Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-01-25

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mong my other possessions while on the 9th
er hand would esteem myself enriched, in
the consciousness Of your love, though de.
prived of all else upon earth. Aye ! take
away friends and fortune--home and couu-
try; cast me out from among my fellow men
aud place me upon some barren isle, over
which the skies are never fair, and upon
which the sunshine never falls imprison
me with 6ends in the blackness of perpetual
darkness and deprive me of all hope of
escape-let me but catch the tones Of your
voice, and feel your breathings upon my
cheek and the pnlsation of your heart
against my own, and know that you are be-
side me, and the darkness will grow radisnt
in imperishable glory, and the soul within
me break out into songs of triumph in spite
of the horrors around me. Can you under
stand this = -..s .eg.s
sOh, no, no r exclaimed Ellen, trembling
and burying her face in her hands, while q
strange and unutterable emotion thrilled
her whole nature. slt is sinful to talk
in that way, Mr.. Williams il can
not, must not, will not hear you ! I am
incapable of feeling thus and, if this be
the expression of your love for me, I regret
its existence, I depreoate its consequences,
and fear Its oontagion.'
But, listen to me, Ellen said Williams,
surprised at this sudden burst of emotion.
mo, no. she replied; Il have already
heard enough-too much All that you
have so strangely. aid,--wickedly said
leaves but one impression upon my mind,
and, that is, that you have cause to blame
me for your wretchedness and unhsppiness,
by begetting within your heart all manner
Of wild and enthusiastic hopes, which are
utterly baseless, and sentiments towards me
which I cannot reciprooate.' -
Blame you p exclaimed Williams start.
ing, as shade of agony clouded his brow,
God forbid that should do so, Ellen -
No, no; if am unhappy and wretched, as
you say; if my hopes, which have been
making music in my heart since you first
looked upon me, are all baseless and vain !;
if my sentiments can meet with no response
from you, must not blame you, dear Ell.
lem Then pausing and looking upon the
quiveriug lip, the averted eye and the heav-
ing bosom of the child-woman beside him,
he added in calmer tone 'sAnd yet, Ell
len, I did hope TO win your love-did as
pire to your hand, though never made
known this hope by words, in boisterous
declarations of love: And now, dear Ellen,
as you tell me that my hopes are baseless,
let me tell yoa why Izdid not deem them
so, Nay do not turn away, Ellen. I will
he ca!u aad se!fpossessed in all I have to
say
sBut, Mr.. Williams said Ellen, sare you
aware that. disapprove of your present
conduct 2-thst I think your persistence in
it exceedingly unfair and unkind ? Is this
premedltated and planned, or has
mere accident given you this opportunity.
Pray let me hear
sMiss Ellen,' said Williams, sbefore COM
ing here this evening I made up my mind
to declare my love, if an opportunity oc-
Cured. The absence of your father, Mrs.
Rogers and Miss Susan, taken together with
the rather singular language Of the latter,
would lead me to the conclusion that my
purpose was known, and my designs antici.
pated.'
eThat cannot be, sir said Ellen, 'for
father and Mrs. Rogers invariably retire
early. The singular conduct of Susan is
quite iuexplicable to me, but no doubt, very,
we'll understood between yourselves. I, at
least, anticipated nothing of this; am quite
surprised at what has occurred, and, as I
said before, disapprove of your conduct
sMiss Ellen said Williams, surprised at
the sudden changein her manner, you have
not usually spoken in this harsh manner to
me. Has Captain Faulkener had nothing
to do with this strange and unnatural be.
havvior?
captain Faulkener would no doubt an.
swer that question and more satisfactorily
replied Ellen.
POSSIBLY so,' said Williams getting up
and walking to and fro in great agitation of
mind sbut, if Miss Ellen has any regard
for the feelings of an unhappy man, to
whom she may possibly feel some little
gratitude, she would answer the question,
herself
Captain Faulkener knows nothing of
your sentiments and feelings towards me,
Mr.. Williams, and is in no way responsible
for any change of manner, which your excl
ted imagination may have discovered in me.
You speak of gratitude, sir, and imply by
your language, that am unconscious of
how large measure I am indebted to you.
Is it kind ?-is it generous in you to refer
to my rescue from death at this time and
under such exceedingly delicate oircum.
stances? To be plain, Mr.. Williams, do you
think that, because you prolonged my exis-
tence that my life should dedicated to you
and all personal claims upon myself be aban.
doned?'
mo, Miss Ellen!' said Williams, with
emphasis, you know me better than that [
lay no claim upon your love, merely from
the fact of saving your life; but 1 do claim
an honest and respectful reply to aquestion
that SO nearly concerns us both. In justice
to Captain Faulkener it should merit frank
and candid reply ,s-4-. - - a.
H. have already exonerated that gentle
man from all blame attaching to my conduct
towards you,' said Ellen.
But is Captain Faulkener in love with