Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-10-30

Toward twilight, in the beautiful month of
May, Lizzie was sitting out in the vlne'clad
verandah, overlooking Mr.. Mason's garden.
She was thinking of Theodore and all the JOY
that fled with him, when she was made aware
of another and unexpected presence. She
turned to look upon this intruder upon her
privacy, when her waist was suddenly encir-
cled by strong arm, and the voice OF MIR.
Mason fell upon his ear: "Oh Lizzie, Lizzie!
even though life 60 out with the utterance,
must speak word to you, now and here!
have wrestled with my heart long enough,
God knows! | have striven hard to imprIson
my sorrow in my own bosom; but, alas it
has burst assunder every barrier and now
leaps to my lips to tell-tell you, that-that l
love your
"Such language from you, sir land to your
own niece !' and Lizzie broke from his en-
brace and ran, trembling, into the parlor.
Greatly to her surprise and no less to her
alarm, there was no escape in that direction,
for the inner door was locked and the key
gone. Making this discovery, she turned to
demand an explanation from Mr. Mason, who
had followed her into the room and was now
seated.
"Do not unnecessarily alarm yourself, Liz
zie," said Mr.. Mason, much agitated. "Rest
assured, that you have nothing to tear from
me-"
"Allow me to inform you, sir, that DO
not fear," said Lizzie, erecting her little form,
but trembling like an aspen, nevertheless. IL
am curious to know, however, what object has
influenced you in OBTAINING me here against
my will"
"Sit down and listen to me" said Mr.. Ma
son. II shall detain you but a few moments"
He paused looked confusedly down upon the
carpet-then up to the ceiling. Finally, he
leaned forward; and, as if addressing himself
to particular spot on the carpet, he said:
"First of all, Lizzie, you are not my niece
When Mr.. Donald Gray married your moth
er, she was a widow with one child. That
child was yourself Your father died few
months prior to your birth, and Graham was
his name am only half brother to the late
Donald Gray, whom you have been accus-
toned to call your father. Pray what rela-
tionship do we bear to each other, if this be
really so? That such is really the case, you
may satisfy yourself at any time, not only by
reference to papers in my possession, but by
corroborating statements from half the people
in town."
"Supposing that point yielded" said Lizzie;
"what then ?"
"Why, simply, that neither human nor divine
law can condemn me for the passionate love l
bear you," said Mr.. Mason, still looking at
that particular spot on the carpet
"That much is also granted" said Lizzie.
"And now, that our opinions coincide so ad-
mirably, you will please allow me to retire
under the overwhelming consciousness of the
facts, to which my attention has been so elo-
quently directed"
Mr.. Mason looked quickly up. The shad-
ow upon her brow was dark and lowering
the entire countenance ghastly as death.
"You are mocking me, Lizzie !-positively
making sport of love, which, if barren and
vain, will sap the very foundations of my ma
ture and render me miserable through life
and perhaps, miserable through all eternity
Oh Lizzie" and Mr.. Mason bowed his head
upon his bosom, and groaned aloud.
"Ir Mason, such language is unbecoming
a professor ofthe religion Of our blessed Sa-
viour. TO you, at least, the qualification
originating in fulfilled wishes of any charac-
ter, should be Of little account, when COM
pared to the exceeding weight of glory in
reserve-the grand compensation beyond the
tomb. You, who profess to live under the
influences of the powers of the world to come
and to have transferred your affections to spir-
itual and heavenly objects, cannot-or should
not-be much concerned in reference to world
ly success in any of its phases
"Hear her !" exclaimed Mr.. Mason, start
ing to his feet and walking rapidly about the
room I make declaration Of the love,
which has been consuming me for months !!
I-her benefactor and friend-ack knowledge
myselfimpoverished and dying for that which
she has power to bestow! 1 plead for affec-
ton and trustful confidence from her, whom
l shelter and protect whom have loaded
with favors, and whose future happiness is the
height ofmy ambition! pray for the heart
of her whom 1 love! nd-and-and-she
breaches me sermon" Then, after long
pause, during which he continued to walk up
and down the room, he stopped short before
the half terrified girl and said: "The rei-
gion of the Bible, Lizzie, is a religion of rea-
son and common sense. 1t asks not that its
disciples should cease to be men and women.
You are beautiful and good and I can dis
cover and be affected by the facts, without
doing violence to my religious principles-in
fact, religion does not claim to shut my eyes
and paralyze my heart. Why should not |
love you, Lizzie; and why should not failure
and disappointment in my love render ME un-
happy and miserable, as well as other men,
who profess no religion and who claim no
master, but their moods and wills? 1t may
be, that religion would sustain me under such
a sore aftiiction, or it may be that the aiflic-
ton itself would sink me to depths which re-
ligion can never, never fathom Lizzie, not
because the religion is impotent and unable
trumphantly to bear the burden of even
broken heart but, because, in the blindness
of my sinful nature, may drift away from
that refuge and Strong tower and make ship
wreck of faith | have prayed the prayer Of