Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-10-29

| Ill
gan to deepen, yet she met no traveller
and passed no house. What lonely
country it was, that New Hampshire
mountain valley The great hills
looked down over the woods like stern
faced giants. The night air smelled of
swamps, and piny glens, and deep.
buried solitudes. The voices were all
those of wild creatures, mysterious and
hidden. How the weary, heartsick
woman longed for the sight of roof,
chimney, an open door-especially
for the face of one of her own sex.
Only the heart of woman understands
woman's heart
At last, when the fireAies began to
drift across her path like sparks from
the crumbling embers of the sunset,
Abigail, turning bend in the road,
came suddenly upon the welcome glow
of farm. house window. She hasten
ed forward, and turning into little
path between the lilac bushes, ap-
preached the open door. A man sat
upon the doorstep, smoking; and as
he saw the approaching figure, he rose
and called his wife.
A buxom, sweet-faced woman came
bustling to the door, skewer in hand.
The moment Abigail's eyes rested upon
her face, she cried: "Licinda Jones ~
The skewer fell Gathering upon the
floor, and the two women rushed to-
gether, like amicable battering.ram
the arms of the larger embracing
friend and child, in their expansive
embrace.
"Abigail Drew! Be you still living
in these parts? 1 heard, away out in
York state, where we just moved from,
that you and your brother had gone
west 20 years ago. My and you've
been and married and got baby d!
Come income in ! Lorenzo, fetch
the rocker out of the scStin'.room.
How glad 1 am to see you again, Abb
gail. 1 thought you and me was
parted forever"
How straight love had led her wan
dering feet! Abigail sank down in the
cushioned rocker and marvelled at the
cheerful freight playing on the face
of the sleeping babe. Welcome
refuge-sympathy! Ah q! she had not
obeyed the inward voice in vain.
X
Six weeks was Nathan Drew a.
searching for the treasure he had lost.
He drove east, west, north and south,
stopping at every mountain farm
house to seek news of his sister. No
body had seen her going or coming.
The yawning earth could not have
swallowed her more completely.
But at last he had found her. She
was sitting, with her baby, on a low
chair, under the lilac bushes, and he
spied her before he got to the house.
She saw him at the same moment,
and, springing up like hunted Great
ure, made as if she would have fled.
But he stopped her with a pleading
gesture, and look on his face such as
she had not seen since they were
children together.
"You don't know how I've missed
you, Abigail" he said simply, drawing
rein in front of the lilac bushes. The
man looked haggard and worn, and
there was a pathetic tone in his voice.
81 can't 60 home with you, Nathan" "
said Abigail, firmly; and she pressed
the rosy child closer to her bosom.
Yet there was a yearning look in her
eyes, that her brother was not slow to
interpret.
"I've thought it all over sence you
left, Abigail" he said, "and it's ben
borne in upon me that, perhaps, l was
wrong about the child. Come home,
and you shall keep it as long as you
live. l won't say another word. It's
the only love affair you ever he'd, Ahi-
gail, aud l amt a-goin' to stand any
longer between you and your heart. "
The tears welled tG Abigail's eyes,
as she came out into the road with her
child. "Put your hand on her head,
Nathan" she said, land swear to me
that you will never part us. Then l
will 60 home with you"
Nathan Drew hesltated moment.
Then he touched the child's head with
the tips of his horny fingers, and said
II swear it, Abigail"
So they two and the child went home
ether.-Evening Post.