Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-02-13
YORKVIIIE, s. c., FEBRUARY 13, 1897

tainly more in need of friendly counte-
nance than was Walnut Creeks para
gon, in some way nobody took account
Of the fact. The reason was perhaps
that she was too fine Of fiber to bewall
her unprotectedness in the right quar-
ter. Her few outings were all in the
shadow of Nam L;sa's ample person.
Perhaps their very rarity gave Rob's
pleasure keener edge.
Usually upon such occasions she
danced the night away with Jack-Jaok,
whose height and step suited hers to a
nicely; who was, after her father, her
very best friend. Of course she liked
him more than any other Of the boys,
more than all of them indeed, and why
should she not say so, especially when
it made Mrs Winfold look so angry and
Mortified? 1t was the highest possible
tribute to her undeniable charm that, in
the face of frankness so desperate, she
never lacked partner for the numbers
| that Jack was constrained to share with
Miss Winfold.
It set the dullest tingling to have hf
floating beside him, her eyes starry, M
cheeks the clearest rose, her 1.-the sle@
derness vital, vibrant, swaying respoh-
sive to the music, as the wind harp to
the wind. Besides, there was distinc.
ton in taking her out. She had the
courage of her antipathies no less that
her convictions. Quick and full of ready
courtesy as she was, there were times
when subterfuge was vain. Then, sooner
than take hands with one who repelled
her fine, subtle instincts, she lifted heF
eyes and said clearly, with no trace q
shy confusion: Excuse me, please. I
think my father would not like to have
me dance with you, and I know should
not like it myself"
"Poor, misguided childl Iwonder she
is so unmannerly. Her mother was a
lady if ever there was one" good Mrs.
Talbot said when such speeches, distort.
ed and magnified hundredfold, came
to her ears. "We must remember,
though, Rob has almost brought herself
up and judge her as kindly as possible.
It is dreadful to be motberless.
"Ah, yes!' Mrs. Winfold sighed in
answer. "Mayby that does have little
ter do with it. But, Mrs. Talbot, be-
lieve people act like they were born ter.
I know eff Alice had lost me years ago
an bad grown up with jest nobody but
brother ter look after her she never
never in the world-would have been q
Rob McGregor. Do you know some.
times when I think Of her-Alice, i
mean-I git down an ask the Lord ter
keep me from idolatry-ter make nle
jest humbly thankful over havin had
such daughter given me-" &.
"H-m-ml wonder what Miss Alice
prays over having such mother" Jack
said irreverently when he heard of the
good woman's prisons Jack liked Miss
Winfold so sincerely he had much ado
to keep from hating her mother. In
fact he quite agreed with. Rob. She
said upon the rare times that she named
the mother and daughter, laughing a
little and with dancing eyes: "Oh,
Jack, do be good to poor stubby Alice !!
There is not mite Of harm in her. In
deed she is rather nice. And think what
she must endure in being her mothers
daughteri''
Rob had habit Of regarding all
things humorously, even herself. 1t was
well that she had. Her laughing bridg-
ed many a minute Of heartbreak. Ros-
coe had been fine and hourishing when
its master last looked upon it. Now it
was woefully desolate after II years OF
thriftless freedman tillage. Hillsides
showed red and barren; gullies gashed
the fairest slopes; the richest bottoms
had overlay of sand and gravel, to say
nothing Of the tangle that yearly en-.
croached farther upon the arabic land
or the rank hedgerows waving where
once there were trim lines of fence.
All the troopers had belonged in the
old days to Mr.. McGregor. Possibly he
Jared better at their hands than he
would have done at those Of strangers.
But he had never got out Of the way OF
regarding himself as sort Of special
providence to his black people. In sick
ness or trouble his hand was open to
them always, and when it came to the
matter Of division and payment of ac-
counts he always enjoined his daughter
not to charge "little triaes of meat and
bread and occasional money against the
poor things"
For he knew nothing of how his land
was served. Rob was eyes to him, and
when in the beginning she saw how it
panied him to hear of rack and ruin she
made up her mind to paint all things in
the rosiest colors. Yearly she had told
him tales of growth and blowth, pa
thetic in their untruth and sublime in
the motive that underlay them. No
matter how bare she went. he lacked
nothing, not even gold to jingle in bis
pocket, and she agreed dutifully when
he said: "You must not dress extrava-
gantly, dear child. That is always bad
taste in so young a woman. But some
thing is due your position as mistress
here. 1t is my wish that you be we'll
clothed, though. So be sure you have
always plenty of good silk gowns, with
lighter frocks for home wear and neigh
borhood visits.