Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-01-31
rasping cares. Iscarcely think he will stand
aside and let his sisters son starve-and star
vation is ahead, if something cannot be


Wrought SO greatly upon him that his self
control was gone. AS she looked at him,
she saw his lips quiver, and his eyes fill;
and she knew then that his words were true,
and that he would soon utterly break down
if help did not come.
Courage, my darling" she said, softly
and tenderly, taking his bowed head be-
tween her hands, and caressing him with
soothing touches, as if he were child. II
have no fears. God will take care of us.
Only keep brave heart and all will be
WE'LL"
But when she left him she rushed to her
room, and flung herself on her knees, and
wept and prayed in a sort of agony, half
despairing that the help she had seemed so
bravely to count upon would ever come to
them. This terrible illness! was it a COM
plete breaking up of her husbands constitu-
ton, and would its effects never wear Oft ~
Instead of improving, he had appeared to
grow worse; and she felt sure ne never
would recoverhis strength if he had to live
on as he was doing now, needing so many
things he could not afford to get, and con-
stantly brooding over his cares.
Miss Latimer had never carried out her
scheme Of taking boarders, and Celestine
went to ask her if she would come and stay
at the Rectory, and look after her husband,
during the few days Of her absence.
cpl do it with all the pleasure in life"
was the reply. "And don't you fret your
self, Mrs Warren, because you know he'll
be quite safe with me. I've looked after
him good many years, and he's used to my
ways. l hope your visit will do you good,
for you need a change badly"
"Not so badly as he dOes," Celestine re-
piled sadly. eff he could only 60 for few
weeks to some quiet, healthy place, where
he could breathe pure air and have nothing
to worry him, believe he would get WELL"
The hope that some such result might be
achieved by her visit nerved her to prepare
herself with some degree of firmness for the
interview with Uncle Franklin, which she
dreaded inexpressibly. She had learned to
think of him as sort of monster, and
could not shake off the impression OF his
cruelty and hardness, gathered not from
any comments of Silas upon him, but from
the one fact of his having Withdrawn his
friendship and favor from his nephew, and
for such cause!
"I hope 1 shall not let him see what I
think of him." she said to herself; that
would spoil everything. For Silas' sake,
must make as good an impression upon him
as 1 can. But oh, how I wish this visit
were over"
DR.. Grey, who was very kind, and took
great interest in the Warrens-SO great, by
the way, that he could not make up his
mind to send in any bill for his long attend
ance upon the minister while they seemed
so hardly pressed-hunted up an escort for
Celestine in the shape of one OF her hus-
bands parishioners, a Mr.. Hill, person
whom she did not greatly like, because OF
his stiff, stern manner and somewhat rigid
ideas; but of course it was more of salts
faction to travel under the protection of
reliable, if disagreeable person, than alone,
and so she accepted him thankfully for her
escort, in default of better.
She packed the few articles it would be
necessary for her to take with her, and got
herself in readiness for the journey. The
train left Sandville in the evening, and she
put everything in order about the house,
seeing that nothing was lacking for her hus-
bands comfort, before it was time to leave.
Miss Latimer came around, and received the
keys, and her parting instructions and
then came the moment, dreaded by both
husband and wife, for saying 'good-bye."
She approached him smiling, for she was
resolved to keep a brave appearance to the
last but when he folded her in his arms
and drew her face against his breast, she
could not keep back the tears.
"Oh, my darling now the time has come,
/ cannot bear to let you CO." he said.
'Promise me you will take care of your.
self-promise me you will come back safe"
''Of course | will come back safe, you
dear, foolish old Silas," she answered, fore
ing smileas she lookedup. "What should
happen to prevent me? | will come back
freighted with all sorts Of good news, before
you will even have time to miss me-"
He kissed her again and again, and, even
after he had let her go, called her back for
one more farewell; and when at length she
had hurried away, and her light figure and
shining eyes had vanished from his longing
gaze, he hid his face and cried like child:
He was so very, very weak-no child could
have been weaker.
But what strange thing was about 10
happen! The strangestmost unlikely thing
that could have occurred to anybody to con-
ceive.
The next day, just before noon, as Sllas
was sitting keeping dreary outlook from
the front window of the library, or little
study, which he generally occupied during
the mornings he espied figure which
looked familiar coming up the street. He
thought at first that he must surely be mis-
taken in his conjecture but no-as the ig-
ure drew nearer, he recognized, beyond a
doubt, in the erect bearing and dignitied
stride, and the features now distinctly viSl-
BILE, the form and lineaments of his uncle
Morris Franklin. A minute later, and he
had knocked at the door, and been ushered
in by Miss Iatimer.
"Well nephew, I hearyou have been ill.,"
was his first remark, made in as matter-of-
fact tone as if they had met but yesterday.
"Did she-did my wife tell you ?" asked
Silas, who had Il confused idea that Celes-
tine must somehow have met him and I'M
parted the information.
"YOur wife-What wife? ? | didn't know
you had one," replied the old gentleman,
calmly taking chair. Then, as Silas gazed
at him in beWilderment, he continued, 1--WE
had news of you from an acquaintance OF
mine, who happened to pass through here
not long ago. He told me you had been
down with typhoid fever, or some such
thing, and were not hourishing generally.
But before we have any farther conversa-
ton, can you give me bite? IVe been
travelling, and am hungry"
The minister summoned Miss Latimer,
who soon prepared repast Of the best there
was in the house, such as it was. 1t was
not a very luxurious repast, but the guest
partook of it heartily, while his keen eyes
silently made notes Of all the details around
him, speaking so plainly of poverty, and
the effort to present it in its best aspect.
"You don't eat anything?" he remarked
interrogatively to his nephew.
81 have no appetite, yet. l can scarcely
manage one meal a day." was the reply:
"Have you any sherry wine? It's a good
appetizer; nothing better"
81 have no sherry Wine-that is a luxury,
and / don't indulge in luNuries," answered
Silas, smiling rather bitterly.
"Humph! you call it a luxury, do you?
Well, now, as I've finished my lunch, or
dinner, or whatever it's intended for, sup