Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-05-15

and declare my conviction that none of the
Misses Frager would suit me. Uncle Rein.
hold had the ready reply that could not
tell that until had seen them. After max.
ing all possible objections, felt that to per-
sist longer might excite suspicious of prior
attachment. And, after all, it was but a
weeks absence, and no unpleasant escape
from the monetony of the counting-house.-
All that I was required to do was, to 60 and
see the damsels, who assuredly would not
carry me off and marry me by force. But
when I told Minnie of my approaching de-
parture, I thought she would have broken
her heart. Her confidence in me was great,
but the circumstances were certainly trying.
She could not endure my being thus driven
into temptation. She had heard of the coun-
sellors daughters as very handsome and very
rich. She doubted not my truth, but she
had forebodings of evil, and implored me not
to leave her. I had promised my uncle to
go, however, and could not retract my
word. 1t took great many VOWS, and not
few kisses, to console the little timid low
ing girl, and even then she was but half
consoled
Before my departure I had another grave
interview with my uncle. "You will not
regret your journey, Frank" he said. "The
girls are pretty, witty, and we'll read. Not
greese, such as one finds in our Kirchberg
and other country villages. You must rub
up your learning, l can tell you. And the
chief thing is, that each of them will have
her thirty thousand dollars. Bring me home
such golden niece as that, and I take you
into partnership. \ few years more, and I
retire altogether, and you are made man.
My old friend, the counsellor, warmly de-
sires the alliance Not all wooers find their
path so smooth. I ran myself nearly off my
legs after my dear departed wife. The old
people were against it, and would not listen
to me. Luck lies before you, my boy; seize
it with both hands"
"All very well" thought 1, as I got into
the gig and drove off; "but my hands are
bound, and my heart too. What is money
compared to Minnie? One lock of her love-
ly hair would make all the old counsellors
money-bags kick the beam! And even if
she were not in the way, l hate these mer-
cenary unions, got mp by third parties, where
everything is for the purse, anu nothing fof
the heart TO please my uncle, however, l
can very we'll manage to get through few
days at Wiesenthal, and see the counsellor's
graces on their best behaviour. owe much
more than that to my kind kinsman and Sc
cond father. will look at the ladies, but
there is so fear of my marrying one Of them.
Poor dear Minnie! But if the Frager girls
are such beauties, besides being fortunes,
what on earth is the reason that none of
them have got married? I should not won
der if the glitter Of their thirty thousand dol
lars had somewhat blinded my worthy uncle.
1t would not surprise me if one of them
squinted, and another had red hair. But
there is no harm in going to see."
Thus communing with myself, | rolled
pleasantly along the level road, in the warm
autumn sun, through mile after mile Of dew
spangled orchard. Those were my roman
tic days, and nothing would have pleased
me better than to have met with an adven-
ture or two by the way. These were denied
me but, upon the other hand, an abun-
dance awaited me at the place of my des-
tination.
1t was between nine and ten in the fore
noon when I reached the neighborhood Of
the rich counsellor's fine domain. The
morning was so fine, the country so beauti-
full, that T. determined to leave my gig at
roadside inn, about quarter of an hours
drive from Wiesenthal, and to proceed thith-
er on foot. Perhaps, also, if truth be told,
I was not sorry to stop at the inn to get rid
of the dust of the highway, and arrange my
dress little. I had certainly no desire to
please any one of the three Misses Frager,
but that was not reason for appearing to
disadvantage before them. The disorder of
my toilet repaired, I set out on my walk,
and soon came in sight of the counsellor's
villa. A small birch wood lay before me,
though which I had to pass, and then |
should be in the garden, which stretched
up to the house. As I proceeded I looked
about me on all sides, thinking might by
chance descry one of the three graces from
which it was my uncle's will, but not my
intention, that should select wife. The
only women | saw were two peasants toiling
in field. | was about to enter the wood,
when at some two hundred PAGES from me,
the slender figure of woman, attired in a
fantastical costume, between riding habit
and hunting-coat, and bearing double
barrelled gun in her hand, stepped out from
among the foliage. Leaning upon her wea-
pom, she seemed enjoying the charming
landscape.
"If that be one of Frager's daughters" "
thought I to myself, "Uncle Rinhold was
not so far wrong. \ fine girl she seems. "
Not wishing to disturb the graceful ap.
partition in her contemplation ofthe scenery,
I walked on as if had not perceived her
I had taken but a few steps when female
voice, melodious but powerful, shouted
"Haltw That cannot be addressed to me-
thought ] tomyself, and walked on. Then
came sound like the cooking of a gun, and
the next instant bullet whistled, as il
seemed to me, close over my head. The hint
sufficed, and l halted at once.