Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-05-20
Copyright, 1898, by the Author.
CHAPTER V.
SHIPWRECK.

the weariness and heartsickness which
had possessed her when she entered the
house. She cast but one glance at the
helpless figure lying on the hearth rug,
then ran to the bell and pulled at it
hard, an eager peal such as brought the
two maidservants running in to see
what was amiss.
"Mouncey-my mother! How long
has she been left 2" Mrs. Conway gasp
ed.
Mouncey with scared face knelt
down on the other side of the uncon-
scious woman. "Lor', ma'am, she
said in trembling tones, "it's not ten
minutes since carried tea in. came
twice, and Mrs Hamilton said she'd
rather wait for you, and at last Foster
made the buns hot, and I brought tea in
without saying anything. And Mrs.
Hamilton. she says, Why. Mouncey,
she says, you do spoil me- And I say
to her, 'Lor'. ma am, misses will be
vexed if you go any longer past your
teatime. And then she says: There's
the newsboy. I'd like paper, Mouncey.
So went out and got one, and give it
to her and-why, poor lady, she's never
had any tea at ALL"
"We must get her up to bed at
once" said Mary anxiously. "Can we
carry her among usf"
"Lor', yes, ma'am," answered
Mouncey promptly. "a little bit of a
thing like her Here, Foster, take her
feet. III take her head. No, ma am !:
we can do better just the two of u.s."
She was right, and Mrs Hamilton,
who was very small and slight, was
soon safely laid upon her own bed.
"I'd better fetch the doctor, ma am ?"
asked Foster.
"Oh, yes, yes, at once! We must get
her into bed. Mouncey."
eyes, ma am, but there's no need to
hurry. Poor lady! I'm afraid it will
make very little difference to her"
"Hush-shI' cried Mary fearfully.
"Nay, ma am; she hears nothing. If
I was you, 1 would just cover her over
with the elder quilt till the doctor has
seen her. Anyway I wouldn't undress
her till the fire has burned up. I was
just coming up to light it
She covered the old lady with the
warm, gay colored quilt as she spoke,
and taking, after the manner of house
maids, a box of matches from her
pocket set light to the fire, which soon
burned Up cheerfully, casting bright
glow over the pretty room.
"I'll fetch you cup of tea now,
ma 'am," she remarked. "for I'm sure
you need it.
The protest which instinctively rose
to her lips died away urder newborn
realization of her intense WEAKNESS. 81
am very, very tired, Mouncey," che
said helplessly.
The good natured girl drew her into
chair by the fire. ''Sit here, ma am,
until ! bring your tea. You can't do
anything for the poor lady, and you
may want all your strength for later
on"
She sped away, returning in a very
short time with the tea tray, on which
were pot cf fresh tea and covered
plate of hot buns. which had been on
the stove awaiting the mistress return.
These she arranged on little table by
the fireside and then poured out the tea
and held the inviting little cakes that
Mary might take one.
In truth Mary was too tired to refuse
such ministrations, which were doubly
welcome just then, and Mouncey fairly
stood over her until she had eaten
enough to satisfy her sense of what
was necessary and right. Then she
went down stairs, leaving her mistress
sitting in the big armchair wondering
what the end of it all would be.
"Poor motherp' her thoughts ran.
"Poor, poor mother Are you going
this time, and have made the sacrifice
for nothing2 No, not for nothing, for /
shall always be able to say, The end of
her life was peace. "
She rose restlessly from her chair and
went to the side of the bed, where she
stood looking down upon the drawn.
gray face already so deathlike in the
immobility of unconsciousness. 81
wonder what caused her to have an at
tack2" Mary said to herself. "She was
so bright and we'll this morning. Could
there have been anything in that paper?
Where is it2 What did Monncey do
with it2"
She looked about for it, bus without
success, and then she remembered that
possibly it was still in her mothers
hand. So it proved to be. and Mary was
obliged to tear the sheet little in or
der to release it from that viselike grip.
A glance was sufficient to tell the
cause of Mrs. Hamilton's seizure. As
she smoothed the crumpled page her
eye caught the heading of the latest tel
egraphic ews-"Reported loss of the
ocean liner Arikhama, with over 800
ives!"
Mary Conway was still staring wild
" at the paper when Mouncey came in
with the doctor in her wake. "What
is it2" she asked, seeing the horror on
her young mistress face.
"Oh, Mouncey-the paper-the news
INV moor mother % WAC all that Mary