Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-03-16


at the cottage.
It was a small, stuffy affair, with
lchimneys that smoked, and walls thai
reeked with dampness. l was eleven
wears old, but 1 had never known any
lother home. could count on my nm
gers the times that had been permit
ted to go outside the iron entrance
gate. Patty purchased all the neces'
stiles of the household. My mother
land made no visits, received no WIS.,
Iitors. Hermits in a cell never hVee
more isolated. Now, for the first time
II comprehended the secret OF this Sc
clusion, and why I had no playmates
no pastimes-why my mother, IN spite
of her beauty and youth, was always
sad. Plainly the Beast Of Patty's fig'
uratiye speech-that mysterious roe
whose existence I have never suspect
ed till today-was the cause OF 1t all.
| I sat digging my toes into the wei
earth and meditating. I had read Of
fathers in books. Where was mine
had not the slightest memory Of him
nor could I recollect that anybody hac
ever mentioned his name In my pres
ence. Was he living or dead? Dead
Of course, and to his non-existence my
mother and I owe our present DEFENSE
less state.
81 must ask mamma to tell me abou'
NV father" thought; then 1 heard
..1to. 80 Do oftu ohOnfinQ.
Miss Hazel! Miss Hazel"
She came flying through the wither-
ed f1ower-stalks, her skirts pinned ur
about her stout person, feather dus-
fer IN her hand, with which she beck
oned me from afar.
"Hurry, miss!" she cried. There's
a visitor in the parlor. Your Aun'
Ferrers has come!"
Aunt Ferrers! Who was she? lhao
never heard Of such a person.
'T have no aunt" answered. Pat
ty, what can you be thinking about?"
The faithful creature looked all awry
and full of excitement She grasped
| and dragged me off the bench.
Gracious me! miss, here are three
of us at Lake Cottage-how do you
suppose we live? On air? Money must
come from some quarter-your Aunt
Ferrers provides 1t. Often you have
seen me bring letters to your mamma;
we'll, your Aunt Ferrers wrote EN-
4 For years and years she has supported
us all from her own allowance. Your
poor mamma was educated for the
life of a lady. She can no more earn
her own living than a babe In arms
The food we eat, the clothes we wear
the rent of Lake Cottage, all come from
YOUR Aunt Ferrers. She's the one only
friend that has stood by your mamma
through good report and evil
All this, while she dragged me for
ward with one hand, and brandisheo
that duster with the other.
Patty" asked, when did my faith
er die?" and was he very, very poor
that he had to leave mamma and me
to Aunt Ferrers's charity?"
Patty stopped and stared, as though
her breath had been suddenly knocked
out Of her.
Heaven above!" she gasped. "You
dreadful child, who told you that you
ever had a father? Don't go to men,
ton him in your mammals hearing, OF
You'll see her drop dead as door-nail
Mind, now! You may talk of anything
on the earth, or under the earth, miss
but never-never Of your father! There
come along. I always did believe ir
special providences. The Lord him.
self must have sent Miss Ferrers tc
US this day"
I suffered Patty to lead me into the
house. On a sofa, in our shabby par
lor. I found a visitor-the first that
had ever seen at Lake Cottage. Sht
was a small, wrinkled, white-hairec
lady, plainly dressed, but with an un'
mistakable air of birth and breeding
NV mother sat beside her, holding hel
hand. Both had been crying bitterly
Patty drew me forward to the sofa.
This is the child, ma'am," she said
her mothers image, as you can see.'
Then Patty went out, closing the
door softly after her, and Aunt Ferrer;
snatched me to her heart and covered
me with kisses.
"Oh, Constance" she said to my
mother, "she is lovely-lovely! Ane
to think that your father has never
yet seen her! 1t is too cruel! Yot
asked lust now how I dared brave hi.
displeasure by coming here today. Tht
need was too urgent for me to thinl
Of consequences. A crisis is approach
ing. Something must be done, ant
Immediately, to bring this child and hel
grandfather, together"
The tears stood in my mother:
beautiful eyes.
How can that be-" she answered
breathlessly. He has disowned me
cast me off: forbidden me ever to SCI
him more. He would not receive m!
child.
, But he must! he must!" cried ou
visitor. 1T is your only hope, Con
stance. Your daughter is his heiress
Shall we let her rights slip from her
and make no effort to save them? Ht
will Is written; he has given everything
to that young Francis Heron. We
have no time to spare. We must ac
promptly or all is lost, and forever.
My mother grew deadly pale.
II care little for his wealth, Aun
> Helena; it Is my old place in his hear
that regret. Sometimes my punish
ment seems greater than I can bear
> You alone have made it possible fo
me to live. But for you, 1 must hav'
perished long ago, and my child will
: me. What would you have me do
T What can do? My father has become
as flint to me. He VOWS never to SCI
E my face more He sends me back m!
letters unopened. He forbids me eve
again to call him father"
"Yes, yes" sighed Aunt Helena, 6
Lnow be iS very hitter against YOU