Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1859-01-06
An. +: Original Stotg,
Written for the Yorkvale Enquirer.
ALIgE VERN no u 9
B Y tt NJ O n .

the little town Of l.. the Christmas
helidays were approaching, every oneseemed
full Of life aud gayety, and parties and balls
we're of almost nightly occurrence. The
morning after one of these entertainments,
10 an apartment, the furniture and arrange
fnents Of which were strikiugly in keeping
with the character of the occupants, there sat
two. Young men. Harry Wentworth, the
Younger of the two, was, or pretended to be,
. student of law but believing implicitly
is Pope's maxim little altered. that "the
proper study of mankind is woman, he acted
upon it with acouscieutiousness which would
have done credit to some who profess to be
guided by purer and more exalted rules OF
action. Indeed, so scrupulously did he ad-
here to this maxim, that the fair subjects OF
his perseveripgstndy sometimes misconstrued
his actions, aud actually accused him Of be.
ing influenced By ether motives than the
hlsre love of truth iu short, he was called
d firt. While, therefore, Harry made the
most wonderful progress iu his knowledge of
the fairer portion of humanity, this prohcien-
ey vas attained to the great neglect Of Black
Stone, Kent and other learned limbs Of the
law, whose professsd disciple be was. Could
these great jurists have seen with what alac-
rity their works, the offspring of lifetime
Of intellectual labor, were cast aside at tho
soft sound of female voice, to watch the
twinkle of bright eye, to follow the move
ments of fairy feet through the mazes OF the
dance, or to listen to the stupid nonentities
that constitute the bulk of the conversation
at fashionable entertainments, they would
have been inspired with the most profound
disgust for the degeneraey Of an age in which
they were 50. little appreciated. Whether
Harry ever attempted to justify his tardy
progress in the prescribed course of study,
we know not; but certain it is that his meth
cd of preparation was not so unphllosophleal
as most persons would at 6rstvsuppose for
10 eudeavoring thoroughly to understand
human nature as developed in the other sex,
may he not after all, have been getting at
the very root of the evil?
Ernest Graham was an old friend and
schoolmnte of Wentworth, and the friend
ship which they had cherished for each other
in their boyish days had in no wise dimin-
ished when they arrived at mans estate
They were intimately acquainted with each
others foibles and virtues, and as neither
ever hesitated to chide the faults and COM
mend the virtues Of. his friend, they were
of invaluable service to each other in cor
recting the one and in cherishing the other
Ernest had come, on the present occasion, as
was his almost daily custom, to spend few
hours with his friend, in discussing the va
rious items Of news, and the topics upon
which the public mind Of the town was most
engaged. They were conversing in ram
bling, listless manner. Harry with his feet
upon table was enjoying his otinne cum
dignitate, and Ernest in an easy chair by the
Ere, was engaged in the truly Yankee prac-
tice of whiting, thereby contributing no
little to the appearance of the room, already
in state of the most bachelor-likc disorder.
Books, papers, &c we're scattered in every
direction upon chairs, tables, window.sllls and
floor, the whole presenting q scene of the
most beautiful confusion.
The conversation had just turned upon
the events of the previous evening, when
there was knock at the door and servant
handed in boquet "for Mr.. Wentworth. Z"
The reception ofthe boquet seemed to infusc
new life into Harry he seized it eagerly,
aud poured forth in an enthusiastic strain
his admiration of its beauty and fragrance,
and the rarity of the hot-house plants of which
it was composed; be dilated upon the beauty
of the fairy hands that bad culed the flow
ers and arranged them with such exquisite
taste; he even wondered if the ruby lips OF
the giver had not impresseda fond kiss upon
it, which still fingered among the flowers
and added to their fragrance. During the
exhibition of all this enthusiasm on the part
Of his friend, Ernest Graham sat regarding
him with serious and somewhat sorrowful
expression of countenance. Disconnected
by the earnest and displeased gaze of his
friend, Harry inquired the cause of his dis
pleasure.
"You will, l am sure" replied Ernest,
aupou sober reflection, admit that it is
enough to make me sad when fses you,