Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-01-16
CHAPTER vi.
THE FIRST STEPS TAKEN.

gagged with some needle-work, day or tw'
after the events last recorded, Stanley entered
and taking seat by her side, said in an at
fectionate tone
81 have been thinking, my love, that i
must be rather dull and lonely for you here
This was such an unexpected remark fo1
him to make, that Lucy was quite astonished
and at loss what to answer.
"Do you not feel a desire for little
change" pursued Stanley, taking her hane
in his 81 do not wish to get rid Of you, al
you may we'll believe, but it strikes me tha
you are looking paler than usual of late, ane
a trip to the low country might benefit you
What do you say to visit of a week or two
to Charleston, for instance p
II should like it very much," said Lucy
Frightening up. "shall I really 60, Alfred
and when?"
GAS soon as you please-as soon as you car
get ready, in fact All! little migrate" saic
Stanley, in playful tone, chow happy you
look at the prospect of leaving me! Does
the thought of our separation cost you nc
pang2"
"You said I was only to 60 for week OF
two," said Lucy, "and besides, forgot, fol
the moment, that you were not to accompany
me. Shall you not be able to go?"
"No, have some matters to attend to here
that will not permit me to take holiday al
present. But will not be selfish enough on
that account, to deny you little recreation
want to see the roses come back to your
cheeks, and perhaps visit to mamma may
assist in restoring their bloom"
"Mamma will be very glad" said Lucy
"It will be an unexpected pleasure for her.
too"
"Unexpected pleasures are always the
greatest" remarked her husband, suavely
"and, therefore, my love, I hope this will
prove an especial one to you both. Can you
be ready to start tomorrow morning?"
Tomorrow yes, I can be ready" said
Lucy, surprised at the short notice, but quite
willing to act upon it. 81 must take Melissa
must not ?"
"Certainly; it would not do for you to
travel without an attendant. You are moi
afraid to go with her, are you? I will take
care to put you in charge Of the conductor
and perhaps, some acquaintance Of ours may
be going"
Lucy said she was not at all afraid indeed
she was so delighted at the prospect of the
change that she could think of nothing but
the pleasure in store for her, and, upon her
husbands leaving her, set to work at the ne
cessary preparations for her departure, with q
degree of animation she had not displayed be-
fore for many months. Melissa, whom she
summoned to her assistance, was quite as
pleased as her mistress, and gave vent, with
all the volubility peculiar to her race, to her
satisfaction on the occasion.
Lords sake, missy, amt glad we's goin
to get a sight of old Charleston again
Pears to me it's mos ten years since we lef'
home I feel jes' like I was buried alive in
this old black hole of place; feel some,
times like I was pinin' away, gets so lone
some and homesick. Gracious, won't feel
fine to see the big ocean again ! Amt you
glad, missy?
eyes, I am glad to go on a visit, of course,
said Lucy, prudently refraining, however,
from betraying the full extent of herpleasure.
"And Mas Stanley ain't goin'," continued
Melissa in a.tone of unmistakable satisfac-
ton. "Won't ole Miss be glad to see us, too!'
Before evening, Lucy's trunk was packed
and every thing in readiness for the journey.
Her husband accompanied her the next
morning to Unionville in time to take the
train. Fortunately he discovered that Mr..
Barrister, his recently formed acquaintance
was going as far as Columbia, and under his
charge he placed his wife. The lawyer was
pleased to make Mrs. Stanley's acquaintance,
and to be of use in taking care of her. He
noticed her smiling, animated expression, and
mentally censured the foolish reports that had
gained circulation in regard to the mode of
life she was said to lead.
"If they are not an affectionate couple, l
never saw one," was his reflection as he watch
ed Stanley's fond leave-taking, which was
marked by an unusual empressment of man
ner. "How pretty she is, too! and so youth
full looking. Well, ifhe does fancy keeping
her all to himself, it isn't much wonder, in my
opinion. But as for his treating her unkind-
| ly, and preventing her enjoying herself, l
don't believe word of it."
"Poor Lucy she felt so rejoiced at her un-
expected freedom, that she forgot, for the time,
all her past cares, and gave herself up freely
to the expression of her natural vivacity,
which had not been wholly crushed by the
restraint that had been put upon it. The
swift motion of the cars was exhilarating, and
she experienced the sensations of prisoner
recently escaped from Jail.
1t did occur to her to wonder what had
caused the sudden indulgence on Stanley's
part, totally different from the line of conduct
he had hitherto pursued; but she was too
grateful to him to attribute it to any thing
but disinterested motive, and believed he
had been actuated solely by desire to give
her pleasure, and perhaps by some feeling of
conjunction for having kept her secluded 80
long.
! At Columbia she parted from her legal