Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-04-03
CHAPTER XVI.
A DISCOVERY.

DISCOVERY.
DR.. Eglinton lived in commodious bachelor
quarters, not far from Wabash avenue. On
the afternoon following the occurrences rela'
ted in the last chapter, he sat in his office, ap'
parently moody and dissatisfied. If he was
not to be allowed to go to Avondale every day,
to bask in the presence of the woman he loved,
he regretted having proposed this change of
air for Berta. No doubtthe child would have
improved ere long, and he might have con-
tinued his daily visits, and at least caught a
glimpse of her occasionally, even if she would
not see him every time he made professional
visit; and now she had left it to his conscience
only to visit Avondale as often as it was posi-
lively necessary.
"How very disagreeable I must be to her"
unused the poor doctor; "or how devoted she
must have been to her dead husband, that
she will not listen even yet, to word of love
from another Perhaps she likes Bainbridge
better than she does me- All lwonder If
she does? But there is one thing sure, as
long as she is free, I will never give up trying
to win her." And this brave determination
seemed to give some comfort to the doctors
unhappy frame of mind. "Well, I must to
work now !" he exclaimed, rising up and yawn-
ing but his energies seemed to be paralyzed
and he sat down again, sinking into a more
oblivious reverie than before. Presently he
muttered-
"Where on earth have I ever seen her be-
fore? Have ever seen her, or was it some
statue or picture with her face. Ha! [ have
it" and springing up suddenly from his seat,
a CLEAN of intelligence flashing athwart his
face, Doctor Eglinton crossed the room and
entered his sleeping apartment. 1t was ele-
gantly and luxuriously furnished. Passing
through this, the doctor entered small room
and selecting key from a number
of them, strung on a ring together, he opened
a large trunk standing near, and begun to
search its contents. They seemed to be Of a
miscellaneous characteristics, rocks, books,
and small pictures. At last he
came across the object of his search. 1t was
a small painting on ivory contained in vel
vet case and representing young and girlish
face. Below the picture was the single word,
"Florimond."
"Why, that is her name, too," exclaimed
the doctor, in utter astonishment, "for I heard
Mrs. Sutherland call her so! This picture
must represent Mrs. Ravenswood, when she
was very youthful, and her beauty yet unt-
veloped" He gazcd at it long time and
then placed it in that pocket in gentlemans s
outer garment which lies very near the mas
culine heart. Having done this, the doctor
locked the trunk and going to another, took
thence package of old letters directed to
himself: This he carried back with him to
his Office, and began to open and examine
their contents. They were letters his mother
had written to him while he was in foreign
lands. He now recalled some faint recollec-
tions of her having written to him about
some young friend who was very unhappy,
whom she loved very dearly; and now those
same words, which Doctor Eglinton had then
glanced over with the utmost Indifference, as
concerning person whom he had never seen
and probably never would see, he now de-
voured with the greatest avidity. He read
his mothers account of her first meeting with
Flormond of their first walk together and
how Florimond had asked if she might not
come to the White Cottage to see her. "She
is only eighteen" wrote Madame Ignatius,
"and already mother; but her health is ap-
parently very delicate, and she seems, too,
very unhappy. This is strange in one so
young and so we'll off in worldly point of
view, for she told me that she lives with her
grandmother, the wealthy Mrs. Summerville,
the richest woman in the town. This grand
daughter is her sole heiress. was so inter-
ested in her appearance and manners, I could
not help remarking, 'and how can you be so
melancholy, my dear, still in the sweet spring
of your life, when there should be naught but
sunshine and happiness2' oh Madame,
she exclaimed, but my husband, and then
she stopped abruptly. Ipresume, poor child,
that her husband has been slain in the war"
The doctor turned back to the date of the
letter.
EYES," he muttered to himself, che was
dead then, for the date of his death in Berta's
locket, was October %, 1885,"
He picked up another letter.
"My young friend has been to see me twice
since wrote to you. She says 1 must call
her Florimond. I am becoming very much
attached to her. She has told me her whole
history, and sad enough one it is; but as
you do not know her, and could not, conse-
quently, feel the same interest in her as do,
I will not 60 into details. Perhaps, under
the circumstances, it would be a breach Of
confidence, anyhow, for she has told me the
inmost secrets and feelings Of her young heart.
I find her society very fascinating. She is
trying to improve herself Intellectually, hav-
ing been deprived of educational advantages
in her early years. I am going to teach her
to sketch from nature and to paint in oils.
She is perfectly enthusiastic about it. am
sure it will be pleasure toteach one so sweet
and so gifted-for Doctor De Witt the oracle
Of the town on all such matters, says she is
really gifted, and only needs mental training
to become magnificent woman"
He picked up another.
"Florimond is spending few weeks with
me. All! my son, l cannot tell you how
much enjoy her congenial society. 1t has
come to this, beloved of my soul, that next to
thee, she is the dearest object of my hearts
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