Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-10-23

L
so often repeats: The darkest hour is just be-
fore daylight?'"
"That is not passage of Scripture, dear
mother" said Lizzie.
"Well, it don't matter much, so long as
there amt nothing against it in the Bible"
said Mrs. Gray. "But, come Lizze there's
the good souls house right before us l had
no idea that we had walked so fast"
"In the good providence of our Heavenly
Father, have been made instrumental in Sc
curing you an excellent situation, Mrs Gray"
said Jacob Mason, after some desultory con-
versation.
Mrs. Gray expressed her thanks and barely
intimated very natural desire to be made
acquainted with the nature Of the services re-
quired.
"Alr that is required Of you is to surperln-
tend the domestic arrangements of the house
hold" said Mr.. Mason.
"Whose household ?" was the very natural
question.
"Mr. Edward Robertsons, my dear madam.
He has four girls, and a son about nineteen
years of age. The girls are mere children
but quite old enough to take care of them
selves. All that is required of you is to see
that the girls study their lessons; are correct
in their behavior at home; 60 out decently at
tired; retire and rise at regular hours-in
short, to become matron, guide, companion
and advisor to the poor, motherless things.
Your daughter may accompany you, until l
can make other arrangements for her disposal"
Lizzie looked hurriedy up as the last SEN
tence of the speaker grated upon her ear;
then, with deep crimson blush of indigna-
ton she said, with quiveriug lips: "Mr. Ma
son is very kind and considerate, am sure !;
but failing to see what right he has to dispose
of me otherwise than agreeably to my wishes,
I trust he will not unnecessarily concern HIM
self with either my present or future"
GAS the brother of your late father, SIM
ply urge the right of advancing your interests
and administering to your happiness" said
Mr.. Mason, in such admirable self:possession
and kindness Of manner, that Lizzie regretted
having been betrayed into such pert speech
Mr.. Mason went to the sideboard, and fill
ing a large glass with water, leisurely slipped
its contents, looking all the while thoughtful
ly upon the carpet. This done, he walked
once or twice across the room: suddenly halt
ing before Mrs. Gray.
"Do you accept the situation, madam p he
asked.
"Acceptit? Why, to be sure do, good Mr..
Mason. accept it gratefully and may God
reward you according to all that you have
done for us poor, helpless women"
Lizzie observed an almost imperceptible
shudder, and an uneasy contraction of Mr..
Mason's brow as her mother said this. She
noticed, too, that he turned and walked across
the room the moment he observed that she
was watching him.
x *
"Why have you grown so sober and quiet
of late, Theodore?" asked Mr.. Edward Rob-
ertson, addressing his son as the couple walked
slowly homeward from the counting house.
"Has that fairy daughter of our excellent
housekeeper bewitched you?"
"To whom do you allude, sir?" asked Thco
dore with well-fegned Indifference.
''To whom? Well it is really refreshing
to hear you ask the question so innocently!
To whom else could l have alluded but to
Lizzie Gray?"
"She has not bewitched me, sir" said Thco-
dore, in the common acceptation of the term
but she has made me feel more than ordinary
respect for the exceeding loveliness of her
character and disposition. Anything is in
teresting which is beautiful, and, therefore, l
was attracted toward Lizzie from the very
moment she entered the house, and long be-
fore was made acquainted with the cores
ponding beauty of her character. IfI have
become sober and quiet, 1 was not particular
ly aware of the fact; nor can [ attribute any
change in the character of my manner to
Lizzic's witchery."
II am delighted to hear you say SO" said
Mr.. Robertson "for, to be candid with you, l
was fearful, that you had formed quite an at
tachment for her person. Your position in
social life is so infinitely above hers, that an
attachment of this nature could only result in
mutual disappointment and unhappness.
Being, as you have remarked, an exceedingly
beautiful girl, l warn you, my son, to beware
of her seductons At your time of life, the
human heart is wonderfully impressible."
"Beware of Lizzic's seductions !-why, faith
er! How can you find the heart to utter
such language when speaking of such an art
less unsophsticatcd creature as our Lizzie
Gray?"
"Our Lizzie Gray, indeed" !" said Mr.. Rob-
ertson. "And pray, master Theodore, how
long have you become accustomed to speak of
her in the possessive case? You are probably
not aware that you are rendering yourself
exceedingly ridiculous, when thus expressing
yourself wish it distinctly understood, that
the repetition of such endearing terms in con-
nection with Miss Gray's name, will be viewed
in the light of a personal atfront. She is not
ows-we have no title or interest in her
whatever"
"You entirely misunderstand-"
Il sincerely trust so" said Mr.. Robertson,
cutting the reply short by an impatient waive
of the hand "The subject is not of sufficient
interest, however, for further discussion; so we
will drop it at once"
GAS you please, sir, said Theodore, with
that tone of unconcern and Indifference so