Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-07-28

now. Mrs. Mead, and leave you TO your resi- -
@That you shall not" cried the old woman,
jumping up and laying her skinny hand on
Jenny, who had risen. "Sit down, sit down,
my pretty. Why, how long will it take ye
to walk to Winstona Two hours, will it3
And so you shall come to the village at
three + the morn, and have five hours to
count the daisies in afore tn coach comes!
Sit down! sit down! Yen not leave this
house yet bit, Use warrant"
"But I will be on my way before the light
comes and the people are up" answered
Jenny, still standing.
$50 ye shall, but not afore the light comes.
Sit, mistress Lord save your heart, it's
easier nor standing, and for one niver can
think on my feet Nowheers like bed for
thinkin', say I, and then you're fiat Yell be
changing your mind, I doubt. If yell sit and
ponder"
"Do not say that Mrs Mead. Ihave al
ready left home, and it is as bad as If were
a thousand miles off, will not 60 back, in
deed Bid me goodnight, and be sure my
heart is warm to thee for thy kindness"
@Ah!" cried Mrs. Mead, forcing her, but
not untenderly. into her chair, "ye come from
an obstinate father, and arguments, Us I've
always said, is wasted on stitch. fye mean
to 60 I'll not stop you-and who should know
best but you9 But the job needn't be worse
nor it is. I'm one," said she, going to her cup
board, Gas loves crature comforts. Crature
comforts" she continued, producing couple
of cups and saucers, loaf OF bread, some
eggs, and strange looking vessel OF tin in
which was some tea, made precious by the
price of it in those days, "is true voice of
consolation to the afflicted, to my way O
thinking. Niver did attend q buryin' or 60
nursin', or help to lay body out, but first
I laid in a meal O food Niver doth the mind
do duty on an empty stomach. If its but
crust o hard bread and spoonful O gin, let
me have it, says, before l so to work.
There's no sperrit in fasting"
And so she ratified on, in subdued voice
for fear of disturbing the tailor and his wife
overhead, all the while kindling fire, and
preparing the table, and ceasing her gabble
only to 60 and draw kettle Of water from
some back place.
There was dispatch in the old woman's
method Of going to work, and quiet, too,
were it not for the subdued, eternal cackle Of
her tongue, that would have made sick man
love her. She produced another candle and
frightened up the room, and presently the
kettle was blowing out its flament Of steam.
"Now, mistress" said she, ''here be dish
of tea which all CLANCY, where the herb
grows, as I've heard, couldn't match. Just
shred of bread, with this fine new butter, III
give that egg relish as yell niver
cease to member. Come, come! sim we mum
both keep awake, there's naught like tea-or
tay, as my mother used 70 call it; and that's
the right word, though in these queer times
q body hath no liberty. Well, will ye not
laugh over this feast some dayl 1reckon
Mr.. Shaw II make ye see joke in 1t, for
niver knew blue eye like his that didn't
mean a merry heart; and this will I say of
your husband, mistress, that since the days
when poor Will Hacket coorted me silk
stockings, I've niver seen prettier lad than
dear. an if We shall tell the inside Of it from
cream, I'll swallow the she'll It's middl ne
late for supper, but as thy father once said
to me fifteen years ago, when loved bit o
riband as has no relish now, we're all arti.
fetal creatures-which is the Lords truth.
Why shouldn't body eat i the middle o the
night as well as the morn! Come, come,
make beginning, or I'll not 60 along VII
ye"
"But do not want you to come along with
me, Mrs Mead Indeed, I should not allow
YOU to leave your house after keeping you
from your bed-no, truly, though I love you
dearly for your Kindness" exclaimed Jenny.
"Do you think should let pretty young
woman walk alone to Winston at this time
O. morn, with her box and her sweet face to
court livery smock she may come across"
cried Mrs Mead, poising saucer on level
with her nose, and straining her eyes at
Jenny over it, "What is summers morn
ing walk to me1 If can't hinder thee from
leaving home, III see thee safe in t coach any
ways, and thatll be something for me To tell
thy mother"
The need of companionship was strong in
Jenny. All the way to Winston, with long
waiting for the coach, was a weary under
taking, and what society should she have
but bitter thoughts' Besides, little touch
of comfort there was in the feeling that her
mother would know that no harm had be-
fallen her, if Mrs. Mead gave the story so
far as her promise Of secrecy permitted.
But there was that in the old woman's face
which helped Jenny to promper acceptance
of the offer than otherwise her sweetness
would have sanctioned. Mrs. Mead was
clearly determined and ready to quarrel,
that her will should have its way. So the
lonely hearted girl, with the saddest smile on
her white face. went up to the dame and
thanked her with a kiss upon the rippl.s of
her forehead; and had she been man, n
favor more delightful the old woman could
not have made it seem. But oh, what a con
rast when the faces were together!
Now .lowly. as they sat In these small
hours-outside. the solemn stiffness Of tho
night, and within, no sound but the hum
ming of the kettle to thread the melodious
complaining notes of the girl and the creak-
ing tones of her sympathetic listener-the
faint and mystical light Of the new day,
creeping from the infinite abysm into the
towering chambers Of the western heavens,
stood palely on the window glass, and little
twitter of birds broke abruptly from invisi-
bic places.
Until the light had broadened, Mrs. Mead
refused to heed it; and Jenny, with her back
to the window, and telling the long story Of
her love and marriage and sorrow to her
companion, did not see it Then the girl,
pausng with feverish eyes, after words of
bitter wonder that Cuthbert should have left
her, and wild cry that he might not be
dead Mrs. Mead held up her finger.
Mistress" said she, @before it is too late,
think we'll Of what you are about to do.
Hush! If ye were my own child I should
not say more to thee"
Il have thought have thought moaned
Jenny, rocking herself to and fro. "My
cousin Bridget will give me home; and she
and her husband only shall know my story.
But what will the talk be here, whether I
stay or goa Never could / stir abroad, and
at home my father could not bear to look at
me. Should God send my husband back,
then father will hang his head to think of
the wrong he has done his girl And thou
shalt tell mother where I am. But until
Cuthbert comes. I will keep hidden. have
sworn it to myself; and if should be forced
to stay here I would kill myse!f-indeed l
would"
"Well, truly" muttered the old woman.
ITO see your beauty, liks Kittens and such
soft smiles as ye greet with, who'd think We
had so much spirit? I don't say we aren't
right. You're taching some folks n lesson
asll profit 'em; and when you're righted, the
people here'll make queen Of ye-se', now!
Doth not the Lord say, 1t is not meet to take
the children's bread, and to cast it to dogsF
Yet his own child's bread hath your iather
taken, and niver are dogs wanting VIXEN
there is q crust to gnaw. Turn your head
now, my pretty Do ye see it's day!"
With sharp glance at the window, Jenny
jumped from her chair
II must 20 quickly" she cried. "There
will be people abroad, and if l am seen they
will run to father"
AIh.aroNl ho -.