Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-08-13
DAUGHTERS or cA&N
BY Eta w. PIERCE
CHAPTER XXXII.
Aunt Deb's Trouble.

Charlestown Bridge-a shabby little
cottage, painted a faded yellow, and
surrounded by high wooden WALL
fast going to decay. Wedged In be-
tween taller buildings, on the sunless
side of city street, the place was
not attractive to look at, but 1t wore
an air of retirement and seclusion'
Not many days after the flight OF Es-
ther wye from Rookwood, two women,
one young and handsome, the other
old and ugly, took possession Of this
dismal little abode, and under its roof
set up their household goods.
We could not live longer at Cinder-
willie, Aunt Deb" said Esther WYE with
a heavy sigh. After all that has hap
pened there, neither Of us could endure
the place. A city is like the seat
swallows and conceaIs everything
Here we shall be lost. here no one Will
care who or what We are, and above
all, here no person can come seeking
u.s."
Aunt Deb, who looked older and thin
ner than when we saw her last, rock
ed back and forth in melancholy fash
ion.
81 don't care where am, Essie, so
long as I'm not separated from you.
Thank the Lord. you had the heart to
leave your pa and all your grand kin,
and come a travelling back to Cinder-
willie, to find your poor old aunt!
thought to goodness 1 should die or
sheer lonesomeness after Jim Hart took
YOU away-I shall always call him
Jim, because that's the only name that
seems nat'ral to me. Well, you've tried
a husband and you've tried a father
and rich relations beside, and you've
Just turned back to me. like the dove
to the ark; though the Lord knows
you're no dove, Essie, and as an ark,
amt altogether seaworthy."
They were resting together in the
strange cottage, after the labor of un-
packing Aunt Deb's possessions. The
younger woman had assumed dominion
over the elder. So overjoyed was Aunt
Deb to find her niece again. that she
seemed no longer to have any will but
Esther's. Without a murmur, she mad
suffered the girl to hurry her away
from Cfnderville-without murmur
she now sat down in this dark city
street-in this sitting little cottage
knowing that 1t was to be her perma-
nent abode.
Esther had told her nothing concern
ing her flight from Rookwood. She
simply declared that it was all the re-
suit of unbearable inconsistencies, and
with this explanation. Aunt Deb was
satisfied.
"As for anybody seeking you here,
Essie," went on the old woman, you
needn't fear that. I'm certain you
never killed your Canadian husband
though 'twould have served him right
If you had-the traitor! I'm glad TO
see that you're so we'll weaned from his
memory"
Esther, with her chin in her hand
and her turbulent eyes on vacancy
shuddered, but answered not word.
Father joe quavered Aunt Deb,
left something, We'll live on that for
spell / wonder Jim hain't helped us
more" peevishly. Looks as though
he wasn't as rich as he pretends. Be
you a-going to let him know your
present whereabouts, Essie?"
mo; why should 1? Henceforth 1
will take care of myself. I am an un-
natural daughter-I never loved my
father, as a girl should love him less
than ever now"
Aunt Deb looked strangely uneasy.
And your stepsister?" she faltered;
do you love her, Essie?"
Yes: but we will not talk of her.
answered Esther, in a low, distressed
tone.
The two soon settled down to life
of nun-like quiet and simplicity.
Strangers in a strange city, they rare
ly went beyond the tall, rickety gate.
which shut them in from the narrow
street Something strange was work.
ing in Aunt Deb. She grew more and
more depressed. On her mind lay a
burden which, strive as she would,
she could not throw off. At first she
in the dark silent cottage, and watch
ed Esther, warily, hungrily. Should
she open her heart to the girl. NO,
she could not-she dared not! But
one night, quite Unexpectedly, crisis
came.
Aunt Deb had been out to prayer
meeting in little Methodist chapel al
the corner, of the street. Nine O'Clock
was striking when she returned to the
cottage BY an air-tight stove in the
small living room sat Esther, busy
with a piece of sewing. She was star
tied by the odd. haggard look on Aunt
Debs face, as the elder woman put
off her black shawl and bonnet. Aunt
Deb had failed greatly since leaving
Porgy Rock. Perhaps she missed the
wholesome freedom of the sea.
THE minister at the chapel tonight,
she quavered, preached a powerful
sermon on the necessity of repentance
l could feel the hair arising on my
head as l listened to him, Esther. y
bad conscience is a fearful thing. II
adder"
"True-too true" said Esther. with a
heavy sigh; but your conscience is
clean, Aunt Deb-you have only the
common sins of daily life to repent of.
Little you know about it, child
cried Aunt Deb, shrilly. I'm wicked
old woman-I've been desperately
wicked for long years, and all for jim
Hart's filthy lucre! Lord help me!
It's no USE EsSie-Tve got to tell yol
i don't want to. but something's a.
driving me-
Then, from her stricken hand, the
black shawl and bonnet dropped help
lessly, suddenly. and Aunt Deb follow
ed them, and lay in a vOiceless, mo-
tionless heap upon the cottage floor
Esther, in great alarm, in her strong