Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-11-12
CHAPTER III.
Esther Speaks Again.

strokes ring out from a neighboripg
steeple-when the carriage which had
brought Felice and from the great
depot stopped in Golden Square.
Come" said the French girl; "this
is the place. petite"
She had not spoken an unnecessary
word to me upon the journey, but her
face was kind and friendly stepped
out upon a sidewalk before a great
house; in an upper chamber one SOL
ltary light was shining behind a cur
tain.
The moon revealed the whole square
with its fountains, statues, waving
trees and rows Of handsome dwellings
on either side The silence of death
reigned over it.
Felice gave the driver our fares,
then ran up a flight Of steps and pull
ed the bell of the great house violently
rs this the school?" l asked, with a
sudden sinking Of heart.
Felice stared, then laughed.
school! Ciel! No, that was a ia
ble-a grand lie, my child. All, why
do they not let us in? The old dragon
IL awake, for the light burns in her
chamber. Now may tell you how it
is; on the train l refrained, lest you
should throw yourself from the win
dow Monsieur would have put you to
school-mon Dieu! he is as generous
as a prince! But observe-Madem-
oiselle Johnsbury in his betrothed. She
could not allow It, You are too hand
some. Ia, ia! So you will not be a
scholar, but "a"
The door opened before she could
finish her sentence. On the threshold
stood a middle-aged servant, with a
lamp in her hand.
"Ah, Mason!" cried Felice, pushing
gayly into the great hall and drawing
me after her, II have come, Heaven
only knows how many miles, on an err
rand for Mademoiselle Johnsbury. You
see this young person. I bring her to
Madame Somerset-also letter which
will explain everything"
Mason looked cross and amazed. She
led us into a room off the great hall,
lighted a gas jet, eyed me curiously.
and demanded:
Where is the letter."
Felice drew it from her pocket; the
woman vanished. l gave one glance
around the apartment. To me its
splendor was dazzling.
Felice waved her hand expressively
toward the carving and gliding, the
brocade and buhl and ormolu.
Behold, Madame is absurdly rich
and Mademoiselle Johnsbury is her
heiress. l have brought you here, my
child, to be the old creatures waiting
maid. Do you know what that means?
Nay" answered. truthfully enough.
You will come and go as she bids
you, fetch and carry at her command
She has the temper of fiend and will
box your pretty ears and rap you with
her cane. But mind it not; the wages
are good, and you will get used to 1t
all in time. Even this is better than
Brother Silas and the elders, is it not?
All, how lost, how bewildered you look
my child! Be comforted."
could not fully comprehend my sit
uation, but a great thrill of disap-
pointment and dismay rushed over me
The hot tears gathered in my eyes.
AS Felice drew out her handkerchief
to wipe them away, Mason appeared
again at the door.
Mrs. Somerset wishes to see the
person called Esther Fox" she an
nounced shortly.
Go, petite" cried Felice. "The
dragon will give you audience. only
hope that she may not eat you
l arose mechanically and followed
the woman up a broad stair. across a
corridor. where an Indian jar on a
pedestal emitted a cloud of perfume
to a massive rosewood door hung on
silver hinges. This she opened, and
stepped into the room beyond.
1t was a bed-chamber with paint
ed ceiling, and a carpet into which my
feet sank as into swamp moss. The
furniture was of crimson brocade, COW
cred with arabesQue figures. Curtains
i crimson silk and lace shaded the
plate glass windows. On a hearth OF
foreign tiles burned a woOdfire, and
IN low chair before it sat an old wo-
man. in a lace nightcap and bedgowr
Of fine linen.
She was small in figure. bowed and
emaciated. Her hair was like hoar-
frost, her nose like an eagles beak.
An open letter lay on her knee. She
looked up as l entered. and her eyes
were black and sharp as swords.
Come here!" she commanded.
A sudden terror seized me. l cOult
not stir. Mason pushed me smartlI
forward.
Come nearer, you Shakeress!" criet
this appalling woman, my eyes are
defective. So you have been trying tC
steal Marcia Johnsbury's lover, eh'
and she has sent you to be my wait
ingmaid?" She tapped on the oper
letter My niece, Marcia, is a very
clever person." she sneered. Let m'
look at you. She says your name il
Esther FoX?"
Yes, madam" | answered, using th'
affirmative of the worlds people fo
the first time in my life.
How came you by that name?"
MY mother gave it to me-"
Your mother! Who was you
mother?"
"A lady" l faltered. who was un
fol tunate. madam. She died among
the Shakers at Hadham more than fif
teen wears ago"