Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-09-21
CHAPTER x.
Bv Eta w. PIERCE.

them on. -,
"Is II possible? Who has come!
she cried, breathlessly.
"Re calm" said Miss Angus. An
old man-your mothers servant
will helm YOU pack. A carriage Is
waiting and ne seems in great haste.
At last! At last! The doors OF ner
nrison house were open, and she was
going thence. She fell on her knees
went through her prayers wildly IN
coherently, made her toilet WIN coiu'
shaking hands, while Miss Angus anu
some of the girls packed her truhh'
strapped it and dragged 1t OUTSIDE 'he
dormitory door.
breakfast Is waiting" said MISS
Angus II am sure you Will try 10 eat
q little, because l prepared 1t WIN my
own hands"
breakfast! She managed to force
down a bit of French roll and cup ol
coffee. Waiting in the hall she touhu
the person who was to conduct her "
the arms of her unknown and much-
dreamed-of mother-an old man III
rusty black, with white beard ana
meek and subdued manner.
Sibyl rushed breathlessly up to MN, In
And you have come 10 Jake nv
away?" she cried, and looked as IL
ready to embrace this humble deliVerer.
He raised his mild eyes, surveyed
the dazzling young beauty and maze
her a gentle bow.
"Is INV mother better-is sne quite
rscoyered?" demanded Sibyl.
"She is better" said the old man.
.Is 1t a long Journey"
something more than twenty-tour
hours" he answered, and drew note
from his pocket, presenting 1t to her
with another obeisance.
Sibyl tore it open and read:
"Put yourself fearlessly under the
care Of my good servant, Naman. nc
will bring your safely to
Your Mother"
No other word than this. The hun
erv baffied heart of the girl leaped up
into her eyes. She tore the slip pas
sionately and tossed it aside.
Dear mamma, you do not waste
many words upon mel" she laugheu'
bitterly. VERY we'll, Naman; let us
go. What a pity Paulette did not wait
a few hours, that we might nave oe-
parted in company" .
She made her farewells with great
briefness, lingering longest over that
with the jaded under teacher MISS
Angus, whose eyes overfiowed as she
embraced her for the last time. IN
was the only person at st. CatharipS >
who really loved the splendid, dirk
faced girl. and was really sorry to part
with her. Then the cold morning wind
blew in Sibyrs face-the wind Oh tree-
dom-the carriage door snapped anu
she had turned her back forever ana
forever on old ST. Catharine's.
A journey of more than twenty-tour
hours stretched before her, Naman
had said. What an immense distance
that implied to a girl who was ike
nun-who had been cloistered her
whole life from the world! She did
not speak to Naman who sat watching
her in meek and patient readiness
however curious she might be, she
could not question her mothers SER
want. So in utter silence they rolled
along, Sibyl staring out on the rainy
landscape, waiting for the first sign
of the station where their journey was
in reality to begin.
Once on board the cars, with her
shawls, books and bags disposed or
Naman seated near, as watchful as
ever, Sibyl began to look around. The
seats were we'll filled. Many were the
admiring eyes fixed upon the unveiled
girl, with her ravishing face and her
old attendant in rusty black
She watched the shifting scenes
from the car windows, all so new TO
her unsophisticated eyes, till she had
tired the eyes themselves beyond en-"
durance. She counted the hours that
must intervene betwixt her and-home'
If she could call an utterly unknown
place such, and the mother who had
perplexed her so long as purely i'm
aginative being.
How slowly the snorting iron horse
bore themi How she painted to De
there and unravel the mystery of her
life at last!
They dined at one dreary little sta
ton, and at another partook of a de-
plorable tea. Then Sibyl settled her
self to rest for the night, the fever In
her veins somewhat cooled, health
full WEAKNESS weighing down limb AMI
eyelid.
Naman hovered near, waiting upon
her tirelessly.
"At least" thought Sibyl, ut was
kind of mamma to send a person like
this for me-" and then she fell asleep
Rafting and blowing the train tore
on.
Naman awoke her the next morning
in time for a hurried breakfast, which
he passed in to her through the CAT
window.
II have slept away eight weary
hours" said Sibyl, exultingly. i am
eight hours nearer mamma"
She leaned back in her seat and
wrapped herself in her shawl. The
hours did seem interminable. AT one
miserable station a long delay occur
red which almost maddened her. She
harassed Naman ceaselessly with COM
plants and questions. The girl was
in a fever of impatience. She could
not rest, she could not read. AS they
went whirling on again she sat and
watched the flying landscape and the
falling rain without seeing them. Her
feet and hands were like ice: her brain
was on fire.
They were approaching the suburbs
of a town when Naman leaned for
ward and touched her arm.
"You are not used to travelling" he
said. You look ready to sink-take
this sip of wine"
He had a bottle and a cup in his
hand which he had drawn out from