Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1859-06-30
CHAPTER WI.

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4,nYou have charming place here, Man
vers; don't wonder you dislike. leaving it.
Whose taste planned that wilderness garden?
Some one has been studying the science of
magnificent distances; one would fancy he
roamed in some vast park, you have SO well
contrived to blend art with nature"
sClara planned, I executed
. nAh!I, see her enthusiasm and fancy
moderated by your practical Judgment
Sheswould have made pretty picture in
the arrangement. You have disposed it to
the use and enjoyment of real life"
"WeH, I believe advocated the growth
of our native forest trees, and the fish pond
and aquarium are mine; the rest are hers"
"Quite desideratum in landscape gard
ening-wood and water, and those beautiful
varieties Of Agaleas, and that splendid rho
dodendron form lovely margin"
~ "That was her fancy; the garden broken
by detached groups of shrubbery, the rock:
work and fountains, and that wilderness Of
roses which you SO admired, are all her own"
"Indeed 4! she has been most happy in the
design, and you have equal!ed her in. the
execution. 1t is spot of perfect beauty, a
poetical Alden" 49,.
: "And here is an aviary, Randolph, and
without CATS" said Manvers, laughing.
-. "Ab!" replied Randolph glancing up
quickly dare you such an anomaly as to pro-
fit by precept, what SO few men learn by ex-
perience?" ... 49,.
ri cannot claim to more wisdom than my
sex before me. As usual, the lesson was ad-
ministered with the rod .-..-..-,
mAnd 'as usual the innocent suffered, I
presumed? replied Randolph, grufay. 49,,
."To some extent, yes," replied Manyers,
cgravely. e-..s -. 49, 49,. o. 49,
"Humph.!" said Randolph bitterly, i'apd
I suppose you wrapped yourself in senatorial
dignity and allowed the rodofyour so-called
justice to fall upon one whose only fault was
wedding stole" g..
~ forgive you that" said Manners, smi.
ling, "for your love and care for Clara; but
you are unjust-I bore the punishment my
self" r.. .. -.
"How? You did not meet Leslie?"
"No, I was spared that. How, I will tell
you. Your hints and innuendoes had such
an effect,upon me, that 1 determined to see
for myself. went to Saratoga and saw and
heard what we'll nigh maddened me. That
Clara was innocent 1 never for a moment
doubted, but that she should be exposed to
such destinations and not have her fancy, to
say the least Ct it, led captive, I very much
feared" ...-..
"Pish p said Randolph impatiently, "and
Edward Manvers her husband. When such
nature as hers can prefer darkness to light,
error to truth, then would have feared. 1
feared nothing for her but wound to her
own sensitive nature, and to your own jeal.
Gus pride, which I knew was indomitable,"
"You read her Alright, but tortured by
thoughtsI I dared not analyse, ] fed from the
gay and crowdedball-room where assurance
had been made doubly sure, and sought the
quiet and darkness of night. I had been
there but shorttime when gay party came
up, jesting upon the confusion of Leslie.
Then heard how my poor Clara had been
wounded, had been tainted, and how fear.
lessly and calmly she had defended herself.
When I recurred to her suferiDgs and my
shameful doubts, I thought how earnestly
she must have longed for the support I had
denied; thought of the man who had thus
tempted, and would have destroyed her, l
lost all control of myself, and at that mouent
Leslie coming up, I at once confronted him
and gave the, chastisement he ,merited.-
He was no coward, but he could no more
withstand me in that moment. Of passion
than reed could have withstood whirlWind.
He challenged me, of course"
"And you accepted?" .-v
"For a moment I was tempted. Clara
expected and was prepared for it. shall
never forget her face so deathly white in it's
calmness.
"Edward, said she, you will not accept
this Then seeing me hesitate she coutinu-
ed, remember I cannot love murderer,
nor dare revere your memory were you
to fall. Settle it with your own conscience;
be persuaded as to what is right, and God
will help you in the rest"
It was all she said. I took the challenge,
and while Leslie was surrounded by his
friends walked up to him, tsir,' said I, tdid
you send this to me?' He bowed haughti-
ly. Then this is my answer Ireplied, as l
tore it in fragments before him for one mo-
tnent with my gaze steadily fixed upon him,
then turned and slowly walked away. I
heard nothing further of the challenge
Scarce month had elapsed when I heard
of him in duel. He was wounded in the
leg and is lame for life. The grace that he
SO prided in is gone forever, and the gay and
heartless deceiver is now the wretched mis-
anthrope, hating and hated, stunning and
being Stunned.
But it was Clara's fearlesness that guar
ded for me what had so recklessly expo
sed and when I shrank in terror and des-
pair from meeting, fearing to see her JOY
GUS nature clouded, her innocent frankness
lost; her love sought me out, and the SIM
plicity of her childish faith shamed my dis
trustful fear.
ri knew it, said Randolph emphaticai-
", "and shadow of blame could sooner
rest upon an angel. Her guilelessness pre-