Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1861-02-28
CAROLINA THURSDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY 28 1861

"You know our name," said the young
lady and drawing off her gloves she again
extended her hand. ''It is but fair that we
should know that of our preserver."
George b!ushed to the eyes as he clasped
the soft, snowy white hand in his own, and
said:
"To grasp lady's hand, the hand of
such lady as Miss Annie Wheaton, is a
noble reward for all l have the fortune to
do My name mustat present withhold. !"
"Your language is that of a gentleman" !"
began the hashily dressed young man, and
with drawl of exquisite self-esteem; but
with fierce sharpness unusual to the young
mason.
George broke in with:
"And my dress, what of that, sir?"
"Aw-of course" stammered Mr.. Tom
Smythe the ole addressed, and starting
back, "if you ask it-you know-the garb
of laborer."
"In which dress are found many more
genuine gentlemen, Mr. Smythe, than can
be discovered in such glossy jacket as
yours. My language is not necessarily that
of a gentleman because it may sound smooth
ly to the ear; and such as it is, l owe it to
myself and the public schools of New York !;
in which one may learn as polished English
as may be gathered behind fast horses and
before theatrical curtains. Good evening,
Miss Wheaton, and the same to you, Mr..
Wheaton. am happy in having done you
service"
"But, young man, l would reward-I
mean do something to prove my gratitude
something more substantial than words" +"
said Mr.. Wheaton, hastily.
"You have already given me more; for
the gratitude of the eyes is more substaatial
than that of the lip or purse, in an honest
mans opinion for it is copied in the soul. !"
CAT any rate" said Mr.. Smythe, "you've
butchered my horse, and I'll remember you
by that"
"For shame, Mr.. Smythe!" exclaimed
Miss Annie.
"He grieves JUSTLY" said George, as he
turned away. "I1ad the hammer hit him.,
an inferior animal would have been killed" "
Insolent fellow !' muttered Mr.. Smythe,
as he gazed after him. "Still, I am glad
the hammer did mt hit me-'pon my soul l
am p
A carriage passing by was hailed, and
the party conveyed home, while the driver
remained to extricate his vehicle.
Thinking less of the future, and very
much of Annie Wheaton, George Useted
reached his humble lone, and, as was his
unvarying custom, placed his weeks wages,
for twas Oh a Saturday, in the lap of his
widowed mother.
"'Tis all there dear mother, excepting a
dollar l have retained to buy an old work
on stone architecture. Perhaps next week
I may give you hundreds"
"Hundreds, my son !" exclaimed Mrs.
Useted, raising her pale and pious face in
surprise.
81 said Perhaps" said he. "On Tues
day the com nittee appointed to examine
the plans, submitted for the building of that
great church you have heard me speak of
so often, will meet to decide which of the
many is worthy of the $500 prize. l have
two there"
"Ab," sighed his mother, "your father
wasted much time in such lotteries"
"Lotteries!" cried George, Indignantly.
at is not the money prize I wish, but the
nan,c-prize Nor is time wasted in contend
ing for such, for contention is improve
ment"
"Ify you had any influence with any promi-
ueut member Of the prize-adjudgers-"
"And truckled to them for price," said
George, "and gained one-how miserable
the gain. If 1 lost it-how beggarly the
reward! No, let me win Or losse, simply as
George Useted and if loose-try again. "
"Your fathers friend, Mr.. Wheaton" "
said his mother, "is chairman, you told me
of the committee. l wish he knew you
George"
ri am glad he does not" said he. "And
now I will go secure that book"
He returned within an hour, with a
large and time-worn volume, many years
, out of date, which his mother no sooner
saw than she said:
"The very same old book Mr.. James
Smythe, brother of that rich man on Mon.
roe street, gave to your father a few days
before James Smythe died. Your father
opened it only once, and saying it was full
of impossibillities put it on shelf, where
it remained until I was forced to sell it
with everything I could spare, to pay for
your fathers funeral 1t brought me but a
few cents"
"The parchment covering, alone, is worth
more than that" said George. "And !
know I shall find many excellent hints to
suit the architectural tastes now coming in
to fashion. Was there not much bitterness
between Mr.. James Smythe and his brother
John 2"
eyes; they had not spoken for years be-
fore James s'nythe's DEATH"
"But people say John Smythe gained all
his wealth by the death of his brother" I"
said George.
"And very true; for James died, as they
say intestate making no will. John was
heir-at-law and got every dollar. Surely he
clngs to it fast enough, though he has a
foolish son, Tom, who spends much of it
on the credit of his fathers name"
"Well, / see written on the parchment
of the inside Bind me In Gilt when you