Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-11-15
BROTHER S1LAs.
BY ETA w. PIERCE.
CHAPTER Iu-Continued.

swered. grimly. You are your moth-
er's image. Mason, take her away ana
find suitable clothes for her, and do
not let that baggage Felice know any
thing of this matter"
Verify, it was strange! felt IKE
person in a dream. I had founo my
kindred at last In the dead or nlgnt'
in this grand house to which l hao
been sent as a servant, Esther Fox the
for,orn little Shakeress, died, and Es-
tber Fox. the child Of good fortune
the direct heir Of rich, aristocrauc
old woman. leaped into sudden 1oyrul
life. =,
The next morning / was summoned
to my grandmother's chamber. sne
looked wan and haggard-evidentiy
she had not slept, but she took my
brown hands kindly in her own:
For the present" she said, I do not
wish any one to know that nave
found you-least Of all, Marcia Johhs-
hurry. She expects to be my heiress
some day. 1 am lonely old woman
and I am glad to give you place In
NV heart and home. II I was once
hard and harsh with your mother you
must forgive me now in my old age.
will today write to Sister Mehitaoie
and refund all the money which tnose
people can possibly have spent upon
vou in sixteen years. will also act
upon Hallam Kirke's idea, and seno
Won Immediately to school. OF course
YOU understand that your whole lre' Is
now changed, and that you must De
civilized and educated as befts my
granddaughter"
Yes, understandable a vague iash-
ION. I asked IL Miss Johnsbury lived
with her.
"No." she answered. Struggling her
shoulders; "her sister Ada has COM
Portable establishment. They dwell TO-
gether and scheme together, and TO-
gether wish me dead every day OF
their lives"
Well, she had been cruel indeed. to
nv dead mother. but heaven knows
how glad I was to forgive her. she
was still a hard, unlovely old woman
but I was ready to love and obey her
IN all things, for we were Of one blood
and felt that belonged to her and
she to me. .....
was sent to a distant school 10
complete my education, or, rather 10
be educated entirely anew. My Vaca-
tIons were spent with Grandmother
Somerset, on which occasions she went
into strict retirement, and shut her
doors upon all comers. Six months al
ter my first night in Golden Square
she told me that Hallam Kirke had
been called abroad, and that MISS
Johnsbury was spending the season IN
a distant city.
Did she ever question you about
YOUR Shaker waiting -maid?" 1 asked
laughing.
Grandmothers sharp beak went
down to meet her pointed chin.
"Yes. I told her that I discharged
the creature for incapacity. She has
forgotten you altogether by this time.
All. I have a little surprise in store for
her, my dear"
During one Of the vacations above
mentioned I was one day sitting In
Grandmother Somersets carriage be-
fore the door Of fashionable shop IN
which my relative was making pur-
chases. Suddenly man passed along
the crowded pavement, looked at
me, stopped looked at me again
at the handsome landau, at the
horses. at the liveried coachman. in
very strange, eager manner. He was
a tall, lank person, all in black, from
head to foot He wore black gloves
and a tall, black hat, and he looked
like a theological student. Advancing
close I'D to the wheel Of the carriage,
he pronounced these two words:
Sister Esther"
Merciful heaven! where had heard
that voice before? l stared at the
speaker, and with a thrill of dismay,
recognized-Brother Silas!
sister Esther, have I found you at
last?"
Before could answer, Grandma
Somerset came out of the shop, and
took a seat by my side. The landau
rolled off down the street, and the man
in black disappeared in the crowd.
A few months lateNI saw him again.
II was a holiday week at school, and l
was taking my morning constitutional
under the trees Of Golden Square, with
Mason for an attendant. The latter
had stopped to chat with a nursemaid,
and as 1 sauntered alone through the
prim flower beds, thinking OF many
things, l became aware Of pursuing
shadow at my side. and turning. found
myself face to face with Brother Silas.
His cadaverous countenance was
white with agitation. The lank RED
hair clung sparsely around it. He
made a deprecatory gesture.
"Esther-Sister Esther, will you
speak to me?'
I drew myself up to my full height.
How came you here?" 1 demanded
haughtily.
He struck his black-gloved hands
sharply together
Three months ago I saw you in a
crowded street. Heaven! that was the
happiest moment of my life. For two
years l had looked everywhere for you.
1 followed your carriage to this square.
1 learned that you had become lady
the heiress of a rich woman. That
shall not hinder me from claiming my
own l said to myself. l have watch
ed the grand house yonder for weeks
and months. 1 have seen you come
and go. Today. when you appeared
with your servant, vowed to speak
to you at any cost You remember
the night. you ran away from Hadham?
Your flight was soon discovered. l
could not stay in the community an
hour after you left it. left, too-star-
ted in pursuit of you, but did not find
49,, Than hathoupht ma of nv own