Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-08-04

land; and the coaches that ran upon II were,
by Greystone travellers, met twenty -one
miles onward at famous ancient city, to
which they were borne by Mr. Franklins
coach, chosen often in preference to this
stage of Winston, as it saved a walk or the
hire of hackney coach, and it was pleas
ant ride.
Paying small heed to the scrutiny of slow
eyes at the windows and doors of the cot
tages Mrs. Mead preceding Jenny, led the
way to the door of the inn, and finding it
locked, put down the box and pulled the
house bell hard
They had not long to wait A servant,
newly risen, came to the glass, and after
prolonged stare at Mrs. Mead's features,
opened the door,
"Tell Mrs. Walker that Judith Mead is
come from Greystone to see her. And take
this here box and lead us to room wi chairs
int whiles oar legs have life in 'em, if ye
| don't want the job of carrying of u.s." ex-
claimed Mrs Mead. And the girl, thus ad-
monished. ridding the old lady of her bur
den, conducted her and Jenny into parlor
to the right of the bar
With groan of weariness the old woman
tumbled herself down upon a chair and
Jenny sank languidly upon sofa
"Well, if ever should ha' believed Wins
ton to be so far!" exclaimed Mrs. Mead, lift
ing her bonnet off her gray hair and throw
ing it upon the table.
"How do We feel, dear heart? Tired you
look as niver see the like; but have prom
ised thee good snatch O. sleep betwixt
breakfast and the coach hour, and that yell
git. And here is Sally. whose mother re-
mimber as the prettiest- wasted wench i
this part O the country. Don't courtesy to
me- my dear, for my bones'll not allow OF
my rising. How are ye-how are yea"
She addressed these words to a stout,
kindly-faced young woman, who had come
suddenly into the room. and now stood star
ing at and courtesying first to Jenny and
then to Mrs. Mead.
"Sally," continued the old wcman, I'VE
have walked all the way from Greystone to
get a sup O breakfast afore t coach starts.
What have We got i the house to comfort
tn inside of an old friend-and a lady,
whose beauty should make We proud to
sarve her. Speak out, my love. and niver
fear to name thy choicest Is it pretty
slice from tender side O bacon, with the
eggs which the hens are now singing over,
and pot o thy best tea, wi cream to give
it dainty color? That will do-that will
do, Sally; but I'll not gi ye farden for it
all. if ye don't make the saucy wench, as
ogled me through your glass door, brisk in
cooking Of it."
"What! Mrs. Mead! Who'd iver ha'
thought Of seeing you this time o marning!"
| cried Mrs. Walker in a rich, clear voice
@Where be ye going by t. coach? Not to Lun-
| non, at thy time O life! Well. we'll! only
last night did say to Roger: Next time thee
goest to Greystone, see that ye fill the big
| gest basket wi the largest gooseberries for
Mrs Mead, that she may know Sally Is
alive and wishes her health How strange,
| now! An it's breakfast you're wanting at
once! That you shall have, an quickly.
| Hi! Martha" she called at the door; and a
voice answered, "Here be, misss" "Run
| out and bring in wha. eggs ye can find, and
first set the kittle on; and if ye stay talking
with jackanapes Johnny, III know you by
my clock, which I am looking at now!
There's breakfast for two to get, and if
your shoes hinder ye from running, toss 'em
| off,"
She looked back into the room with q
merry laugh, which died away on her catch
ing sight of Jennv's face, for the girl had
lifted her VEIL Observing the change of ex-
preston in her friends face, Mrs. Mead
frowned knowingly upon her, with an ex-
| tremely suggestive shake of the head, and
then begged for the loan of a pair OF slip
| pers, which Mrs. Walker Immediately went
| to procure.
aNow. mistress" said the old woman, in
her kindest manner and hobbling over to
Jenny. aye must make yourself comfortable
heYe, and there's no reason agin' it. A bet
ter hearted young woman than Sally there
is not in this world Niver you heed her if
she looks at thee 1t will be your beauty
that fetches her eyes and nothing else; for
this is house of call, and them who kapes
such houses soon loses all curiosity. You
shall breakfast and then lie down for mos
sell O sleep. Why. my dear, what beautiful
hair is yours. 'Tis like putting ones hand
on feathers and just the color O the hair o
some of them drawings ye see on church
windows when tn, sun shines through
them"
This bit of praise was provoked by her
gentle removal Of Jenny's hat; then she
| slipped the shawl off the girls shoulders
and knelt down to take off her shoes and
| caafe the little feet.
Grief and fatigue are by no means such
conditions as beauty covets for their physi-
cal gifts; yet it was question if Jenny's
!oveliness was impaired by the whiteness OF
her face and the languid droop Of her eye
| Ids, AMI the mournful set and curve into
which sorrow had twitchei the sweetness of
| her mouth Her hands were folded wearily
on her lap and her wedding ring glistened.
"How kind and good you are to me, Mrs.
Mead!" she said "If ever my darling comes
| back to me, how will he love and bless you
for your goodness to his wife! If could get
little rest first, could eat some breakfast;
but, indeed, do not think I could swallow
food now."
"Wel!, perhaps ye are right, reptile Mrs.
Mead, thoughtfully.
"Anyways, they'll fit thee, Mrs. Mead, e1-
claimed Sally, with her merry laugh drop
ping the slippers on the floor; sand a slippers
poor job if it don't fit loose"
sNow, see here, Sally" continued Mrs
Mead, rising off her knees with one of those
involuntary groans which old folks like her
will send up over any harsh exercise of their
| bones; "this lady wants some sleep, and I'll
thank We, my dear, for the loan of quiet
room for her, where the drawn blinds'll make
her poor eyes think it night"
"If yell come with me- ma'am, I'll lead you
straight to such a room as Mrs. Mead asks
for" said Sally, with courtesy, giving
Jenny the "ma'am" on account of her web
ding ring which the quick eye of the woman
spied Instantly
With a feeble smile of thanks. Jenny
slipped her feet into her shoes. and, taking
| up her hat and shawl, followed Mr. Walker
| out of the room, and Mrs Mead went creak-
| ing after them
| Now, though Mrs. Mead had repres nte |
| Mrs. Walker as hardened into incuriosty by
her calling as hostess, the truth was Mrs.
Walker was still, and was ever likely to re-
MAN, thorough woman in respect of in
| quisitiveness when any real object of curiosi-
| ty came under her attention. To this quality,
which after all is harmless enough when it
prompts honest and kindly hearts, Jenny was
indebted for the promptness with which she
was conducted to a bedroom and made COM
| r