Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-09-03
CHAPTER XII.
Sisters.

reward, no compensation, hSlhel we
returned, heartsick and weary, to the
Charlestown cottage.
He Is dead!" were her first words
to Aunt Deb. 1T was all in vain-my
Journey, and the expense Of it-he died
before I could deliver your message
Aunt Deb, you must not ask me any
thing more; this is all I can tell you.
The old woman, whose physical con-
dition remained unchanged, had been
eagerly watching for the travellers re-
turn. The news Of Gilbert Yves death
set her withered face flaming with
sort Of fierce JOY.
Then you are mine now, Essie'
she said. 'If he is dead he can nave
no further claim upon you. You De-
long solely to me! What did you do
with the message 1 sent your father
'I destroyed it."
Aunt Deb began to tremble with
anxiety or weakness. or perhaps poth'
Esther Hart! you've a good many
names, but I'm just going to stick 10
the oldest of 'em all. Don't tell me
YOU went and opened that message
when you found Jim dead!"
Esther gave her a high, indignant
look.
You are sick and childish, Aunt
Deb, and forgive you. No, / did not
read your message. 1 burned 1t with
the seal unbroken."
Aunt Deb drew long breath Of re-
lief
Good" she muttered. Nov you
and will cleave to each other for the
rest of our earthly lives, Essie. and
nothing shall part us but DEATH"
The burden on the old woman's mind
seemed lightened, somehow, from that
hour. Peace settled down upon her
perturbed spirit. This Improvement
In Aunt Deb's mental condition was
Esther's sole recompense for that jour-
ney, which would henceforth be q
nightmare horror to her memory.
Curiously, persistently, the old woman
questioned her, but all in vain. Es-
ther would tell absolutely nothing save
that her father was no more.
And h'ain't he left no money to you
and that other girl at Rookwood?" de-
manded Aunt Deb.
"None!" shuddered Esther.
Then, after all. Jim wasn't a rich
man." said Aunt Deb, in a disappoint-
ed tone.
NO. oh, no! He was poor-poorer
than the poorest!" answered Esther
wildly. "If you love me, Aunt Deb,
don't talk of him; don't even mention
his name again"
After this dark episode the daily life
OF the two women fell into very dull
and quiet groove. They kept closely
to their dreary little cottage: saw no
strangers, went nowhere. Whatever
Esther's mental distress may have
been at this time she shared 1t with
no one From the small store left by
old Joe Runnel the pair drew their
modest living.
So month after month went by. The
rigorous winter passed, and one spring
night Esther went down to the very
BdlSS VI uCdbll Illu SeAiiS beaSN
little child in her arms.
Call him Guy" she murmured, her
great turbulent eyes grown soft and
dewy with the solemn joy Of mother
hood. And so the golden-h haired baby
was called Guy, and he looked up at
Esther with Fleetwood's own laughing
violet eyes.
When she could again walk about
the cottage with the child in her arms,
distracting thoughts began to pass and
crowd upon her.
He is living-surely he must be liv-
ing" she would say to herself. IF
thought he was dead / should go mad.
Oh, If he knew of the existence of this
boy, could he find 1t in his heart to for
give me for raising my jealous, wicked
hand against his life?"
And sometimes, while Aunt Deb held
little Guy. and crooned above him the
same old, doleful hymns she used to
sing at Porgy Rock, Esther, watching
both with a swelling heart, would con-
tinue her silent meditations in this
wise:
Shall l take the boy in my arms and
travel again to his door, and sue alb
jectly for his forgiveness? Alas! !
may be the mother of his child, but
anAstill. the daughter of Black Dave.
He fed from me because of my faith
er's crimes. The blood in my veins
can never be changed-the curse OF
Gilbert Yves sins is upon met must
remain upon me till die"
Whatever line her thoughts might
take they always brought up against
this bitter and indisputable fact, as
against a blank wall that could not be
surmounted.
Time went on. Nothing occurred to
break the monotony of life at the cot
tage. Even Aunt Deb seemed neither
better nor worse. Little Guy began to
toddle about the meagre room and
chatter to his beautiful young mother,
and to the old woman whose idol he
had become AS the little fellow in
creased in size and knowledge, Esther
mother-like commenced to think and
to plan for his future.
Aunt Deb" she said, "for the child's
sake. we must not spend our little all.
That's true, Essie"
II am young and strong. l must find
work and at once"
She left little Guy and the paralytis
at the cottage. and set forth that very
day to seek employment.
She found 1t, after some search, at
fashionable cloak and dressmaking es-
tablishment on Washington street A
little withered. piquant Frenchwomar
conducted the affairs of the house. She
surveyed Esther with keen interest.
You can sew, you can cut?' she
said, land, mon Dieu! what shoulders
you have, mademoiselle. what a figure!
You are a born model-you can make
a garment speak for itself-you car
give II style-the air prOper-don't yOU