Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-01-07
Am Original Storg.
Written for The Yorkvile Enquirer.
AN UNQUIET LIFE.
BY STANLEY STCLAIR.
CHAPTER 7.

AnQ IL Is dUSOlutely ucSeoooiS tAe'' w
should go?"
ssIt is absolutely necessary, my love, tha:
I should 60. ] lay no commands upon
YOU"
"Oh! Richard, I cannot let you 60 alone" "
"But the little one-can we take her""
"That is what am thinking about. She
is very young and tender to be exposed to
the fatigue of such a Journey"
Sand worse than that, Emily, the rigor
of the climate after we arrive there. On no,
we surely cannot take her; it would be a
great risk-an unjustifiable risk. we must
leave her-or rather, I must leave her with
YOU. ] think our duty is plain. Dear wife,
I must leave you both at home."
This dialogue took place in the library OF
q handsome house in one of the retired
streets of q small Southern town. At its
close, Emily Fairfax quietly turned away
from the table near which, looking over her
husbands shoulder, she had been standing
as she spoke, and left the room.
The subject of their discussion, was briefly
this, Mr.. Fairfax, who was connected with
a large business firm in Nova Scotia, had
received an unexpected and most unWei-
come summons to attend a meeting OF TINS
firm at the home Office, for reasons when
absolutely required his presence. 1t was
also likely that he might be detained abroad
during several weeks. and his wife felt
most unwilling to have him 90 without
her, as his health was at present delicate,
and needed her constant care. But their
only child was an infant of three months,
also delicate, whom they dreaded to expose
to the dangers of such an undertaking as
Journey to Nova Scotia in the month OF
November. Had her husbands health
been strong, Mrs. Fairfax would not, could
not have hesitated in regard to the course
she ought to take: But she dreaded mex
pressibly the possibility of the return OF
such an attack as he had only month pre-,
vious, when the most constant and devoted
nursing had been necessary, nursing Whlch
she felt sure he would not be able to obtain,
should he require it, while absent from her.
She pleaded strongly with him at first, to
give up the journey-his business could not
be so urgent as to stand in the face ofall OBJ
stacles. But he refused to consider this side
of the question. Go he must-he hated to
leave home, above all to leave her, but it
would be folly to neglect so imperative a
summons, on such slight grounds as the
mere chance of endangering his health. He
might as we'll throw up his interest in the
firm at once. Besides, he felt quite we'll
now, and so far from doing him any harm,
the Journey would most likely prove ben
eft to him. >.
So he argued, and his wife, knowing his
res0lute disposition, felt that it would be
useless to combat his decision. But her n .: at n
fectionate heart was torn by conflicting
claims, and she spent many anxious hours
vainly endeavoring to discover some meth
cd of reconciling them.
At the end of two days circumstance oc-
Cured which suddenly decided her course.
Her husband became unwell, and showed
SYMPTOMS of q similar attack to the one
from which he had so lately recovered He
consulted his physician, who assured him
that his intended journey would prove ad-
vantageous to his health, but advised him
not to travel alone. Mrs. Fairfax insisted
that no one should accompany him but her
not without opposition on his part), that
their child should be left in the care OF its
nurse, a most admirable and faithful wo-
man, who had been an attendant in the
family for many years, and possessed their
entire confidence.
Her mind being once made up, Emily
dared not reflect upon the resolution she
had formed, lest it should be weakened by
too much thought. For the idea of desert
ing the tender little creature who had but
Just come to claim her love and care became
terrible to her, now that the reality was
brought before her. She believed that she
was doing her duty, and her husband held
the strongest claim upon her devotion.
But her maternal instincts cried out against
their violation, and nothing but strong
conviction that the baby's welfare depend
ed upon its remaining at home prevented
her, even at the last moment, from decld-
ing that it should accompany her. Howev-
er, the time Of departure soon arrived.
And she was almost thankful when the tu-
mutt of doubt and inward uncertainty was
ended, and they were fairly embarked upon
their journey.
Fortunately, perhaps, for her, her hus-
bands health continued for few days in
somewhat precarious state thus demanding
her close attention, and diverting her mind
from other thoughts. And heranxietyin his
behalf, her necessary care for his comfort,
and gradual relief at finding that he was
slowly though surely recovering, and would
probably be all the better for his under
taking, proved an antidote to depressing
memories, and possible self-reproach.
1t was not without anxiety that Ellen
Stevenson, the elderly nurse in whose care
Baby Hilda had been left, accepted the
charge entrusted to her. She had sufficient
confidence in herself to feel sure that she
could do as we'll for the child as the young
er's absence so greatly increased her respon-
sibility as to inspire her with certain un-
easiness, especially as the infant was not by
any means a robust one; and she feared
the chance of its falling i'll while she had
the sole care of it. Mr.. and Mrs. Fair
fax had invested her with full authority in
their household until their return; and the
servants were instructed to obey her orders,
and to allow her to want for nothing, either
for herself or the baby, that she might Judge
requisite. AS she was kind and consider
ate person, and a favorite with the domes-
tics, who were, moreover, much attached to
their master and mistress, there seemed to
be no fear but that everything would work
smoothly under her temporary rule.
And so it proved, and the good, consci-
entious Ellen gradually forgot her fears,
and grew satisfied and happy, when she
found that the baby throve under the new
order of things as it had never done yet,
losing its puny appearance, and becoming
plump, rosy and tranquil, regular in its
meal times and sleepy times, and bidding
fair to prove decided credit to her man.
agement. The news from the absentees
was most encouraging. Mr.. Fairfax had
improved wonderfully in health, and his
wife wrote in the gayest spirits, particular
ly as the time drew near for them to return
home. They were expected early IN Feb
ruary, and Ellen was busy with preparations
for their arrival, when the disappointing
information came that an unlocked for cause
of delay, connected with the Fairfax's busi'
ness, had arisen, and that it was now un'
certain how much longer they might be
detained.
"Dear, dear !" sighed Ellen, as she folded
up the letter containing this unWelcome
news, ''it's really too hard, just when l had
set nv heart on theircoming, and everything