Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1885-05-02

EStellc, 1T will kill me-"
Aud looking into the deep, sunk
Ell eyes, the hollow cheeks, Estell,
knew her aunt spoke truly. Tit
little remnant of life in the com
sulnptive frame was surely to bl
shortened by the cruelty of her Owl
child.
But byeyery loving device the
sell-slcrifcing girl stlOve to keel
the feeble flame oiliie stillburning
She let it be known in the village
that she was anxious to obtain
work as IL ,.ressmallcr. and sool
found employment. Some curios
ity was expressed at this sudden
return from the erich aunt" who
had taken her away a year before
but Estellc only told the simple
truth, that one aunt needed her
swhilestheS other did not.
Work, none ell@paid, came
to the little cottage, and the house
hold duties were shared while Mrs
Vest could keep about. 1t was in
November that Estelle came to her
and before February she was un-
able to leave her bed. The duties
then of nursing and still keeping
uphel engagements for dressmak
ing, pressed very hardly upon Es
telle, but she never faltered. Day
AFTER day the invalid wis tenderly
Comtortcd, and yet the busy clicE;
of the sewing machine was heard
far into the night.
There was kindness shown by the
village people that helped in this
labor of love. Some came to sit up
at night, when the invalid required
watching. Many a dainty dish
scnt to tempt Mrs. VESTS appetite
proved IL sufficient meal for both
One neigllbor sent cart-load OF
lirc-wood, one a barrel Of apples
and there WAS never wanting !;
kindly woyl of sympathy. So the
dreary winter wore away, and to
the surprise Of all, Mrs. West lived
through the bitter March weather
How tenderly she was guarded and
nurscd i'll that trying month none
knew but herself; but as the warm
spring days came she frightened
visibIy. Tlieoda wrote occasionally
seemingly glad that EstrlIe had
come to take tile post she had
so lcilrtleSsly abandoned. In OIL,
OF her letters she wrote:
My husband bids me tell Estellt
it is well, perhaps, that she did moi
build any strong hope upon Mrs
Wainwright's capricious Adoption
of her, as lie will certainly inherit
his uncle's money"
Estelle made no comment upon
the message, but in htl heart won
deretl if the money could be ever
put to any good Use in hands 81
selfish as Theod;'s or her husbands
1t seemed Il bad precedent for any
noble action, this desertion Of {
dying parent.
Summer stole away, every day
lessening the invalid's strength nG
winter doomed up tIlreaJeningly il
tic future. All of Mrs. Wainwright,
gift was gone, and poorly paid, OF
ten interrupted sewing, was but &
slender provision for cold and sick
ness. Yet the wasted face, grow
ing paler every day, pleaded silent
ly for many comforts, and Estelle
spurred by the sight, wrote t,
Aunt Cora. 1t was one of the many
long letters, but the first that ask
ed for aid. Estelle wrote:
The doctor tells me Aunt Mary
cannot live many weeks longer
and she requires almost incessall
care, having frequent distressing
spells of bleeding and >uffocation
find l cannot supply the comforts
she needs; so I turn TO you, not tt
beg, but to borrow. Will You lent
me IL hundred dollars, and l vii
faithfully work till it is paid, whel
Aunt Mary no longer needs my
tine?
There was the usual curt reply
TO this letter. but the loan VII.
sent with Il brief intimation tina
the promised payment WAS expect
ed.
Early in November the end came
gently and painleSsly, the dying
breath spent in Il blessing for thu
faithful nurse.
Never once had Mrs. West Sis
pected that her lliece was forbid
den to return to the luxurious home
she had quilted for her sake, 81
she had made no disposition of til,
little property i'll her power to vii
away-the cottage and garden
around it. 1t seemed to Estclle
Young and ignorant OF business
only IL matter Of course shat Sh,
should continue TO live and worl
III the cottage where she had nurset
her aunt's last moments. Blu
Tlleoda, who came to the funeral
informed her she would put th
place into the hands of u l;twye
Tor sale, and she must look for
boarding-place in the village.
Bewildered, weary with watchin!
sorrowing sincerely for her dead
Estelle turned from the words, is
sued almost insultingl,, with a sicl
faltpring of her true heart.
"A letter, Miss Estelle," said on
of the village boys, tapping at th
low window. II was passing tn
mst-otiice, and brought it,