Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-03-07
Au 0riginal grize Stprg.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
THE OAKHURST ROMANCE.
BY MRS. HENRY DEAS.
CHAPTER XIV.

and confused emotions which overwhelmed,
in q torrent the heart and mind of our young
hero, as he listened to DR.. Crosbie's story, and
found himself, at its conclusion, so fondly
claimed as the nephew This kind friend, Mrs.
Mansfield. They were too overpowering for
his still weak nerves, and he had scarcely en-
deavored to murmur faint response to his
aunt's exclamations of happiness and graft
tude, when he lost consciousness of everything
around him, and tainted away.
When he came to himself he found that he
was lying on the sofa with Mrs. Mansfield
supporting his head, and his face plentifully
besprinkled with cold water while DIR. Cros-
bic looked on with his brows gathered into
frown, which contrasted oddly with the soft
ened expression of his eyes and mouth.
"What do you mean, sir, by fainting away
in this absurd style? ?" he exclaimed, trying to
speak in gruf' tone, but failing signally in
the attempt. "Any one would think you
were mawkish girl, instead ofa man. Come,
sir, collect your senses and act like an indi-
vidual of some strength of character, as l
think you have proved yourself to be, Mr..
Albert Beaumont"
The doctor took benevolent pleasure In
repeating the name, so long lost, SO strangely
recovered; and to the ears of the nameless
exile how sweet did it sound. No longer
nameless, no longer homeless, no longer bereft
of social ties, with what a grateful heart did
he bless the Providence who had led him
hither, to restore to him his birthright, and
make him feel himself once more honored
and happy upon earth.
Cecil, when he heard the tale, was wild
with delight.
"Don't you see, now, I was right in saying
Cousin Richard ?" he exclaimed "only it is
Cousin Albert, instead q much prettier name
too, think. It's the jolliest thing l ever
knew in my life!"
From his aunt Albert learned that both
his parents were long since dead. They had
returned to England soon after learning the
supposed fate of their child, and his mother,
few months later, died at Mansfield Park.
His fathers family we're broken up and scat
tered abroad, and of the Harcourts his aunt
alone remained. She had but one child, a
son, of whom little Cecil was the sole living
representative and name-sake.
There was no property of any consequence
on the Beaumont side for Albert to inherit,
but there was a fine old place in Essex that
had been left to his mother in her own right,
which had been for many years let to stran-
gers, and this he was now entitled to claim.
"You must take Cecil with you some day,
dear boy, and run up to look at it," his aunt
said "Iwant you to see whether your Eng
lish Inheritance will compensate you for the
loss of your Virginia home"
That dear Virginia home how eagerly did
his thoughts turn toward it now; how anx-
ious was he to impart to the dear ones there
the news of his prosperity. He was undeci-
ded at first whether to write at once or to 60
without writing, and give them happy sur
prise. Finally he resolved upon the latter.
"You must spare me awhile, Aunt" he
said to Mrs. Mansfield. 81 want to run off to
America to see all that has gone on there
since my absence"
"Go, my dear child" she rejoined. 81
would not be selfish enough to wish to keep
you from them, for you must feel as if you
belonged more to them than to me. Only
you must promise to come back before very
long"
Albert promised, and with joyous heart
commenced making preparations for the voy-
age. He felt as if he would give worlds to
have wings wherewith to fly across the broad
Atlantic, instead of going in tedious, tire
some ship. He was full of newborn hopes
and doubts. Should he find them all as he
had left them? What might not have hap
pened during the period of his absence :?
Would Ethel still be there and if so-and
then he almost feared to frame in words the
bright dream her image called forth. His
heart bounded with the reflection that all
barriers to their union were now removed,
provided only he could be sure of one little
important item-her consent!
Did Ethel love him, was now the constant
question of his heart And then he would
chide himself for thinking that it might be
so; what right had he to suppose that she
would have given him her heart unasked ?
Still, the future was before him, and hope
nestled joyous in his breast.
Sometimes the thought of Clare came into
his mind, but he knew that he was bound by
no allegiance to her. She had been the be-
trothed wife of Brooke Eversham, not Of AL
bert Beaumont, and since the former no lon
ger existed, it was not for the latter to take
his place.
1t may be as we'll to give thought to
Clare, and see how she has Jared all this time.
1t was soon after Albcrt's visit to London,
when he saw her in her friends carriage from
the confectioner's store, that summons was
sent to her to return home, on account Of the
illness of one of the family. The invalid was
a Younger sister, who had taken cold from
exposure to storm while returning from an
evening party, the result of which was Sc
we're case of pneumonia, from the effects of
which she was laid up whole winter. Mrs.
Ransome deemed it the duty of her eldest
daughter to be at hand to share the home
anxeties and responsibilities, having no idea,
as she said of any one "shirking their duty
in life"
Clare had no desire to shirk her duty, but
it was nota cheering reception after her pleas
ant visit abroad. Minna Ransome was fret
full invalid, and her mother seemed to consid-