Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-11-12

WV JSSCT1 W. ESLNs
The dreadful woman in the chair
gave a violent start.
Fifteen years ago!", she echoed
Come a little nearer. Mason take of
her hat and shawl. Let me look al
her, l say,"
Mason obeyed. Uncovered, I stood
upon the hearth in my Shaker gown
and kerchief.
For full five minutes dead silence
reigned in the chamber. Mrs. Somer-
set was looking at me with eyes that
seemed to pierce to the marrow In my
bones. Then one awful cry escaped her
drawn white lips-it was as If some
terrible conviction had been driven
like a dagger, to her heart.
Esther, my Esther!" she groaned
and the next instant flung up her
arms, and fell, senseless, gray heap
tn the hearth-rug.
Mason snatched her up and laid her
on the bed.
What do you mean?' she said to
me, angrily, coming here from nobody
knows where, in the dead hours OF
night, and soaring her like this?"
Fortunately, the senseless woman
revived in few moments, and raised
herself on her pillows.
AS her wild eyes fell upon me, she
seized me with both hands-claw
hands, with the frosty sparkle Of dia-
monds on them-and drew me- down
upon the satin counterpane.
sit here, Esther Fox" she COM
manded, in a hoarse, shaken voice.
"and tell me everything you know
about yourself Tell it as fast as you
can-omit nothing"
The little which I knew was soon
told l related the few meagre facts
gained from Mehitable about my poor
mother l spoke of my own discon-
tented life among the people who had
befriended her, and on my meeting
with Hallam Kirke-that was all.
Mrs. Somerset's white head seemed
t. sink deeper between her shoulders
as she listened; her beaked nose al
most met her lean. pointed chin. She
made a frightful picture. sitting there
in that splendid chamber, upon that
splendid bed, one hand clutched in its
covering, the other grasping my Shak-
er gown. Finally she spoke, and this
Is what she said:
Il once knew a girl named Esther
she was the last scion Of an old and
honored family, the pride and hope
and happiness of a widowed mother
She had many lovers, and was be-
trothed to one. judiciously chosen fol
her, and the day was appointed for her
wedding. Well, what did she do, think
you? She eloped with a music teach
era penniless nobody, on the night
of her expected marriage-eloped-fed
whittier no one knew.
After a few months letters came to
the injured mother, asking for forgive
ness and money. The miserable music
teachers health was failing-they were
very poor. The mother burned the
letters unanswered. Her daughters
fortune was in her hands to give OF
to keep. She had absolute control OF
| it. She kept it and vowed that the
two might starve in the streets before
they received either help or forgive
ness from her.
six months later word came that
the man was dead and that child had
been born-a girl-and named Esther
by the wretched parents. Would the
mother relent then? No. She would
not, she did not.
Failing to move her, the music
teachers widow-as I afterward learn
ed-journeyed to a place far away In
New Hampshire to seek a home with
some relatives Of her dead husband;
but on the road she sickened and died
in a Shaker community. and left hel
child to charity. Esther Fox, 1t was
strange that Marcia Johnsbury should
have sent me the granddaughter whom
never thought to see upon this
th!-had she known what she was
about. be sure she would not have done
| it. Mason. go and wake the house
keeper and tell her to rise and prepare
a room Immediately for my grandchild
who has arrived unexpectedly from the
country. and will hereafter live witt
me-"
| (To be Continued.