Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-10-21


followed the brisk, jerky tones from the
room adjoining announced: "There
I'm a.comin at last. It's took me Longer
than usual this mornin to git my hal,
bobbed. That plaguy neuralgy takes me
30 in the shoulder every once in while,
seems as though I must holler right
out" and middle aged woman, whose
figure was composed of billowy layers
of flesh tied in at the waist line by
broad gingham apron strings, appeared,
and with an inclusive glance inspected
the preparations made.
"'Twon't take water long to bile on
top Of such a fire as that" she said ap.
provingly. "That biler'll hold more
without stopping over. Where's the
dipper?"
Ora thrust it within her mothers
reach, and putting the cover Of the boil
er ON noisily. walked to the kitchen
door and looked vaguely around. There
was look Of discomfort on her small
brown face
The little house stood alone on the
crest of a pygmy hill, which on the
right sloped gradually to winding riv-
er, from which it was separated by a
thick growth Of trees and shrubbery. In
front the hillside was smooth and green.
On the two remaining sides fruit trees,
currant bushes, flower beds and vegeta-
BILE patches spread themselves about
with a gratifying lack of disposition to
crowd each other. There was walk
from the seldom used front door to the
gate at the foot of the hill, bordered on
both sides by whitewashed stones, heaps
of which, piled in pyramidal form, dec
Grated the smooth plots on either side Of
this walk The freshness and cleanness
of early morning were everywhere pres
ent There were exhilaration and inspi-
ration in the view presented Of valley,
river and mountain.
"Nioe day, amt it?' remarked Mrs.
Pease, cheered by the glimpse Of sum-
mer beauty that greeted her as she pass
ed the open window.
"Nothin wonderful about it Us see, |"
answered Ora almost savagely. "It's fit
as any day to work in. / don't see as it
makes any difference what kind Of a
day it is when we've got to slave over
washtubs an suds. I'm sick of it all. ="
Mrs. Pease made no answer, but
glanced furtively at her daughters
clouded face whenever the exigencies of
work brought her near the kitchen door.
''It's all her seein Charlotte Frost racin
by arter Steve Judkins last night" she
said to herself. "'Twon't do no good
to speak Of it, though, for she'd deny it
up an down. That's got to be straight
ened out, or Ory'll be down sick with
worryin."
Don't stand there any longer, Dry, I"
she called peremptorily moment later,
with change Of sentiment born of the
demand for action. "We've lost good
quarter of an hour waitin for that pesky
fire."
The girl came back into the room,
dragging after her by one end heavy
wash bench, on top Of which the two
women placed a tub Of wet linen. An
other was already resting On a broad
topped stool, and Ora and her mother
plunged their barred arms into the soapy
masses without further delay. Ora's
mood was inimical to conversation, and
no sound was heard for some time ex-
cept the swish, swish of the linen as
piece after piece was dragged through
the suds to take its place on the zinc
ribbed washboards.
"Soon's we git 'em rubbed out once
we'll have breakfast" said Mrs. Pease
at last. painting little from her violent
exertions "S'pose you run out, Dry,
an see if there's any fresh eggs i'll the
nest. I'll finish rubin out"
"I'm most DONE" answered Ora,
swapping a handkerchief through the
air as she spoke. "Ain't this pretty
one, MARI" She held the embroidered
web up to view. II don't see why I
can t have such things as we'll as Mis-
Holman.
"What earthly good would they do
your" asked her mother scornfully.
Them things is just for show. I'd
rather put my money somewheres else. |"
Ora shrugged her shoulders pettishly.
She was in q mood where sympathy
would have been as irritating to her as
opposition. Her lips opened as though
she were about to continue the argu-
nient, but closed again as the front gate
squeaked on it's hinges and hasty foot
steps were heard coming up the walk.
"Who in natur' can be comm at this
time in the mornin?" inquired Mrs.
Pease excitedly. "You don't look fit to
60 to the door, " she added, rapidly sur
veying her daughters splashed apron
and steamy face. "I'll have to 60 my
self, though don't look any too trig. !"
Ora looked calmly Indifferent, but no
sooner had her mother left the room
than she ran behind the door that open
ed into the little front entry and listen
ed eagerly.
"Why, good mornin, Steve" she
heard her mother say in loud Gre
scendo "Come right in. Yes, Ory's up.
We're early risers here, and her cheeks
blazed with sudden color as she flew in
to the bedroom, tidied her hair, wiped
her hot face and quickly substituted a
neat white apron for the gingham one
she had on.
Ora had face that was very attract
i've in spite Of freckles and reddish hair.
Her eyes were brown and bright, her
teeth unusually fine. AS she came tim
idly into the little parlor, in answer to