Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-02-29

his eyes again without word.
1t was while he was lying thus, tranquil
and motionless, looking, with his blonde conf
plexion and delicate features, made more del
icate and refined by illness, and the wistful,
languid expression of brow and lips, more like
a. woman than man, that Mrs. Mansfield
came to the door to inquire about him. She
had been pretty much banished from the room
by the doctor, who told her that her place
was with Cecil, and that one patient at time
was as many as she could attend to; and had
only seen Richard in the height of fever be-
fore.
"Come in, madam" said the doctor in a
cheerful whisper, 50 as not to disturb the
patient, who appeared inclined to sleep again.
"Our young friend is better, this morning, l
am happy to say"
"Is he, truly? I am most thankful" and
the old lady approached the bedside with the
stealthiest of treads. She looked earnestly at
Richard for a moment, then with eyes full OF
tears she turned suddenly away and left the
room. The doctor followed her in some alarm,
and found her quietly crying on sofa in the
entry.
"My dear madam, what distresses you?" he
asked. II assure you that I do not consider
that there is any farther cause for apprehen-
sion."
"No doctor, it is not that-but-Oh have
you never observed what likeness there is
between him and my dear sister Marian, whom
you must remember2 1t struck me more for
chilly just now than ever"
eyes, have observed it frequently" said
the doctor. cit is singular how these resem.
blances occur sometimes"
II drew my heart to him from the first.
He looks at this moment precisely as Marian
did in her last moments. Oh! dear, some.
times I think-I don't know what 1t would
be an impossibility, of course and yet"
'Think what, my dear Mrs. Mansfield? 7"
asked the doctor, looking at her in surprise,
for she appeared more excited and moved
than seemed to him justi6able by so slight a
cause.
"Nothing-never mind, doctor am very
foolish to have had such an idea," said the old
lady, composing herself: nor would she tell
him what the idea was, though he tried to
draw from her an explanation of her words.
She repeated that she was very foolish, and
that old people would get unreasonable fan
cies sometimes; and then she trotted off to
Cecil, leaving her old friend looking after her
with comical air of perplexity and concern
But the idea that had occurred to the old
lady's mind, and which had come to it in
vague indefinite form, almost since she had
first seen Richard, gradually increasing in
strength and clearness from time to time, now
haunted her with persistency that would not
let her shake it off, try as she might. Every
time she .aw him it gained fresh force; and
indeed, since his illness, his resemblance to
the portrait down stairs had so startlingly in
creased, that it was no wonder that the doubts
and conjectures it had given rise to should ag-
itate Mrs. Mansfeld's mind to degree that
became at last positively painful.
She kept silence on the matter until Rich
ard was so far recovered as to be able to dis
cuss any subject without fear Of becoming ex'
cited. Then she made up her mind to have
good long talk with him.
Richard, my DEAR" she said to him one
day (she had got into way Of calling him
my dear since his illness.) 81 want to ask
you question which may seem very strange,
but you must not think it impertinent."
"Impertinent, in yoa, dear Mrs. Mansfield"
Richard answered, smiling.
"Well, then, would you mind telling me
something about your familyS Don't think,
she added, coloring, "that I ask you this from
mere idle curiosity; I have reason, very
important reason, for desiring to obtain some
information concerning this subject"
Richard bent his head, and a painful flush
sufused his face. At last he replied, not
without difficulty,
"Your question necessitates confession on
my part, which perhaps have been wrong in
withholding from you all this time. [ hope
you will forgive me, when I tell you that
have been playing the part of an impostor,
since I first came under your roof, and for
some months previous to that time"
can impostor!" echoed his listener.
eyes," said Richard, his blue eyes now
meeting hers with a frankness that did not
seem characteristic of one who could willing
ly practice deception. "Ihave played off a
shameful imposition upon you, and one which
merits your extreme displeasure and condem'
nation-and yet from the experience I have
had of your kindness of heart, I cannot but
think that you will. forgive me when you hear
the story of my misfortunes. Mrs. Mansfield
I have been living in your family under a
name which is not my own"
"a name which is not your own, Richard! |!
eyes. To neither my Christian nor my
surname have the smallest title. 1t is mere
ly fabrication of my own.
"And your real name," faltered Mrs. Mans
field.
"I have not the slightest idea. I have
never heard it"
The old lady looked astounded, but there
was not the smallest trace of displeasurt
mingling with her surprise.
"Will you tell me all about it?" she asked
with eager anxiety depicted On her face.
And then Richard, in brief but moving
words, told her his strange sad story. Hi:
listener drank in his account with breathles:
interest," and when he paused exclaimed ca
x~ox1,,