Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-11-28
CHAPTER TX.
aIY LITTLE GRAVES,

There was hut one topic discussed IN
the countryside that day. and that was
the life and character Of Agatha Webb.
Her history had not been happy
one. She and Philemon had come from
Porchester some 20 or more years be-
fore to escape the sorrows associated
with their native town. They had left
behind them six small graves in Port
chester churchyard, but though evil
dences OF their attiiction We're always
to be seen in the countenances of ell
ther they had entered with SO much
purpose into the life of their adopted
town that they had become persons OF
note there till Philemon's health began
to fail. when Agatha quit all outside
work and devoted herself exclusively
to him. OF her character and winsome
personality We can g,ther some Idea
from the various con. ersations carried
on that day from dorchester green to
the shipyards in Sutherlandtown.
In Deacon Brainerd's cottage the dis
cussion was concerning Agatha's lack
Of vanity. virtue not very common at
that time among the women of this
busy seaport.
Fer q woman so handsome" the
good deacon was saying, land think
can safely call her the finest featured
woman who ever trod these streets, she
showed as little interest in dress as
any one | ever saw. Calico at home
and calico at church, yet she looked as
much Of lady in her dark sprigged
gowns as Mrs. Webster in her silks or
Mrs. Parsons in her $1,000 sealskin."
AS this was a topic within the scope
of his eldest daughters intelligence
she at once spoke up: 81 never thought
she needed to dress so plainly. don't
believe in such a show Of poverty my
self. If one Is too poor to go decent, all
right; but they say she had more lnon.
ey than most any one In town. l Won
der who ia going to get the benefit of
itY
"Why, Philemon Of course. That Is,
as long as he lives. He doubtless had
the making Of it."
us it. true that he's goue clean out OF
his head since her death?" interposed
q neighbor who had happened in.
$50 they say. believe Widow Jones
has taken him into her house.
"Do you think" asked a second
daughter, with becoming hesitation,
'4that he had anything to do with her
death? Some of the neighbors say he
struck her while in Que Of his crazy
fits, while others declare she was killed
by some stranger equally old and al.
most as infrm."
1--WE won't discuss the subject OBJ
jected the deacon. "Tinle will show
who robbed us Of the greatest hearted
and most capable woman in these
parts"
"And will time show who killed Bat.
sy" It was a morsel Of girl who
spoke; the least one Of the family, but
the brightest. "I'm sorry for Batsy
she always gave me cookies when
went to see Mrs. Webb"
"Batsy was a good girl for a Swede,
allowed the deacon's wife. who had moi
spoken till now. when she first came
into town on the spars Of that wrecked
ship we all remember. there was some
struggle between Agatha and me as tc
which Of US should have her. But
didn't like the task Of teaching her the
name Of every pot and pan she had to
use in the kitchen. so gave her up to
Agatha. And it was fortunate I did
for I've never been able to understand
her talk to this day."
81 could talk with her right well,
lisped the little one. "She never called
things by their Swedish names unless
she was worried, and l never worried
her."
81 wonder II she would have wor.
SHIPPED the ground under your feet, as
she did that under Agatha? asked
the deacon. eying his wife with just
the suspicion Of malicious twinkle In
bis eye.
81 am not the greatest hearted and
most capable woman in town." retort
ed his wife. clicking her needles as she
went on knitting.
In Mr.. Sprague's house on the oppo
site side of the road Squire Fisher
was relating some old tales Of bygone