Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-03-07

huON VI youl O1SoEo'nSho'
"Yes, suppose so-that is, don't know.
I never told him.
"Never told him-and he told you that he
loved your"
eyes. I don't think there was anything
bad in that" T."
"What did you tell him. MinnieS"
"I told I-could-not-tell. Oh
Ethel, don't be hard on me! Please help me-"
"You let him suppose, then, that you cared
for him."
"And I do. Ethel, I really do, and I can't
help it."
This was Minnie's formula. She never
could help anything that happened.
1T seems to ME" said Ethel, "that you
have acted the part Of heartless, selfish, ca.
PRECIOUS, unreasoning child, throughout this
whole matter. Minnie, do answer me plain
question, and answer it truthfully. Do you
wish to dissolve your engagement with Arly,
in order to marry Harry Charlton p
ETHEL, mean this said Minnie, solemn
ly. II mean that I would give anything in
the world, if Harry only had half Arly's for
tune; but he is so dreadfully poor"
Ethel's patience was not proof against this.
Minnie, you force me to have an opinion
of you, which I find it very hard to entertain
toward my sister," she said, and rising from
her seat she walked hastily toward the window
and stood there trying to control the indignant
feelings that were swelling in her heart.
mo, Ethel, that was only jest" " said Min
ME, quickly. ri love Harry Charlton so
much that I would marry him tomorrow,
poor as he is, if 1 were only free!"
"Do you really mean what you say% asked
Ethel, turning toward her again.
eyes, do, OIL my word of honor"
"Then there is but one course left open to
you-to tell Arly candidly the state Of the
case, and put an end to your engagement at
once"
Minnie was silent. For the first time, love
had been truly awakened in her heart, and
struggle was going on between this newly
born affection and the mercenary motives
that had hitherto held dominion over it.
At last she said, in subdued tone,
"Ethel, I believe I will take your advice.
Will you tell Arly for me?"
"Impossible, Minnie. You must end the
affair, as you begun it, on your own RESPONSE
bility."
ooh! me, how unfortunate I amp sighed
Minnie. do think of all peoplein the world
I am the most unlucky."
But the next moment, with sudden re-
vulsion of sentiment, she threw her arms
around her sister and kissed her ecstatically,
exclaiming,
"Oh! it is so good and sweet in you not to
think it wrong in me to love Harry! You
have made me perfectly happy"
Ethel did not know whether to laugh or
cry. She could not tell whether vexation or
relief predominated in her mind. Sisters as
they were, and companions from childhood,
she had never been able to understand Min.
MES odd ways; and though now she could
not help rejoicing that this engagement, which
promised so little happiness, was to be dis.
solved, she was panied at Minnie's shallow
ness and frivolity, and the utter absence Of
true principles which she had so palpably dis
played:
"If she really loves Harry Charlton, trust
that her love may awaken the best part of
her nature" she thought. "She needs some
thing, Heaven knows, to strengthen and de-
velop whatever there is of unselfshness and
sincerity in her."
As for Arly, he took it very quietly. When
Ethel next met him, he said to her in his
usual tranquil tone,
81 suppose Minnie has told you tbatour en-
gagement is at an end"
"She spoke to me on the subject, but I did
not know that it was positively broken off,"
eyes. She was quite candid about it, and
I saw that her happiness was involved in its
termination. I dare say it is all for the best.
Everything is, in this life."
"Everything, Arly? Do you really feel
that now?" for it was the first time since his
brothers departure, that he had given utter
ance in her hearing to his favorite sentiment.
"Yes, everything. Do you know, Ethel,
that the assurance has come on me with
strange force of late? I don't know why it
is, but I have been thinking so much about
Brooke these last few days, and it seems to me
that I shall certainly see him again. I used
to think differently but I am better and
stronger now than have been for some time.
If such happiness is really in store for me, l
shall be too thankful ever to murmur at any
thing again |"
"Murmur, dear Arly you never murmur."
"Ethel, there have been times when my
whole soul has risen in rebellion against Gods
appointments; they have seemed so uncalled
for, so hard. Ihave felt like miserable hyp-
ocrite for appearing cheerful and resigned,
when q storm of discomfort was raging in my
heart. My own personal afflction is nothing,
I never think of that; but that other trial,
which seemed so cruel at first, nearly broke
me down. 1 have learned to bear it better
lately, and to think that may yet be permit
ted to see some good result spring from it, in
some way or another. 1 dreamed of my dear
brother only last night; I thought we were
little boys again, playing under the trees at
Oakhurst."
II trust you will meet again" said Ethel
softly. She was wondering what her own
share in that meeting would be, if it ever did
take place.
TWAS late one afternoon when this conver.