Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-03-06
CHAPTER II.
AT HOME.

Mrs. Summerville sat on her front piazza
one mild afternoon, rocking in large, COM
Portable chair and knitting, on long wooden
needles, gay scarlet and white neck scarf
for her idolized Florimond. Her portly, ma
iestic figure was clad in the heaviest of black
silks, and on her silvery white locks was placed
the neatest of snowy caps-its rich lace fit
shading for her gentle features. Time, which
had dimmed the beauty of her aged face, and
stolen the roses from her faded cheeks, had
not quenced the vivid brightness Of her dark
and brilliant eyes. A gloomy, lowering sky
hung overhead, and the breeze which swept in
wild gusts across the southern landscape,
brought to the old lady's senses the delicate
breath of flowers and the faint odor of the
fragrant pines, whole grove of which lay
just beyond the green meadow. The house is
large, commodious and Of modern architec.
ture; and standing, as it does, rather on the
outskirts of the city, has greater retirement
about it and much larger share Of pleasure
grounds than can usually be found with town
houses. Mrs Summerville is engrossed in
deep thought she is thinking of her grand
daughter-or her child, as she always calls
her-and the faster her needles fly, the faster
her thoughts are borne through the air to
Florimond. She becomes restless, and evil
IDENTIFY her mind is troubled and i'll at ease, for
ever and anon she arises, and peering over her
glasses through the French window, consults
the bronze clock, ticking within on the black
marble mantel-piece. Finally she leaves her
seat, and going into the room rings the bell,
which is Immediately answered by her favor
ite man-servant.
"Come, Charles" she said in voice of Pc
culiarly pleasant accents, Ego now to the post
office. You know have not heard from your
Miss Florimond in four whole days, and if l
do not hear to-day, l am firmly convinced she
is sick. Return as quickly as possible, for if
there is no letter, I will send Immediately
telegram to Judge cambridge to know the
reason of her unusual silence. Charles, there
must be something the matter-she would not
neglect me for a slight cause. There is some
thing wrong With my child"
"Oh no, Mistress" said Charles, in COM
forting voice "you may depend Miss Flori-
mond is not sick-she only be enjoying of her.
self so much.''
"Don'ttalk to me" replied the mistress, i'm
patiently; "but make haste and bring me
letter."
Charles became invisible instantly.
About quarter of an hour later, as Mrs.
Summerville still vibrated to and fro in her
commodious rocking chair, and still knitted
as if her life depended on the rapidity of her
motions, she caught the sound Of carriage
Wheels and on looking up discovered the We
hicle driving rapidly up the long avenue.
She looked, she wondered, she gasped, she ran
down the steps as fast as her sixty-Seven years
would let her-and yes, her eyes did not de-
ceive her, it was Florimond! But Florimond,
looking so changed, so wan and haggard, that
her doating grandmother shed tears over her.
II knew you had been sick, my child" she
cried "my heart told me so. I have thought
of you so much, and dreamed OF you, and I've
been so lonely without my dear girl"
"Then, why did you force me to visit those
horrid Dandridges ?" asked Florimond, impa-
tiently. II hate them all"
"Do not speak so, dear child. 1 thought it
your duty"
"Duty? Duty be hangedl" cried Flori-
mond, still more impatiently. "I'll never 60
there again. I shake the very dust off my
feet"
"Why, what on earth have they done to
you?"
"Oh nothing in particular" said Flori-
mond, throwing her hat-anywhere, and sink
ing languidly into the first easy chair, "only
as meddlesorne and disagreeable as possible,
as they always are, to my mind. Martha
hateful creature! took occasion several times
to tell me it was great piece of condescen-