Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-01-09
Am 0rigiual Storg.
The MYSTERY OF MOSSGR0VE,
A ROMANCE OF THE 10TH CENTURY.
RY MRS, HENRY DEAS.
CHAPTER III.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.

'@'
tremulous and sad, and her dark eyes were
eloquent with tears.
"Your whole conduct is displeasing to me
Lucy; you know what my wishes are, anc
yet you totally disregard them" And Mrs
Carroll, who was lying on lounge in he1
chamber, applied her handkerchief to he'
eyes with deep, reproachful sigh.
Lucy was silent; her bosom heaved with
suppressed emotion, and it was with difficulty
that she restrained the sobs from bursting
forth.
After pause, Mrs. Carroll resumed in the
plaintive tone in which she had before spoken
81 cannot imagine, Lucy, how you can per
sist in encouraging Edwards attentions, wher
you know how utterly preposterous is the ldes
that you can ever marry him. He is very
good and amiable, and had he the means tc
support you suitably, the case would be differ
ent but as it is, you we'll know that l could
never give my consent to your taking such
step. It's, therefore, your duty to put an end
at once, to all uncertainty in the matter, and
let him know that his hopes, if he is still in
sane enough to cherish them, are entirely
groundless, and can never be realized"
"Mamma," faltered Lucy, edward is not
rich now but he is very industrious, and hopes
in year of two to be able"
"A year or two!' interrupted her mother
"does he imagine that, in the position he holds
he will be able in five years, or ten years, tc
make enough to support an establishment !?
"I would be willing to watt" murmured
Lucy.
"Willing to wait!" Mrs. Carrol's voice
took decidedly sharp tone as she turned to
confront her daughter. "Lucy, lam ashamed
of you-positively am. How can you de-
sire to place yourself in such a humillatlng
position? Have you no self:respect no prop
er pride?"
Lucy was silent.
"And as to your cousin" continued Mrs
Carroll, waxing more indignant as she went
on. "I cannot understand how he can have
the assurance to expect you to make such
sacrifice. Ifhe really cared for you, he would
be more considerate, and less selfish"
"selfsh !' echoed Lucy Indignantly, "Oh
mamma, Edward is the most generous, self:
denying person I ever saw. He has not a
spark of sel6shness in him. Papa used to
think very, very highly of him."
ut is unworthy Of you to try to influence
me by bringing in your fathers name in the
matter" said Mrs. Carroll, relapsng into tears.
81 have never disputed Edwards good quail
ties it is only in this one instance that blame
his conduct Your father would have been
the last one to see you make a marriage that
could bring nothing but poverty and trouble
in its train. But cannot argue the point
farther" she continued in weak tone, sinking
back and closing her eyes; 81 am already too
ill to bear this discussion, and you only harass
me and make me worse"
This reproach was more than the tender
hearted Lucy could endure. She burst into
paroxysm of grief, and taking her mothers
hand requested her not to say such terrible
words, but to believe that she would gladly
do anything to make her better, if it were in
her power.
For some time Mrs. Carroll remained pas
sive while listening to her protestatons, but
finally said, in melancholy voice, that it
would be easy enough for Lucy to convince
her of her sincerity by yielding to her wishes
instead of opposing them.
"What am I to do, mammal" murmured
poor Lucy.
"Tell Edward at once that it is impossible
for you ever to marry him; represent to him
the madness of such scheme, and the neces'
sity of abandoning it without delay. Do this,
Lucy, and 1 shall really believe in your af-
fection, and your anxiety respecting my health.
Refuse to do this, and I cannot answer for the
consequences. My nerves are already shat,
tered, my frame grows daily more feeble; add
this fresh grief to what I already endure, and
feel when too late that you have been the
means of Fastening me to my grave. No
more, Lucy" she added as her daughter was
about to speak, 81 can hear no more now
Leave me to repose; will endcavor to com
pose my mind, and brace my nerves to sup
port with fortitude whatever additional bur-
den may be laid upon me-.
Lucy perceived that farther opposition wa:
useless, and weeping, left the apartment.
The result of this, and other similar inter
views, between the worldly.minded mother
and the too yielding daughter, was the fna
attainment of the end desired by the former.
Edward Carrolls manly, ardent and disin
terested affection was rejected-his fond hopes
forever crushed to the earth.
Shortly after this, Alfred Stanley, who hac
continued to pay unremitting attention tt
Lucy, made formal proposal to her, which
by her mothers mingled persuasions and com
mands, she was led to accept.
After her forced rejection of her cousin
she appeared almost indifferent to everything
and made but little opposition to this plal
which so fatally involved the happiness of he
future life. She did not dislike Stanley, ant
had she been permitted to retain him simpl.
as friend, would have looked upon him ever
more favorably than she now did; but he
heart inwardly revolted against marrying ON
for whom she entertained no positive affec
ton.
Her mother arranged all the preliminaric
of the wedding, which, according to Stanley
entreaties, was to be consummated as soon a
possible after the betrothal had taken place