Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-09-19

Stand the Things tndt perple&eQ me.
Supper was Of more Importance to her
than any question of blood.
We trotted off through the streets,
and, led by Fate, as l afterward came
to believe, we stopped at last in great
thoroughfare, before an immense shop
, window full of wonderful fabrics, to
watch the fine ladies descend from
their carriages and trail their rich
gowns through the big doors that
swung open to them as II by magic.
Now and then, with one of those splen-
did DANES, we saw child, all in silk
and velvet, and wonderful furbelows,
and the sight threw me into a fever
Of envy.
"Oh, my!" said to Nan, wouldn't
!: you be fine If you could dress in lace
and ribbon and cobweb embroideries? /?
You'd shame 'em all, you would, with
your yellow hair and pink cheeks and
shiny eyes! How l wish l could make
lady of you, Nan! If could, I'd be
content myself to beg for Granny Scrag
as long as lived"
Nan rubbed her curly head fondly
against my arm.
I'VE are going to run away together
when we grow up" she answered.
That was our favorite dream, the
hope that solaced us in all our priva-
tions. We had talked of it scores Of
times. AS soon as 1 should be large
enough to work, l had fully determined
to leave Harmony Alley and Granny
Scrag and fly with Nan to parts un-
known.
Presently along came a carriage-no
stylish private affair, but a very shah
by hired hack. I'm glad my sharp eyes
took in this fact. 1t stopped before
the big store, and two women alighted
from it-a lady and her attendant.
The latter was stout, brown, plebeian.
Her heavy face bore the scars of small
pox. The lady looked very slight and
pale and girlish. She had beautiful
dark eyes and hair, but her dress was
shabby, and she limped badly as she
walked. This made me think that her
means wouldn't allow her a carriage,
but that she was compelled by infirm-
ity to take one.
Mind your step, ma'am," heard the
stout woman say, and she gave the lady
her arm to lean upon.
It suddenly occurred 10 me that l had
not yet taken a penny for Granny
Scrag, so at this juncture 1 stepped
forward and put out my dirty hand.
please, ma'am," l stammered to the
lame lady.
| She moved very slowly at best, and
at this appeal she stopped altogether
and looked first at me and then at little
Nan.
Great God!" she almost screamed.
The pock- marked woman caught
Nan by the arm.
WHO is the child?" she demanded Of
me- and her voice also was full of ex-
citement.
| l was thrilling from head to foot with
indefinable fear. could not arrive az
such a conclusion by the usual modes
of reasoning, but then and there all
the instincts Of my nature warned me
that Nan was in peril.
she's my sister," l cried, quickly.
That's a lie!" said the brown wo-
man. You are not in the least alike.
Where does this pretty baby belong?"
Nowhere" l answered
Has she parents?" she asked,
breathlessly.
NO" said l.
She turned to the lame lady and
spoke again very softly.
You see a bef ".r-child, without
home or kin. Could you ask for any
thing more? Act boldly, ma'am, or you
are LOST"
The lame lady seemed to tremble.
Il dare not, Hannah; l am a cow
ard"
IF you risk nothing, ma'am. you'll
win nothing"
She drew from her pocket a thin,
well-worn purse and took from 1t
silver piece, which she held out to me-
You little black wretch" she said,
unceremoniously, take this and run to
the nearest shop and buy something
nice for the pretty one. l will look out
for her till you come back"
Her ruse was too transparent. l saw
through it at once. She wanted to get
possession Of Nan, my own baby Nan,
my pretty yellow-head l struck the
silver fiercely to the pavement and
with tooth and nail attacked the hand
that detained the child.
Let go my sister," painted. What
do you want of her? Hands off, or I'll
bite-Tll tear you!"
Nan herself began to cry with fright.
Passers-b stopped to stare.
Great Heaven! Hannah, let her go!"
cried the lame lady, in evident alarm.
With something that sounded like an
oath, the brown woman relinquished
Nan, and we straightway took to our
heels and fed.
At the first corner / obeyed the in
stinct common to all fugitives-I turn
! ed and looked back The street was
cTOWueu Will pSopiei pu' oh'iNSN '''>'
all | espied the stout, dark woman
coming at a round pace after us. We
were pursued A thrill of horror went
over me. | seemed to know even then
that that strange female represented
power which was to crush and over
whelm me in the future.
Fear gave me wings. Fortunately
the pavement was thrOnged, and such
wee things as Nan and l could not
easily be kept in sight.
Hurry, Mani" l cried to my poor
frightened, stumbling companion.
There's a wicked woman after us.
She wants to take you away from me-
What for?" gasped Nan.
ITO kill and to eat yOu!" said |.
With a dismal wall, Nan redoubled
her efforts to escape this frightful