Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-10-21
she added authoritatlvely. "Tell O
her mars here"

uIS. cdSo gave ou AuolOOeooA SAuoSh
Of desperation at Charlotte's sleeve as
the girl few past her. She could make
no sound. The impending crisis had
rendered her dumb
"They can take you home as we'll as
not, " continued Mrs. Frost, turning to
her visitor. 'Twould be pity if they
couldn't arter such tramp as you've
had Land alivel Have you got a pain?
You look real mizzerble."
"It's q crick in my side," gasped
Mrs. Pease. "Seemed's if I couldn't git
my breath for minute" "
"Ploorisy," asserted her companion.
"Put on a faxseed poultiee as soon as
you git home. There amt anything to
equal 'em. Therel They're drawin up.
Charlotte's stopped 'eml'
Mrs Pease shivered visibly, but Mrs
Frost was too much interested in watch
ing what was going on before her to
notice it. II can't make out what
they're up TO-, she announced in puz-
zled tone ''They amt a-gittin out
but they're talkin at great rate.
Hadn It we better go down to the gate
and speak to 'em?"
"I'd rather set STILL" said Mra
Pease, in faint voice.
"Well, if you don't mind bein left,
I'll run down. Think you'll be all right
if I leave you minute3"
eyes"
As soon as the brown and white calico
had futtered over the last step Mrs.
Pease raised herself in her chair, and
gripping its wooden arms tightly looked
toward the carriage, which was drawn
up by the roadside near the gate. She
could see that Steve and Ora we're bend
ing forward listening to Charlotte, who,
leaning on the rail Of the white fence,
seemed to be talking with animation.
"She's a tellin 'em," groaned the
poor woman, stung for the first time
into a realization Of the enormity Of her
offense. "What shall do? Seems's if
the very old boy got into me an driv
me to tell that lie. It'll mortify Dry to
death. She'll never git over it, either.
Oh, what am goin to do?'
She was sad spectacle as she sat
there, her big body covering in the
roomy rocker, her face, framed in a
large black bonnet much askew, white
with anticipation Of Ora's humiliation
and despair when Charlotte should have
finished her startling revelation. "An
right before Steve, toor' she thought,
with anguish.
"She must have hearn it all by this
time, she thought presently. wonder
what they'll say to me fust?"
"Mis' Peasel''
"Mis' PeaseP'
"Mar-r-rr'
The voices breaking in upon her tor
menting thoughts nearly forced shrek
from Mrs Pease. .....
81 can't 90, noway," she groaned
II don't see how I can face 'em!''
"Mis' Pease, come along down;
they're a-waitin for you," called Char
lotte's sharp voice, as she advanced
little way up the walk to make herself
heard. She put her hands to the sides OF
her mouth, sailor fashion, and called
again: Hurry up, Mis- Pease They're
waitin to drive you home"
"Drive me homep" Mrs. Pease rose
in bewilderment "Why-why-they
can't be so dreadful put out, then" "
She adjusted her bonnet with hands
that trembled 80 it was more one sided
than ever when she had arranged it. II
can't think what it means; unless Ory's
too dazed, or too proud, to say a word
before the Frosts. I'm thankful they
amt goin to take me to task here!
Don't seems if I could stand that be-
fore Susan Frost an that sassy Char
lottep' She tottered few steps
"S'pose I've got to git down there some
way, but my legs don't seem to have a
mite of strength in 'em. "
But Mrs. Pease had been too long &C.
customed to domineering over others to
be wholly crushed by any kind Of calam-
ity. Appalled, as she was at the diff
Guilty into which she had gotten herself.
her lifelong habit Of self reliance acted
as O brace to her weakened nervea With
q praiseworthy assumption Of that capa-
bleness which she felt that she had per-
haps forfeited forever, she got down the
steps in spite Of an uncertainty in re-
gard to her extremities to which she
had hitherto been a stranger. Her an1-
ious eyes scanned the faces she was
nearing with something so desperately
imploring in their glance that Ora no
ticed it at once.
"Why, mari Amt you feelin well?
You hadn't ought to come out such a
day. Twas too warm to walk so far." "
"Dunno how you'd "a managed to get
home if we hadn't happened to come
BY" said Steve jocularly. There was
noticeable buoyancy in his hearty voice,
unsurpassed happiness in his pleasant,
rustic face. Mrs Pease looked uncer-
tainly from him to Ora, whose little
brown face wore q blissful expression
that her concern for her mother was
powerless to subdue. Charlotte's fellcl-
tations had produced most unexpected,
most inexplicable effect The attendant
humiliation seemed to have been trans
ferred to the unlocked for side, for Mrs.
Frost stood by the wheel with a disap-
pointed countenance, and Charlotte was
twisting her big hands together with an
unsuccessful effort at lightness and in
difference in her demeanor.
Mrs Pease found speech quite beyond
her. She took refuge i'll her accredited
pain, and kept one hand pressed to her
side.
"Git right in, mar" said Ora.
"We'll have you home in no time"
can don't forgit that flaxseed poul-