Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-03-10

spurs. The old woman peered FORWARD
eagerly at sound of the gate latch.
That amt you back already, NAL
vina?"
Her hands were caught in a warm
cordial clasp.
"No; it's only Tom Broxton, Mother
Spillman. I've stopped by to ask after
your eyes. Miss Malvina tells me you
have had a dreadful time with them
this winter. and. as If that wasn't
enough to keep both Of you in work.
you had to go and sprain an ankle"
All Of which was shouted so immedi-
ately into the old lady's ears at the top
Of Toms vigorous young lungs that
she recoiled in physical pain. But she
held his hands with answering warmth
and smiled a glad welcome up at the
great stalwart fellow.
"My dear boy. my good lad. to think
of your taking the time to stop and
call on an old woman like me! But 1t
was like you - like the BroXtons.
mean. They never forgot other peo-
ple's feelings. Sit down. Tom, close
to me. laddie. where l can touch your
shining brown hair If want to. But
don't yell so, Tom. They try to make
out that | can neither hear nor see.
but the old woman Is not quite useless
yet-no. not yet-not too helpless to be
a good friend to the last Of the Brox-
tons. Tom. Eh?"
Indeed, no, ma'am," said Tom cheer
fully. 81 don't know Of anybody |
would turn to quicker If | needed help
than to you or Miss Malvina."
He was thinking of derelict buttons
and failing sock heels. She was think
ing Of much weightier matters. She
gave a chuckle Of unmistakable tri-
umph.
"Say that again, my boy; say it
again. 1t does one good after being
snubbed and laid on the shelf for
years. You mean it, don't you. Tom?"
"Of course l do, every word Of it."
said Tom kindly. "But you must not
talk of being laid on the shelf yet for
a great many years to come, Mother
Spillman. You have got plenty work
to do in the world yet"
"Oh. I'm not getting younger, and
I'm not getting brighter. Pm willing to
60 when my time comes. But, Tom.
I've been wanting to talk with you.
lad. You're right. I've got work to
do. I've been wanting to say some
things to you that no one else could
say as we'll nor as safely. things no.
body else would dare to say. Sit here
on this hassock. close by my feet. boy.
and try to use the trumpet when you
answer me- Then you won't have to
bawl so that they can hear you all over
the county"
$50 far as I can see" said Tom, ex-
perimenting gently with the trumpet,
there's no one to hear us unless it is
Miss Malvina's canary bird or that old
red rooster yonder scratching up the
flower beds. Shall drive him away
She laid a heavy hand on his shoul-
der. NO; sit still. Malvina will be
coming back presently. and she'd hr in
the way" She leaned forward until
her thin lips almost touched his
healthy pink ear.
Thomas. where is all Of your moth
er's and your Aunt Lucetta's fine
jewelry?"
"Jewelry? don't know. Mother
Spillman. didn't know they had
any"
"They had thousands Of dollars
worth. boy. They had diamonds anu
pearls and Etruscan gold sets and
canoes and the dear knows what be.
sides. Many time when |. rs a min
ister's wife. ought to have been frOwn-
ing down such frivolitieS have | sat
gloating over their beautiful gems. real
works Of art. that were kept IN one
great lacQucrware box when your dear
mother and aunt were. alive. They
were fortune in themselves. Oh.
they were dreSSerS. those two dear
women. Not that they ever overdld
it, though. Where is that box now.
ThomaST'
Tom laughed careIessly. Il have not
the slightest idea. Mother Spillman.
Inever heard Of the existence of all that
splendor before. | suppose my father
would have put such things in bank
somewhere. am glad to know so
many pretty things are in waiting for
my future WIFE.
"Your future wife,"
"Why. yes. OF course l am going
to have one some Of these days. Moth
err Spillman. You would not have me
60 without?'
mo. Oh. no! But. Tom, about those
Jewels" She was leaning toward him.
twisting her knotty fingers nervously
about each other. IL remember one
especially beautiful pearl necklace or
YOUR Aunt Lucctta's. Your father
brought it to her from Paris. | don't
suppose there was another one like II
in the whole country-15 large pearls
caught into rosettc. with big opal
in the center and strings Of pearls on
either side.
ut must have been very pretty. but
| never saw it," said Tom absently.
The necklace that had encircled Ollles
rounI white neck the night before had