon several occasions when ne had in
vited her to ride out he had also desired her
to have her mother accompany them, but
after spirited discussion, in which Mrs.
Hudson's sharp voice was quite too discern
ible, she had refused, preferring her rocker
and knitting to "breaking her neck" as she
theoretically expressed it. So they went
without her. But Madge disliked leaving
her mother alone, and was always back
home in good time. Evening company she
did not have at all, as Mrs. Hudson objected
to late hours. Horace Wygant did not
think any less of the girl because she respect
ed her mothers principles, and never in the
least disobeyed her instructions.
On one afternoon he determined to bring
the matter to crisis and make Madge a
formal offer of his heart and hand, after
which he hoped to be permitted to see Mrs.
Hudson soften her scruples, and to be able
! to do little love-making on his own mer-
its. With this idea uppermost in his mind
he walked to Seventeenth street, and found
crowd surging in front of the block in
which his friends lived-indeed, at their
very door. There was scene OF smoke
and turmoil, and the fire engines were dash
| ing up at the moment he reached the spot.
The people who occupied the flats were pour
ing out, and handsome furniture was reck-
lessly smashed on the pavement.
"Oh! Mr.. Wygant," cried terrified
voice, II am so glad to see you here" and
Madge shivering and afraid, but clinging
heroically to her trunk and satchels, appear
ing in breathless excitement before him.
"Thank God, you are safe," he murmur-
ed in her ear, "but where-where is your
mother"
"Mother! Oh, forgot her." cried the
girl. historically adding these remarka-
Bile words, "Neuer mind her, let her burn up.
Hvon't be any great loss"
Horace Wygant thought she had lost her
reason. With one heroic leap into the burn
ing, smoking stairway, he disappeared,
while shout rang through the crowd. In
a moment he returned, carrying the limp
and senseess figure of Mrs. Hudson in his
arms. Tenderly placing the unconscious
woman in rocking chair, that had been
saved and stood on the pavement, he brush
ed the dust and SCOT from his eyes and
hair, and turned to Madge, who was laugh
ing wildly and hysterically.
"Remain here moment until l get car
riage," he said, and was gone.
When he returned Madge was calm and
herself again.
"Please drive at once to the depot" she
said. II will return home"
"And your mother?"
For an answer Madge gave wild laugh,
and pointed to the chair where Mrs. Hudson
sat. That good woman still had her knit
ting in her hand. Her head, however, was
completely turned, and revealed a frightful
vacuity.
"It's-it's u daemney," shrieked Madge.
"Mother in effigy. Please-please Mr.. Wy
giant, get me the shawl and spectacles-they
are mothers best"
Mr.. Wygant sullenly obeyed her; he
drove her quietly to the depot and when
the train came, handed her on with due
care and politeness, but without gallantry.
When the train was gone he returned home,
and his sister did not know that aught was
amiss. But his idol was as ruthlessly shat
tered as the straw make-believe of Madge's
mother. He too, however, could dissemble
for appearance sake.