Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-05-07
The Stnrp Teller.
MY LITTLE BOY.
1 was a widow.

A young widow, I suppose-for no one
would regard Internationally as very
venerable age. And pretty widow, peo-
pie said. Whether they were right or
wrong, cannot take upon myself to say.
Of course knew, whenever looked in the
glass, that was not an absolute fright
and 50, when my cousin, Mrs. General Fox
ley, invited me to spend summer with
her at the Oriental hotel, where there were
balls and soirees, lawn tennis and archery,
breakfasts going on all the while, wasn't
at all sorry that Mile. Chatelage had sent
home nv lovely new half-mourning dress,
all trimmed with pearl and lavender, spark
ling jet and prismatic clair de lunes, and
that Aunt Lavinia, our family "etiquette-
book" had decided that it was quite proper
to wear my diamonds if pleased. For 1
was decided brunette, and dark women
always look we'll in diamonds.
Not that it had occurred to me that 1
should ever marry again. My old commo-
dore had been very good and kind to me,
but he was feeble and ailing, and required
great deal of care and my general i'm
preston of matrimony was that it involved
trouble and solicitude, and a constant bur-
den of responsibility.
And now, was free, and intended to
remain so! I felt like Gagged bird that
had managed to give its golden wires the
slip-a butterfly in the blue June air! l
meant to go to the Oriental hotel and have
a royal time, waltzing, dreaming-even
coquetting little in harmless sort of way,
if it seemed good to me-but rs to marry
ing again-no, not 1? Even Priscilla Bent,
my companion, who was the most logical
of creatures, declared that I would be the
greatest fool alive to do that!
But we never know just what is going to
happen to US. The very night before we
were to start for the Orient, came into the
room where Priscilla was packing the lace
things, which were too nice and delicate to
be intrusted to Fifne, the maid.
"Prissy," said I, 'look here! a telegram
from San Domingo! Ny cousin, Fanny
Black, is dead!"
"Dear me, how sad !" said Prissy, putting
on the regulation look of affliction, although
she had never in her life seen Mrs. Captain
Basil Black, of H. M. 1l4th Fusilliers, sta
toned in the West Indies. "But suppose
that won't interfere with our trip to the
seaside, will it p"
"But that isn't ALL" said l. ''She has
left son. And with her dying breath she
charged it on her attendants that should
take him to this country and make home
for him"
HOW Ola is ne .' SG.lu frlSCllld Bent,
looking aghast. And"
"Let me see, ," said 1, counting upon my
fingers. "Basil Black-that's his name, for
him to mamma when / was mite of a
thing-must be one and twenty at least by
this time"
"Bless me - calculated Priscilla, "and you
are only just turning twenty-three your
self"
"Prissy," cried I, with mischievous glee,
"You're as good as book on dates!"
"But it won't be proper" said Priscilla.
"Not proper!" echoed l. "Why won't it
be proper? Isn't that dear old commodore's
house big enough for all of us? And aren't
you here to matroniZe US? think myself
it will be rather fine to fit up suite of
bachelor Notwithstanding room; dress
ing room"
"Elsie," cried Miss Bent in despair, 81
believe you would make fun of anything |!
Don't you see how Outlandish this plan
would be? Write at once to these San Do
mingo people, and tell them it is out of the
question"
"It's too late now, Prissy," said 1. "They
are on the way here, don't you see? I
shouldn't wonder if the steamer were in
port now. And you know, Prissy, I've
always wanted to adopt little boy, only
the dear commodore WOuluilt l leI ihe.
"Elsie."
"Well, Prissy?"
II think you must be crazy" groaned
Miss Bent. "a little boy, indeed! A dash
ing, flirting, drinking West India fellow,
six feet high, III 60 bail, and broad to cor
respond I shall leave the house!"
"No, you won't Prissy," said ], coaXingly.
"You'll just make the best of it, as l am
going to do. l dare say he is very nice, and
poor Fanny never would have left him in
my charge if he wasn't all that is delightful.
And perhaps he'll want to 60 to college, or
study law or something, so he won't be very
much in the house, after all-and you know,
Prissy, one can't neglect dying woman's
request"
lit was very thoughtless of her, at all
events" grumbled my faithful old chape-
ron. ga young thing like you!"
l laughed. II dare say she heard I
was a widow" said l, land probably imag-
ined me middle-aged horror with eye