Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-02-02

ran down her cheeks.
IF you call Wat Adair your friend
interrupted the wife sullenly, and ad-
dressing Robinson, you will show your
sense by keeping away from this fool
ish old woman. She is continually
raving with some nonsense that she
dreams of nights. You ought to see
that she Is only half witted. It's sin
full to encourage her talking. Grand
mother, you had better go to your
bed"
Come this way, deary," said the
beldam, addressing an infant that tod
died across the floor near to her seat,
at the same time extending her shriv-
elled arm to receive it. "Come to the
old body, pretty darling!"
NO" lisped the child with an angry
scream, and instantly made its way
towards the door.
"Then do you come to me, Peggy"
she said. looking up at her grand
daughter, the mistress of the family,
who was still busy with her wheel;
wipe my old eye with your handker-
chief. Don't you see I have laughed
my eyes dim at Watty and his gold?
And fill my pipe again, Peggy"
Instead of obeying this command,
the mother left her spinning, and ran
with some precipitation towards the
door to catch up the child, who had
staggered to the very verge Of the sill,
where it paused In imminent peril or
falling headlong down the step; and
having rescue 1t from its danger. she
returned with the infant in her arms
to a chair, where, without scruple at
the presence Of her visitors, she uncov-
cred her bosom and administered to
her offspring that rich and simple
bounty which nature has so lavishly
provided for the sustenance of our first
and tenderest days of helplessness.
"Well-a day, I see how it Isl" NUT
reproof that's the way Of the world.
Love is like a running river, 1t goes
downwards, but doesn't come back to
the spring. The poor old granny In the
chimney corner is a withered tree up
the stream, and the youngest born Is
a pretty flower on the bank below.
Love leaves the old tree and goes to
the flower. 1t went from me to Peg
gy's mother, and so downwards and
downwards, but 1t never will come
back again. The old granny's room Is
more wanted than her company; she
ought to be nailed up in her coffin and
put to sleep down, down in the cold
ground. Well, we'll! But Wattys a
proud wretch that's for certain!"
In this strain the aged dame con-
tinued to pour forth a stream of gar
rulity exhibiting a mixture of the sill
ly dreamings Of dotage, with a curious
remainder Of the scraps and saws OF
former experience strange COM
pound of futile drivelling and shrewd
and quick sagacity.
During the period of the foregoing
dialogue, preparations were making
for supper. These were conducted
principally under the superintendent
of our Hebe, who, my reader VIII re-
collect some time since escaped from
the room, and who, as Butler learned,
in the course of the evening, was a
niece of Adairs wife and bore the
the kindly name Of Mary Musgrove.
The part which she took in the con-
Germs of the family was in accordance
with the simple manners Of the time,
and such as might be expected from
her relationship. She was now seen
arranging a broad table, and directing
the domestics in the disposition of sun
dry dishes Of venison, bacon, and corn
bread, with such other items Of fare
as belonged to the sequestered and
forest bound region in which Adair re-
sided.
Mary was frequently caught direct
ing her regards towards Butler, whose
face was handsome enough to have
rendered such a thing quite natural
from a young girl; but she seemed to
be moved by more than ordinary in
terest, as the closeness of her scrutiny
almost implied a suspicion in her mind
of his disguise. In truth there was
some incongruity between his manners
and the peasant dress he wore, which
an eye like Mary's might have detect
ed, Notwithstanding tn" plainness of
demeanor which Butler studied to as
sumo.
1--WE have nothing but corn bread In
the house." said Mary in a low tone
to her kinswoman, perhaps the gen.
tleman (here she directed her eye, for
the fiftieth time to Butler) expected to
get wheat. Had 1 not better pull some
roasting-ears from the garden and
prepare them? they will not be amiss
with our milk and butter"
BLESS you, my dear" said Butler,
thrown completely off his guard, and
showing more gallantry than belonged
to the station he affected. Give your
self no trouble on my account: we can
eat anything: l delight in corn cakes
and will do ample justice to this sa-
worry venison. Pray do not concern
yourself for US"
1T is easy as running to the gar
den," said Mary in a sweet and almost
laughing tone.
That's further, my dear" replied
Butler, than I choose you should run
at this time of night. 1t is dark, my
pretty girl.
"Gracious!" returned Mary with nat
ural emotion, do you think am afraid
to go as far as the garden in the dark
We have no witches or fairies in oul
hills to hurt US; and If we had, know
how to keep them away"
And how might that be-"
by saying my prayers, sir. My faith
| er taught me, before my head was as
high as the back Of this chair, a good
many prayers; and he told me they
would protect me from all sorts OF
harm, if l only said them in right
earnest. And l hear many old people
who ought to know, say the same
thing"
Your father taught you we'll anc
wisely" replied Butler; prayer vii
guard us against many ills. and chiefly