Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-01-11

peculiar relationship, which does not, to my
knowledge, at least, really exist
Il am not 80 sure that understand you,
said the lady.
| Understand me-, said the old man,
drawing his chair nearer to the lounge upon
which Mrs. Rogers, daintil8 reelined.
4 Never fear about that Alice; for it is my
purpose to be understood. You want plain
talk, do you7 Well, what Ismean to say
lis Just this: if Mr.. Williams makes q hab.
it Of visiting my house every evening every
body will take it for granted that he is
paying attention to Susan or Ellen, with q
view to marriage.
i well, what of that = asked the lady.
sWhat of that ? repeated the old man,
iwhy such an impression would be calcuia-
ted to do injustice to both the young gen.
tleman and the girls, Rho have no idea Of
such thing
You speak knowingly, I presume7' said
the lady, smiling and looking wondrously
wise. You have, no doubt, ascertained,
beyond al doubt, that the parties in ques-
ton have no idea of such thing
sOf course, they have not, said Mr.. Rog-
ers.
tBut, suppose, for the sake of arguments
said the lady, intently Watching, the counte-
nance Of her husband, sthat Mr. Williams
really has theintentions which you 80 much
doubt-what thenP
/ sWhat then + repeated the old man,
starting from his seat, sndpray, who this
Mr.. Williams, that he should have the pre-.
sumption to make any such advances, with
out first consulting me! In my day, a
young man, never ventured even to visit q
young lady, with q view to matrimouy,
4 without first obtaining permission from her
father or guardian to pay his addresses
And pray, which Of the girls has it pleased
the young gentleman, in his condesoension,
to select-susan or EllenF
ssihere you go!' exclaimed Mrs. Rogers.
sYou are too old q man, Mr.: Rogers, to fly
into passion about nothing. did not
say positively, that M. Williams had any
idea of paying hisaddresses toseithst Susan
Or Ellen . = sS
eThen, what do you mean ?-he is not
courting you, Til be bound 7 said the old
man exoitedly.
Il presume not, said the lady, ooloring.
sAud ! am certain that he has no idea Of
marrying me- said he, snnleas ] am to be
forcibly abducted
This is absurd, Mr.. Rogersp said his
yife, with an air of offended dignity
What We are speaking Of, is, to me at
least, of too much Importance to be made
the subject of jesting Then observing
her hosband about to reply, she continued.
sNow, be so good, Mr.. Rogers, to be quiet
Just few moments, while I say few words
about Mr.. Williama.' r.
Proceed said Mr.. Rogers, sitting down
and quietly rocking himself to and fro.
Il do not know, positively, asI said be-
fore, what are Mr.. Williams intentions ip'
his off repeated visits,' said Mrs. Rogers;
shut I Judge by very many circumstances
that he is foud Of Elleu's society and ad.
nires her beauty. There is aothingcrimin.
al in all this. Ellen is a very sweet sing.
er aud performs splendidly upon the piano !
and ehis, sdded to her personal charms, is
certainly a sufficient reason why Mr.. VIII
liams should feel inclined to repeat his WIS.,
its. do not knoY that young man oould
wish to spend his eyeningsin better place
than among young ladies of accomplish.
ment, refinement and beauty. These charms
are certaiuly susan's and Ellen,a in a pre-
emirent degree, Mr.. Williams sentiments
towards the girls may he simply those Of
friendship, but Of this, ] know nothing de-
de6nite. At times I have imagined-per:
haps it was only imagination-that Mr..
williams was rather partial to Ellen, and
from some few expressions which escaped
him In conversation with me-. i might have
inferred that he was not destitute ofeven
very strong affection towards her. So far
as Ellen is concerned, I do not think that
she feels aay particular interest in the young
man-certsinly, no affection and ! have
been obliged ct times to think bis society
even irksope to her. But, admitting that
Mi. Williams loves Ellen, and that his re-
peated visits simply indicate the fact, is
there any harm In 81 thass-sny presump.
ton in bis love p
sAllow me to reply, Alice; calmly and
dispassionately reply, said the old man,
with unusual earnestness and gravity
sEllen is my only daughter-perhaps my
only ohild-and as, such, love beE tar
more than anything in oil this world. She
has been reared with no ordinary care and
jealous attention from infancy to her pre-
sent interesting and critical age No pains,
no expense has been spared to inform, cul-=
tivate and refine her mind, every effort
made to improve her heart! From day to
day, and from year to year has my love,
my care and my wealth been lavished upon
her. Now just on the verge of woman
hood, in all her pride and matchless beau
ty, in all the fuilness aud sweetness of
affection and maidenly simplicity, this man
this stranger-this Edwin Williams,
whom I never looked upon but once in all
the years of the past, and Of whose chsrac-
ter I am Ignorant, utterly regardless of q
fathers claims, and a fathers rights-en.
deavors, without my knowledgepr consent,
to win her from my old heart and seduce her
from my home. Tell me that this is not
criminal THAT there is no presumption in
the love of such man ]