Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-02-22

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the truant and, satisfied that bis appreben-
sions had been groundless, and had done Cecil
injustice, he turned to retrace his steps, anx-
ious to reach home before the black clouds
overhead should empty their contents upon
him, when suddenly a piercing cry fell upon
his ear. It was succeeded by another and an
other, and Richard feeling convinced that
they proceeded from some person in great
| danger or distress, commenced running at full
speed in the direction whence they came. A
turn in the bank brought him into view of his
poor little pupil, feebly bufeting the waves,
and still at considerable distance off; and
even as he looked, he saw him throw up his
hands with last despairing cry, and disap-
pear In an instant he had thrown himself
into the water and was swimming 10 his rescue.
Thus it was that when Cecil came to his
senses he found himself lying on the bank
rolled up in Richards coat, and the latter
bending over him, cha6ng his cold hands and
gazing on him with an expression of intense
anxiety and concerIs: -.t,.s,.'.
"Oh! Mr.. POWELL" gasped Cecil, family.
II am very sorry-I was very wrong"
"Hush, dear boy, never mind that now.
Do you think you can walk home p
II don't know-my head is so giddy STILL"
"Sit.up and lean against this tree, while
run for your clothes. Do you think you can?"
Eyes" He leaned shivering against the
trunk oftbe tree, while Richard brought the
clothes and helped him into them.
"Now we must run for home or shall carry
you?" ....... ..v.H...
"Oh I am too heavy for you; l think I
can walk" H.. .... # -.
'"You are not too heavy, but you are so
chilled, the exercise will be good for you.
You will soon feel all right agar" a
"Oh! Mr.. Powell, you saved me from drown
"Never mind that now. You gave me a
good fright, you may be sure Of that. Come,
shall we start?' ..5..
Cecil would fain have rested longer, but
Richard saw that it was chiefly nervous re-
action that made him weak and helpless, and
pointed out the stormy clouds above them as
an incentive to exertion. They accordingly
started, Cecil at first leaning on his compan-
ions arm, but presently quickening his pace
and only retaining Richards hand, while the
latter encouraged him with cheering words,
and finally reached the house just as the rain
came down in all its fury. ..,,
"Why, you been out, both Of you, and such
storm at hand !" exclaimed Mrs. Mansfield
as the entered, and Cecil sank painting on the
nearest sofa. "Why, Mr.. Powell, your clothes
are all wet! and Cecil, my dear boy, how pale
you look~ .. ~, .,.... ..,..-s.,...
And while Cecil, in broken words and with
penitent and childish tears, related the story
of his adventure, Richard quietly slipped out
of the way to avoid hearing recapitulation of
his own share in the exploit.
He could not escape so easily, however.
When he came down again after changing his
dripping garments, the old lady clasped his
hands in both of hers, and gave vent to her
thanks and gratitude with fervor that quite
unnamed his sensitive heart. He could have
rendered her no greater service than he had
done in rescuing from danger; and perhaps
from death, her beloved grandchild, the idol
on which her tenderest affections were cen.
tered.
As for Cecil, from that time his love for
Richard increased tenfold, and the two became
more inseparable than ever. Richard was no
longer "Mr. PowelP in the household; Mrs.
Mansfield called him familiarly by his chris
tian name, and even Cecil, dropping the for
NAL appellation, asked permission to call him
"cousin Richard" Thus treated with afec-
ton, esteem and confidence, and surrounded
by all the luxuries of life Richard found him
self as happy and contented as he could hope
ever to be again while separated from those he
| loved so dearly at home. But ah, the remem-
brance of them, ever present to his mind, filled
him with yearning inexpressble once more to
see the dear faces, to revisit the happy scenes
of his past life, that life between which and
the present such great gulf seemed to have
opened. Did they often think of him, he
wondered? Arly would, he knew, and Mr..
Conway; but would Ethel And with the
thought of Ethel, his Madonna-eyed love,
between whom and himself the rolling waves
of the wide Atlantic seemed but trifing
barrier in comparison with that other fatal
one which stood in the way of their reunion,
Door Richards constrained fortitude would
oftentimes give way, and he would be fain to
indulge for brief while in the emotions that
over.mastered him. But these moments of
weakness generally occurred in the long weary
nights, when in the solitude of his chamber
he would lie awake for hours and hours, think
ing of the irretrievable past. In the daytime
he managed to be cheerful, and to conceal
from his kind friends the heaviness that
weighed down his heart One thing was, he
was secure from anxiety in regard to the fu.
ture he was sure of home at Mansfield
Park for some years, at any rate until Cecil
should be sent to college, for which he felt
himself fully competent to prepare him.
Once vision, startling and unexpected,
came bodily out Of his former life and stood
before him, nearly throwing him off of his
well-maintained equilibrium of mind.
1t happened in this way. Cecil had been
suffering considerable pain from tooth, and
Mrs. Mansfield, who had London dentist
and believed in no other, requested Richard
to accompany him to the metropolis. and there
have it attended to. To London they accor-
dinghy went, and having, Immediately on their
arrival, madean appointment with MIR. Smith,
the dentist, for the following day, were anus
ing themselvesin the interim by walking about
and enjoying all that was to be seen.
As they were standing by the counter in
confectioner's store, where Cecil was purcha-
sing some bonbons an elegant carriage drove
up to the door, and liveried footman alight-
ing, entered to perform commission tor the
occupants. There were two ladies one, who
bent forward as the man was entering the store
to call out something to him, was stylish
looking, rather pretty woman, on whom Rich
ards eyes rested with the careless gaze of
non.acquaintanceship; the other sat farther
back, and her features at first were not dis
cernible, but presently she, too, leaned for
ward, to look at something that was passing
by, and Richards heart gave sudden thump
and he drew quickly back to avoid being seen