Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-03-20
genius and inspiration Of many an old and new
master in human lore.
CHAPTER TX.
AN ENCOUNT Err.

When Florimond had been at the White
Cottage with Madame Ignatius for little more
than month, she became possessed of an ir'
resistible desire to see her grandmother. She
wrote to her constantly, but of course could
get no communication in return and not
withstanding all the interest of her new pur-
suit and all the attraction of Madame's charm
ing home, Florimond's heart yearned for her
grandmother. The feeling between this moth
erless child and this childless mother, was Pc
cularly tender and strong. Having consul
ted Madame, who, it must be mentioned, Sc.
cretly deplored Florimonds flight from home
and her obstinate resentment against her hus-
band, Florimond determined, in accordance
with Madame's advice, to venture back home
to find out from the servants if Colonel Dan
bridge was still there; and if he was not, to
see Mrs. Summerville.
Accordingly, when the declining day had
begun to mitigate the blazing ardor of a
southern sun, Florimond sailed forth on her
expedition. Madame Ignatius and the little
Berta accompanied her to the postern gate,
and after many adieux and repeated embraces,
the lock was turned and Florimond found
herself again, after so many weeks, outside
the Convent walls. Although she had felt no
CALLING chains in this selfimposed imprison'
ment, still Florimond experienced an indehn-
able sense of freedom and restraint at being
once more in the outside world, under the
broad blue arch of the illimitable heavens.
Her romantic temperament appreciated keen
ly the glories of the blessed sunlight, the raw
ishing beauty of this lovely world, which, alas |!
must perish like the rest-all save the imper-
ishable soul. Florimond felt that elective af-
fnity with nature, in all her changeful
moods-that "divine particula aure" which
is peculiar to persons of her high strung, DEL
icately organized temperament Passing
along through fields, where the wild flowers
breathed away in fragrance their ephemeral
lives and across sweetsmelling meadows,
where the gentle cattle grazed, raising their
heads to look at her with their great, solemn
eyes and through the well-known streets,
with their familiar houses and gardens, Flori-
mond's susceptible heart was overcharged with
generous affection, and her dark, magnificent
eyes glowed with light Of great joy, in the
anticipation of meeting her beloved grand
mother. But there was that, in Florimond's
heart, which could not allow her long to enjoy
this soul-communion with nature; which cast
its darkening shadow on the fairest prospect
She shut her eyes to nature and natures
soothing voice, and to her mind came those
pathetic lines wrung from another bitter, des'
olated heart:
"Wth all her reckless birds upon the wing
turned from brought to those she could not bring"
Reaching, at length, the little back gate,
through which she had made her memorable
escape, Florimond entered the kitchen garden,
and passing through it, waited under an an
cient 6g-tree, which stood near the fence that
divided the garden from the green lawn at the
back of the house. She had waited quite
long enough to test her patience, when she
saw her grandmother walk out on the back
porch. Florimond stepped out in full view
and waved her handkerchief, which summons
brought Mrs. Summerville in quick haste.
She embraced Florimond and wept over her.
"My poor foolish child" she exclaimed
81 am so glad to see you. I ought not to be,
after your conduct ought not, but 1 can
not help it. Where did you come from?"
"From my hiding place" said Florimond
smiling.
"And where can that be2 Not in this
town, surely, for have left no means un-
tried to discover your secret retreat. On!
Florimond, you do not know how unhappy
you have made us-especially poor Albert
You must have had some demoniac power to
assist you in devising such scheme Of hu-
initiation to his pride. He is deeply wound
ed-cut to the heart"
"Don't 1 know that" said Florimond, al
most laughing.
"His pride is his only vulnerable point l
have laid awake of nights, thinking and STU
dying what l could do to be quits with him"
"And it must have been the Evil One him
self, which put it into your brains to conceive
such ridiculous, extraordinary revenge"
Gan extraordinary circumstance requires
extraordinary resolution" &" replied Florimond.
"Well," said Mrs. Summerville, "your 'ex-
traordinary resolution has scandalized the
whole community-you are now the town
talk. Hereafter, be thou as chaste as ice as
pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny.
You are stigmatized in public estimation as
virago, devil in woman guise; while Albert
is the most honorable, most to be commisera-
ted, noblest man, most sinned against, now in
existence. This is the reputation your foolish
conduct has gained for you, and though you
are no virago, no devil, you almost deserve
the calumny. Oh! Florimond, when l think
what a gentle, plant nature you used to have,
and have now, in every thing but this one
matter, l am confounded. Tears, entreatles,
persuasion, reason, force-nothing moves you.
You soft, deceitful thing! How can you be so
plant, and yet so unbending; so gentle, and
yet so headstrong so yielding and yet so i'm
movable! cannot read you. But hope,
my child, this visit is an evidence Of repent
ance and that you have come to your senses"
"Certainly not" said Florimond decisively.
II read in Dantes Inferno yesterday, that
Italian proverb adopted by Milton, The
deed once done, there is an end"
"Dante's InternoP' repeated Mrs. Sum-
merville; "you had better read some good
book-your Bible, for instance, which will
teach YOU your duty as wife and mother"