Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-05-23
XXI.
WHAT FOLLOWED.

strange, but his voice had recovered its trmness.
'You have related a singular history, sir, he
said, addressing the barones ''and have listened
with the deepest interest; but you will pardon me
for saying that see no necessity for my own pres
ence upon this painful occasion"
"No necessity, my Lord?'' replied Sir Rezin.-
II think twas absolutely incumbent upon me to
summon you.
"For what reason, sir?
s'Simply in view of the relation which you sus-
tain towards my family-that of the accepted suit.
or of my daughter"
Lord Ruthven's reply was look Of enquiry.
Yesterday, that relation was binding" contin'
ued the baronet, summoning all his fortitude; to
day it no longer exists.
"No longer exists"
"Assuredly not, SIR
"And pray why not, Sir Rezin?'
because your engagement was withthe daugh
ter and sole heiress of a wealthy land holder
"Well, sir2"
sNot with the daughter of beggar.'
Sir Rein uttered the words with painful emo
ton, and turned away.
Lord Ruthven calmly replied:
'Did you suppose then, sir, that in paying my
addresses to Miss Brand, Twas aetuated by motives
of gain?'
"My Lord, this is painful subject-let us moi
discuss it"
"Wilingly, sir-I, too, am 10th to enter upon
so very disagreeable matter Then no change
takes place in the arrangements
"No change?'
II may still be admitted to the honor of an ALI
ance with your family?''
Impossible, my Lord !" exclaimed Sir Rein,
in tone of excitement, strikngy in contrast with
the calmness of the nobleman my daughter,
yesterday, would have brought you a princely dow.
er-to-day she possesses nothing"
''In the name of Heaven, sir, what possible con.
Germ is that to you or to me? have quite E.
nough ="
Sir Rein interrupted the speaker by shaking
his head, and repeating:
Impossible! impossible!'
An expression, almost of irritation, came to the
countenance of Lord Ruthven.
'I insist upon the full performance Of your
plighted word, he said ''the ful6llment of your
contract with me"
"How can I :! how is such thing possible p
exclaimed the baronet, gazing with cruel anguish
at his wife and daughter. II repeat, sir, that we
are beggars !-beggars! and my child is wholly
portionless. 1t violates every sentiment of my
bosom, my Lord, to take advantage of your mag
nanimity, andacquiesce in this proposal. Irepeat,
sir, that we have nothing nothing and tbs not
in accordance with my views of propriety that a
daughter of my house, should leave her fathers
rooftree, like the child of a peasant u
Honoria and Innis has listened to this animated
colloquy with passionate interest and hope AT
the very last moment, thus the hated contract
seemed about to be broken and the girls heart
bounded with irrepressible delight at the thought
of recovering her freedom
Innis could scarcely restrain his agitation. His
cheek flushed hot with expectation his eyes gowed,
his bosom heaved in spite of every effort which he
made to preserve an exterior of calmness.
But this joyful agitation was to yield and give
place to sentiment of utter despair.
To the last words of the baronet, Lord Ruthven
replied:
II have but one word to utter in response to this
natural, but wholly useless pretext Sir Rein,
holdyou rigidly to the performance of yo,r promise
to your acord of honor.
'tMy word of honor?" murmured the baronet.
II mean to your contract with me, in the name
of your daughter"
"How can I, sir?''
"How can you do otherwise? say once more,
Sir Rein, that you did me the very great honor
to accept my proposal for the hand of your daugh.
ter-you gave me your word that she should be-
come Lady Ruthven-thus all discussion ends
sir, for youaresan English gentleman.
Innis and Honoria awaited, with simultaneous
shudder, the baronet's reply. With palid cheeks
and eyes glowing with tragic emotion, the young
man and the girl bent forward toward Sir Rein,
as though they would drag from him the words
which were todecide ALL These words came speed
lily, and as the trembling hearts heard them, all
hope died away.
"Well then, my lord, said the baronet, with q
deep sigh, ''have it as you will. You have over.
come me by appealing to the sentiment which gov
erns all my actions You demand the performance
of my plighted word-you insist that Honoria shall
become Lady Ruthven. [ consent, my lord, but
bear witness, all here assembled, that did not
| yield to this most magnanimous proposal, until
there was no alternative but dishonorl'
'sIt is well, sir, said Lord Ruthven, "and I re-
oice that an affair SO fraught with peril to my hap
piness, is finally ended in a manner so acceptable
to ALL"
"Would to God, I had portion for her-for my
only child-my pride, my life almost" groaned
the baronet 'That Honoria should 60 forth q
beggar. Dowerless! Bear with me, my Lord-it
is hard that this should be, but it must happen
Honoria is your own but 1ohere she will await you
when you come to claim her-who can tell?'
"Ican, sir-it will be at Haddon !" were the
cold and measured words of Innis, through his
clenched teeth and cooly taking from the table the
will of Colonel Seaton, he tore it in pieces.
Then in the midst of the sudden exclamations,
and protests of the company, the young man ad,
ded:
Gas my mothers representative, and the legal
owner of the Haddon property, [ destroy this pa
per, the only evidence of my right and title My
cousin will thus have suitable portion on her
marriage, and will await Lord Ruthyen's scomiDg in
the home Of her family. For myself, l ask moth,
ing. I do not want this property i is my right
to ALLEVIATE it, which 1 do, by tearing the will.
Having thus spoken, in a cold and measured
voice, Innis advanced to Lady Brand and said:
81 thank you, Aunt, for all your kindness and
goodness; you have been mother to me, and
make you but poor return for all your love and
tenderness. As I shall leave Virginia very soon,