Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-12-05
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Last Words.

CHAFIEh Ahhlll.
Last Words.
Another year went by. Miss Pam
and her niece lived on in quiet seclu-
sion at Greylock Woods-the former
busy with the increasing infirmities of
seventy years, the latter absorbed in
her books and music.
Aunt Pam vainly lamented the new
Ethel's odd ways-her utter indiffer-
ence to society-her total disregard of
all those things to which a rich heir
ess, with a fair share of good looks,
ought naturally to devote her time and
attention.
II am not like other girls, Aunt
PAM" said Ethel to her aged kins-
woman. "A leopard cannot change
his spots, and 1t would be quite impos-
sible for you to transform me into a
woman of society. All the same" with
a quiet little smile, 1T seems to me
that you and are very happy togeth-
ler."
I'VE are, indeed" cried Aunt Pam,
heartily. You stand in your own
light, Ethel, and I'm sure it's highly
absburd for a girl in your position to
live the life Of a nun; but heaven
knows you have the sweetest, noblest
nature 1 ever met with in my life"
Polly seemed to dearly love her own
boundaries-her rich, stately home,
and its grand surroundings. She paid
no visits, she received no visitors;
nevertheless, since entering into her
Inheritance, she had made a circle Of
friends-the poor, the sick, the af-
ficted. For miles around all these
knew her well.
Letters arrived regularly from Lady
Greylock. No cloud had fallen on her
happiness. The baronet was the no
blest of men, the most devoted Of hus-
bands, their English home was a par
adise, and at the end Of the year ca
blegram came to the Woods announc-
ing the birth Of son and heir at
Greylock Hall.
It was In the following summer,
when a brazen heat filled the sky, and
the marshes stretched parched and
brown under the sun, that a wasting,
contagious fever crept into the cot
tages of the Blackport fishermen, and
made such want and woe and havoc
there as had not been known before
for many years.
Night and day DR.. Vandine came
and went among these abodes Of suf-
fering. He seemed at this time neith-
er to rest or sleep. There was no
other physician to help him; the dis
ease had spread into other towns, and
nurses could not be found to assume
4 the care OF the sick. The population
of Blackport district was poor at best.
Comforts were scarce in the fisher
mems homes, luxuries scarcely OBJ
tainable.
Late one night DR.. Vandine was
called to the cabin Of a "frogger,"
down on the edge Of a dreary marsh,
a forlorn, isolated spot, lying black
and low under the mournful sinking
moon. The miserable dwelling con-
tanned a half dozen destitute, mother
less children, all stricken with the fe-
yer and with no one to lift hand In
their behalf.
The frogger himself hopeless sot,
Ilay drunk on bed Of ditch grass out
side his own door, with his dip-net
and canvas bag by his side. The near
est neighbor lived a mile away. Van
dine, at his wits end, searched the
cabin and found dirt and abject pow
erty, but not so much as a draught Of
water for the little ones.
He spent a half hour searching for
a spring, ministered as best he could
to the suffering children, gave them
the necessary medicines, and was then
obliged to ride away to other patients
and leave the frosger's brood alone.
81 will send some woman to their
help before dawn" he inwardly re-
solved, but the thing was easier said
than done. Though he searched for
half the remaining night, he could find
no nurse, no heart nor hand to respond
to his appeal for the miserable chill
dren.
The next day he hurried again to the
hut AS he came in sight Of 1t he
saw a thin column Of smoke es-
cending from the chimney. He enter
ed the place and found-cleanliness,
flood, abundance of fresh clothing, ice,
fruit, delicacies, and, best Of all,
trained nurse moving quietly around
the room, attending, as only woman
can, to the needs of the moaning chill
dren.
What angel of heaven has been
here?" cried out Vandine, in his great
relief and astonishment.
From a shadowy corner, where she
had been sitting by one Of the sick
! children, UP rose a girl in plain, dark
garments-he had not seen her till
that moment. He doffed his hat quick
Ily; his rugged face, half-covered by
reddish Vandyke beard. showed no
particular agitation, but his voice was
a trifle unsteady as he said: Il have
no words to thank you for this timely
help, Miss Greylock."
He knew her, spite Of the change
which three years had wrought in her
appearance. Her figure had grown
round and full. Her olive face. with
it's Spanish eyes and regular, refined
profile, had little in 1t to remind him
of the old-time Polly. Her hands,
once red and rough with hard work,
were now satin smooth and white. He
noticed that she wore no rings Beau
tiful hands," he thought, involuntari-
ly; "and it seems they still find their
plea sure in ministering to the needs
of the needy!"
II chanced this morning to hear of
the condition of these children" said
Miss Greylock quietly. IF anything
more Is needed here, Dr. Vandine, the
nurse will provide it at once. Dark
days have fallen on the Blackport peo-
ple"