Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-02-04
gu @tigiual Storg.
Written for the Yorkvlle Enquirer.
AN UNQUlET LIFE.
CHAPTER vi.
By STANLEY STCLAIR.

Mr.. Charley Scott was by no means the
impersonation of Clara's dreams. lie had
neither fair mustachios nor fortune, but
he was honest and kind, and sincerely at
tached to his pretty wife. She, for her part,
really had no serious intention of marrying
him. until the sudden interruption of her
Garden romance brought matters to cll-
max. Then few hours reflection conVlnc-
ed her that she might do worse than take
advantage of her opportunity. AS time
went on, the wisdom of this decision be-
came more clearly evident. AND IL was
not long before she accommodated herseli
to her matronly duties, and found real
pleasure in the cosy little home over Whlch
, she was called to preside.
/ Some wears passed uneventfully by. One
bleak December night, Mrs. Scott was seat
ed by the fire in her parlor, waiting for her
husbands return. She had disposed of her
baby boy-her only child-in his crib, and
was engaged with one of the novels when
she still loved, when a pitiful cry outside
attracted her attention. She laid down her
book and listened.
"That sounded just on our steps sne
thought to herself: wonder "ha' IL
wasp , ,.
The silence continued for a little while
unbroken, and she resumed her book; but
scarcely had she taken up the interrupt
ed thread of the story, when the cry was
repeated Enthusiastically one of distress and
in child's voice.
"Good gracious! calculated Clara, start
ing up. II declare, that makes me shlver
ali over! I must see who it is"
She was naturally timid, and it was not
without tremor that she approached the
window and cautiously opened an lnch or
two of the blind. There was thick darkness
without and nothing could be gained by
her furtive peep. She therefore raised the
sash little way and softly asked, "Who's
there"
There was no reply, but she distinctly
heard a movement, as OF some person
crouching on the step, and this slight sound
was followed by long quiverlng sigh, sue
ceeded by silence as profound as before.
"This is dreadful" said Clara, hastily
drawing in her head and closing the window.
II wish to goodness Charley was at home.
What shall do?"
Her hesitation did not last long curiosity,
combined with natural wish torelieve one
who might be in want and distress, over
came her fears, and she went to the front
door and looked out. By the light of the
hall lamp she discovered q little figure ly-
ing prone on the steps. 1t was that of
child apparently not more than five or
six wears old. An old bonnet, much too
large, had fallen off the head, from when
a mass of fair hair streamed down. The
little arms were helplessly outstretched,
and as Clara bent anxiously over the pros
trate form, she saw that it lay without
motion. .,
"Oh, the poor little creature! she cried:
"She must haye got lost; she seems frozen!
Oh. here comes Charley at last!-Charley,
dear, here's something dreadful happened; !;
a Door little bit of girl frozen almost TO
death on our steps. l believe she IS dead,
isn't she ?''
MI: Scott; buttoned up to the ears in a
thick overcoat, came hurriedly up in an
swer to this appeal.
"Who is she, and where did she come
from ?" he asked as he stopped TO I'LL the
child in his strong arms.
81 don't know any more than you do. l
heard her cry out, and came to see what
was the matter, and found her lying this
way. Is she dead, do you think"'
mo, 1 feel her heart beat. l tell you
what, though, she doesn't look far from
it," he added as he brought his bur-
den into the lighted room. Hurry, Clara,
and mix little weak brandy and water,
while 1 rub her here in front OF the fire;
maybe that will bring her to. "
Anxiously the necessary restoratives were
applied, and before long the little creature,
Who had swooned probably from exhaus-
tion, opened pair of large, lovely blue
eyes and fixed them wonderingly on the
faces of her preservers.
ooh, the beauty! the little love" ex-
claimed Clara. "Charley, isn't she too
pretty for anything? just like a picture.
What is your name, my darling?'
But the great blue eyes closed wearily
again. The child was not yet sufficiently
revived to understand or reply to her ques-
tioning. Under her husbands directions
Clara removed the soiled, ragged frock,
damp, and the torn and muddy shoes -
stockings the child had none. Then she
bundled the waif up in a warm, wadded
wrapper of her own, and holding her in her
arms in an easy chair on the rug, gently
chafed the limp, icy feet and hands until
warmth and animation were restored. Then
a tinge of color crept into the pretty, pale
cheeks, and by and by the pair of nurses
were able to obtain intelligible answers to
their inquiries. Dolly was her namer she
said; she didn't have any other. She
scarcely seemed to know the meaning of
the words. She used to live with old John,
but he wasn't there any more, and Mrs.
Smith had whipped her, and she came
away. She didn't know where Mrs. Smith
lived. She hadn't eaten any dinner or
any breakfast that day, and she was so
hungry. A bowl of warm milk and bread
was brought and Clara fed her with spoon,
not too plentfully at first, until the reviv-
ing influence of food and fire had suffi-
cient effect to convince them that there
was nothing more to be afraid of.
''She'll do all right now," observed Mr..
Scott with satisfaction, when, the cravings
of hunger satisfied, the rescued morsel OF
humanity sat sleepily winking on his
wife's lap. elk up bed for her, Clara,
and let her 60 to sleep; a good nights rest
will finish up the cure"
After this suggestion had been carried
out, the SCOTS sat for long while discuss
ing the best means of disposing of their
prOteqee. Clara was in favor of adopting
her as their own, but her husband de-
INJURED.
"We're not rich," he said, sand we have
one child of our own already, and as likely
as not half q dozen or more to come. Be-
sides, it would never be the same as if she
was really ours; and should hate to make a
difference, which l couldn't help doing.
Why not take her to the asylum? Mrs.
Ellery would do as we'll by her as you
could, perhaps better; and she's such a
pretty, genteel-looking little thing, |
shouldn't wonder if she soon found good
home."
"It's because she's so lovely that want
her." sighed Clara. "a girl, too! You
know how disappointed l was at Cherub's
being boy, though of course pve got rec
onciIed to it by this time. should dote on
a girl" ,, H. uoo. ~,
ditional charge upon you, and 1t was only
yesterday that you were saying how little
I. I'll