Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-05-09

LAh my SAAANs N1Npf'"6 e''0 F-"J
"cease this girlish nonsense, and began to act
the true woman you are. know but toe
we'll the bitter remorse which must inevitably
follow such triAing."
Kate started and looked earnestly into the
quiet eyes from which the fire of youth had
faded, but where, instead, now glowed more
serene and enduring warmth. Aunt Agatha
answered the questioning gaze.
"Yes, know by the saddest experience
dear girl, what I now implore you to avert
Twenty years ago, in sheer thoughtlessness and
vanity, 1 wilfully wounded true and noble
heart. Twas merry, careless girl, selfwilled
and fond of admiration. When I found /
was the object of sincere attachment my
heart bounded with JOY, for I loved in return
but the demon ofcoquetry urged me to daily
until it was at last-too late To proud to
be triAed with, he left me in scorn and anger.
I shall never forget his last reproach. Kate,
may you be spared the agony of such a
memory"
Aunt Agatha laid her hand upon the white
brow of her niece, and smoothed away the
troubled expression which for moment had
corrugated it.
lit is all better so for me" she continued
presently; eve are nowthe best Of friends"
She paused, and flush passed over her
face She had betrayed herself.
Only brilliant, sudden smile on Kate's
tell-tale face, proved with what unerring in
tuition she had solved the mystery OF this
maiden life and then silence followed.
"Kate! Kate |" a voice came calling across
the wide field of purple heath.
"They are summoning US to lunch" Miss
Lyle said, rising. "Come now, Katie, prom
ise me you will not throw away any chance
for happiness Will your"
She smiled in her own peculiar loving way,
and put her fingers under Kate's dimpled
chin.
"Aunty," the coquette answered, fairly con-
quered, 81 do promise"
And 80 they joined the party in the birch
wood, who were gathered around the we'll
ordered repast spread upon the fragrant moss.
Here Lawrence was in his element. He
brought the champagne from its cool bed in
the river, piled up sandwiches, carved a
chicken, cut the cake, and, with the air Of a
petit maitre, placed, in the centre of his COL
lected forces, an immense Strasbourg pie.
"This is we'll DONE" Colonel Meredith re-
marked, with sly twinkle in his eye, receiv-
ing a goodly slice of the famous conserve
upon his. plate Lawrence, when did you be-
come such connoisseur in pats de ta gras y
The butler paused in his darling accom-
plishment-the graceful opening Of a bottle
of Chatsau, ,Margeau- looked with an ex-
preston of injured dignity upon his master;
then silently resumed his undertaking.
The whole party felt the force Of the re-
proof. The sable son of Africa scorned the
Gallic tongue, and Colonel Meredith's ques'
ton was to him as unsolvable as problem in
Euclid. His coutenance, as he now gazed
upon the unfortunate pie with the unpro-
nounceable name, was so ludicrous that Jack
felt an excuse was necessary upon which to
vent their amusement.
IA cowslip on the rivers brim,
A yellow cowslip was to him,
And twas nothing more"
he quoted, elevating his arched brow while
his moustache quivered visibly with sup
pressed mirth.
At this juncture Henriette became possessed
of reminiscence of boarding.school super.
stition, and held up merry.thought in her
fingers, beseeching somebody" to pull it with
her. It was so childish, and withal such a
good opening for laugh, that the group well
coined the merry-thought as an inspiration.
Jack rose like man to the emergency, and
Strengthened his broad shoulders. Mildred
looked at her Crcassian chieftain. Was not
here the spirit of true knighthood? The sil.
iest fancy of his silly little sister was all-po'
tent with him, as would have been the grand
est selfsacri6ce for home and country. No
selfish or scornful shrinking from any request
lady could make. And go Mildred's knight
fell on his knees with that gallant grace which
sat upon him like well-ftting garment, and
prepared for the feat.
"Now, puss, don't you cheat" he said as
Count Hugo came and stood behind them as
umpire. II always had solemn conviction
of the infallibility of a merry-thought, and I
do not like to see Fate jested with"
Won Altenberg's face was study. He bent
over them with almost breathless interest; he
seemed to have no thought in the world be-
yond the issue of this schoolgirl joke
Kate's short upper lip curled as she watched
him from her mossy sest-her head thrown
back against the tree behind her. The sun
light glinted through the boughs and tinged
her hair with gold, lighting up the scarlet cape
which half.fell from her shoulders, and throw
ing its exquisite tinge upon her warm white
throat. Count Hugo saw all while he seemed
to see nothing. Every detail of beauty and
grace his artistic eye had noted and now the
curve of that lip was felt before it was seen.
He understood human nature, and what is in
fnitely harder to read-,uonaan nature-too
well, not to perceive at a glance thepique which
Kate had 80 well-concealed when she was
aware ofh observation. Now off her guard,
shealmost thought aloud. This was the man
who acted desperate love one short hour be-
fore! Now he gazed with absorbed intensity
upon the severing ola merry thought! Well,
who cared2 No harm was done. She didn't
care whit-not she! But she did like him.
If be only had not been so easily thrown off!
Tins she soliloouized. and Count Hugo