Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-10-03

blemish, hero, a god. l would hav'
walked over hot plowshares at his bid
ding-I would have gone through up
lifted seas at his call. My alteration
for him became as blind, as devoted
as a Parsee's for his sacred fire. wa!
only a child, but with my first look il
his careless eyes, l think the unfor
tunate passion began-the mad, hope
less love, which was destined, alas! t,
make the anguish and despair of m!
future. AS began to mend, he Otter
used to question me about myself.
Did you never know father Of
mother, Polly?" he asked on one occa'
sion, and 1 shook my head and an.
swered, "never!"
"But what is your family name?"
I've no name but Polly, as told yor
the first time you spoke to me on the
street."
And this little lost Nan that yor
love so well-did she fare no better?'
"She was just Nan, as I was Polly
Strange! I suspect the uncon'
scionable Scrag hag never told yor
anything about your parents?"
mo; oh. no."
"And you dared not question hel
about the matter?"
"Often did, sir, but she always an
swered me with rap Of her stick"
Mr.. Vandine meditated.
Then, Of course, you cannot be sure
that Nan was your sister,"
My wizened face wrinkled with
doubt.
II suppose not; but, oh, sir, she
ought to be my sister-it would seem
a dreadful thing if she wasn't, because
I love her SOL Granny Scrag always
treated her better than me-she die
not beat her as much-she was kinder
to her in every way-I was glad OF
that. Indeed, Nan seemed made OF
finer stuff than l."
He smiled whimsically.
you brave, generous little Polly!
What a trump you area genuine
heroine of the gutter! Now here's the
whole matter for you in a nutshell:
Some one took fancy to Mans pretty
face-for you say she was uncommon
ly pretty-and adopted her out OF
hand, with the full consent of her le-
gal guardian, or grandmother, OF
whatever the crone is-in which case
all is lawful and above board, and
you will have to resign yourself to the
inevitable-that is, let Nan go, and
console your noble little heart with
thinking that her lines have fallen in
pleasant places"
Il shall find her some day." I said
with determination. "She was in the
carriage, but she didn't see me;
screamed, but she didn't hear. I shall
grow up, and earn money, and go out
and hunt for her through the world"
He shook his head.
Better not, Polly; she may not
thank you for your trouble; she may
not care to be found by you. This is
an ungrateful world, my child. Think
of yourself a little. Do you suppose
Granny Scrag is fretting about you at
the present time? Does she fancy
you have skipped off in the wake of
Nan?"
grew pale with fright.
"Oh, sir, she hasn't been here, 1 hope,
asking for me? She doesn't know
where l am?"
mo, Polly, she has not been here,
and she probably doesn't know or care
whether you are dead or alive. By
and-by you will be discharged from
the hospital. Are you going back to
Harmony Alley then?"
1 gasped with terror.
No! oh. gracious goodness, no!
Not for the world, sir! I'd drown my
self first; I'd run under the horses feet
again and stay there"
Then you will never return to the
fond arms of Granny Scrag?"
Never"
Quite right" said Vandine, in his
careless, off hand way. Il wouldn't, If
| were you. Something will turn up,
dare say, before you leave this place
We'll get you admitted to an orphan
ASYLUM or a home for destitute chill
dren."
/ shook my head.
II shouldn't like that, sir; 1 would
sooner take care of myself"
He laughed.
You're rather small for the task
Polly; rather deficient as regards
Drawn and sinew, both of which are
requisite to push ones self on sue
cessfully in this greedy world"
The time for my departure from the
hospital came all too soon. The clean
orderly, quiet place had grown posi-
lively dear to me. There, for the first
time in my life, l had found kindness
and comfort and care. How reluctant
l felt to leave the spot where I had
suffered so much How hard it was
for me to say good-by to the sweet
W Ii. hohSSiS, " A'N''
Vandine! And where was to go? In
what corner of the great city could
find a shelter?
Il suppose you do not know of any
right minded person who is anxious
to adopt a well-grown infant, eh?'
said Dick Vandine to his uncle, at
this critical stage in my affairs.
"I confess that l do not" replied the
doctor dryly.
It's hard to send Polly back to the
beastly grandmother who has abused
her so long; it's hard to turn her into
the street. OF course she will not be
capable of shifting for herself for a
long time to come"
why do you trouble yourself about
the girl?" cried DR.. Steele, impatient
". She is nothing to you. If you be-
gin your career in this way, Dick, you
will soon be up to the neck in difficult
ties"
Vandine shrugged his shoulders.
why cannot you make a place fol
Polly in your own house, uncle?" he
said. boldly. she might do the gen.