Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-10-22


vulgar a''e"''''' ~ S' AUeUsfus F1rHrAN.
Then, with heavy sigh, putting aside this
little missive, wrote thus to Gertrude:
MY DEAR GERTRUDE.-I find it quite imposs-
BILE to 60 with you on Thursday evening. An un-
pleasant but imperative obstacle forbids. Yours
always, AUGUSTUS flrhlAS'
Night was already upon me when | had
finished writing. Hurrying the two notes
into envelopes, directing them with scrawling
precipitation, and giving them into the land
iady's hands to post, threw myself on my
bed without lighting my lamp. 1 lay hour
after hour tossing, thinking, wondering. One
thing was certain, my honor was pledged to
Gertrude, but my love to Hattie, and there
was more of love than honor about me just
then. I turned coldly from severe appeal
on behalf of expediency and Gertrude, and
plunged headlong into delicious reverie OF
love and Hattie. Not wink of sleep did |
get till the morning sun streamed coldly and
accusingly through my window; then in sheer
fatigue, I fell into profound slumber and
never awoke till noon.
Accompanying late mututinal meal, there
came what seemed voluminous post. There
we're letters and letters! opened prodi-
gious envelope directed in Gertrude's severe
italian hand. There fell to the floor my mis-.
sive of the night before. What did itmean
I opened and read her explanatory note:
Mr.. F1TH1AN.-I return you the letter to your
friend Hattie, which you misdrected last evening.
I hope you will keep the engagement that un-
consciously interrupted, and will be able to pro-
tect her loveliness from the vulgar attention
you so much deplore. Respectfully,
GERTRUDE VANDEWATER.
After recovering from this thunderbolt of
Justice, took Hatties little note, which con-
tained these few but terrible lines /:
DEAR Mr.. FITH1AN.-I understand now why
you were unwilling T should 60 to the concert.
AS I must not be an unpleasant and imperative
obstacle to you, shall never see you again.
T took up my hat and went out without
knowing exactly why, and found myself pres
emily at Gertrude's house. The blinds were
partially closed but under the curtain saw
the clumsy shoes of the Reverend Cavendish
almost touching the slippers of Gertrude, and
all four feet were under the table laden with
architectural drawings.
A sudden impulse of rage seized me; ran
up the steps and pulled loudly at the bell.
The servant only halfopened the door.
"Miss Vandewater is not at home" he said
I handed him my card and beckoned him
to take it within. Something in my face made
him obey. He went in with it, but came out
again, almost Immediately, with the card in
his hand.
"Miss Vandewater is not at home" he re-
peated in that dry, hollow voice peculiar to
the Vandewater household.
I plunged madly down the steps and made
my way homeward. My landlady called to
me as 1 was going up the stairs that somebody
was waiting in my room for me: "He would
insist upon going up and waiting for you,
she said. "You see, sir, people must be seen
sometimes"
She thought it was dun, and so did l. |
was prepared to throw an importunate credi
tor over the balusters, and went boldly into
the room.
In an armchair near the fire sat Bigby!
"Ive come to talk to you" he said.
"First of all, Bigby," I exclaimed, "Yor
must understand that love your daughter
Hattie"
Bigby almost fell out of his chair. HI
stared at me open-mouthed. I saw from his
face he was in complete ignorance of every
thing but I went on, nevertheless:
II love her to distraction. I never loved
any woman before, and / never will again.
want you to tell her so, Bigby, for of course
shan't see her."
II won't do nothing of the kind" said Big
by. "What do you mean by saying you love
one woman, when you're going to marry
another?"
"I'll never marry Miss Vandewater, Bigby
That's all broken off"
Bigby fell back in his chair.
"3roken off," he gasped, "when I've had
my men working highland day on them clothes
Of yours !"
II can't help that, Bigby. I know I'm
ruined man as far as those things are concern
ed; but it's out of the question. | wouldn't
marry her if I could and couldn't if would y
Then I told him everything.
"Them there clothes of your'll be all out Of
fashion," he said mournfully, when l had
concluded.
81 won't need them Bigby. I'm going out
to the mines"
Bigby gazed musingly in the fire, Once OF
twice be turned and looked at me.
"If woman is good enough to love she's
good enough to marry, amt she, MIR. Filth
Ian ?" said he, at length.
"Unquestionably, Bigby."
"And you love my Hattie. you say?"
II adore her, Bigby Il"
"And you think She is fond of you ?" broke
in the old gentleman. .
I'll hope so. I earnestly believe she is y
"And if gave her to you, Mr. Fithlan-
and you know how much store we set by her
and if my wife and me never would lay a
straw in your path, and would keep from
troubling you all we could, would-would
you give me your honor as a gentleman, Mr.
Fithian-as gentleman, mind--you'd d doyour
best to make Hattie happy"
You see Bigby's idea of gentleman was
something of an antithesis.
took his shaking hands in mine. said
But what does it matter what said? | had
always been fond of Bigby. I respected him
now more than any one knew; Mrs. Bigby
was the handsomest woman for her age ever
saw; and as for Hattie-you all know how l
felt about Hattie.
Some weeks after I met Vandewater. He
shook hands with me reproachfully.
II douldn't help it, Van," said. 81 deci-
ded to marry for love-"
"Hem !" said Van, with cynical smile
"let me see. I think old Bigby must be
worth in the neighborhood of half million
of dollars"
A DUT1FuL SoN.-There is now days a
good deal of complaint about the want of
obedience to parental authority on the part of
the rising generation, especially on the part of
the boys. We heard Of case the other day
which proves that there are noble exceptions
to the average "boy Of the period" A young
son of one of the principal examiners in the
Patnnt ntfina of Washinpton went to nass his