Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1885-05-09

my heart TO offend you. Please kiss
me, and give me loving word before ]
60"
"There, child, never make scene
Goodbye" and she cid kiss the pleading,
upturned face.
MAY write to you?'
Just as you please. shall not ex-
pect it,
And keeping her cold, impassive face
Mrs. Wainwright went TO her own
room, bolted the door, and came out no
more until Estelle had taken her de-
parture the next DAY.
It was q room most unlike that in
which Mrs. Wainwright had taken leave
of EstelIe, that the young girl entered
late IN the afternoon Of the following
lay. The little cottage where Mrs.
West wept for her unnatural child's de,
,ertion had but four rooms, all counted,
and these were furnished very simply.
IL one of these, stopping over sewing
machine, stopping often 10 cough, an
elderly lady, In plain mourning gar
ments, was seated when Estelle came in
Every trace of agitation was carefully
driven from her face, as, with tender
smile, she said:
"Aunt Mary, will you say welcome
home to me?"
"Estelle I"
That was all, but the Joy of the tone
vas too warm to be hidden.
"You ara glad to see me-" EsteIle
sad, brightly.
Glad, child glad My own loving
little girl have missed you sorely,
Estelie. But" she said, suddenly,
you have not quarreled with your
Aunt Cora?"
1--WE heard you wers alone, Estelle
said, evasively, $50 | got permission to
make you long visit. Aunt Cora gave
ne hundred dollars for housekeeping. =
"Alone y the mother said, piteously
"Theoda has gone, Estelle. My child.
whom / never denied any pleasure 10
my power to grant On, Estelle, it will
kill mel"
And looking into the dep, sunhen
eyes, the hollow checks, Estelle knew
her aunt spoke truly. The little rem
nant of life in the consumptive frame
was surely to be shortened by the cruel
| ty of her own child
But by every loving device the self
sacrificing girl strove to keep the feeble
| fame of life still burning She let it be
known in the village that she was anxious
to obtain work as drtssmaker. and
soon found employment Some curios-
! ity was expressed at this sudden return
from the erich aunt" who had taken her
away year before, but Estelle only
told the simple truth, that one aunt
needed her, while the other did not.
Work, none too well paid came to the
little cottage, and the household duties
were shared while Mrs. West could keer
| about. It was in November that Estelle
came to her. and before February she
was unable to leave her bed. The duties
then of nursing and still keeping NJ
with her engagements for dressmaking
pressed very hardly upon Estelle, bu
she never faltered. Day after day tht
invalid was tenderly comforted, and ye
he busy click of the sewing machine
was heard far into the night.
There was kindness shown by the
village people that helped in this labor
eflove. Some came to sit up at night
when the invalid required watching
Many dainty dish, sent to tempt Mrs
Vests appetite, proved sufficient mea
for both. One neighbor sent cart -loa(
IF tre-wood, one barrel of apples, ant
there was never wanting a kindly wore
of sympathy. So the dreary winte
wore away, and to the surprise Of all
Mrs. West lived through the bite
March weather. How tenderly she wa
guarded and nursed III that trying montl
none knew but herself; bat as the warn
spring days came she frightened vlslbly
Theoda wrote occasionally, seemingl,
glad that Estelie had come to take til,
post she had SO heartlessly abandoned
Il one of her letters she wrote:
My husband bids me tell E,steIle i
IS as well, perhaps, that she did 10
/ hgild any strong hope upon Mrs. Vain
wrights caricious adoption of her. a
he will certainly inherit his uncle
money"
Estelle made no comment upon til
message, but in her heart wondered !
the money could he ever put to an
good use i'll hands 50 selfish as Theoia'
Or her husbands It seemed bad pre-
ceden. for any noble action, this deser
ton OF dying parent.
Summer stole away, every day lesser
lag the inval;d's strength, and vinte
loomed up threateningly IL the futurs
All e Mrs. Waiawri8bt's gifs was & ne
aai poorly paid. often interrupted sew
lng. was but Fl slender provision for col
and sickness. Yet the wasted faca, grow