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

self into pair of sturdier arms than mine;
and, looking in the face of this intruder, l
found it the honest beaming countenance OF
Bigby himself, my magnanimous tailor.
He lifted her from the ground in his close
caress; then looked over at me with the hap
piest, the fondest the most exalted satisfaction
l ever saw in any one in my life.
Oh the delicious sensation of finding my
self close by her side in the comfortable little
carry-all The evening sky was rosy red, all
the wayside hedges were budding afresh in the
glad new Spring, multitudes of birds swung
and swayed in the dry stems of the trees, and
daisies, white and red, studded the wide green
pastures.
Whether it was really that light wine Of
Bigby's, the capital mechanism of Bigbys
chef de cuisine, the combination Of happy
faces and light hearts, bunch of violets in a
Venitian vase, the delicious coffee, that come
ly Mrs. Bigby dispensed after the meal
whether it was each or all of these, the dinner
was perfect. We spent the night in mild but
paradisiacal dissipation. We had little
music some of Hattie's Italian to please her
mother few ballads for her father, and any
thing and everything for me.
Then I talked to Bigby, or rather he talked
to me, of rural life and its surroundings-his
lots and lands, strawberries and young or
chards, and secretly grew glad to think that
in some quarter, however problematlcal 1t
seemed to me, he must reap the honest reward
of his labors. With little more light wine,
and lighter biscuits, made by the pudg dim.
pled hands of handsome Mrs. Bigby herself,
tbe evening ended.
As Iwent down with my worthy host in the
morning, promised him 1 would visit him
often. And I vowed in my heart it should be
very often.
A tailor, and the daughter of tailor!
Yes, even so what mattered it? She might
have been the offspring of prince, and at
all events it was the first oasis in my desert
of life, and I needed to lie down in the
shadow of rock for rest.
So commenced for me dual existence. l
paired off pretty equally-went out to Big
by's by day, and to Gertrude's by night. l
began to look upon Hattie as my sister, and
Gertrude as my betrothed, and made all my
arrangements to suit these afinities l ad.
mired Hattie, 1 con6ded in her, and informed
her of the snares and deceits that lay in wait
for her in that world upon the threshold of
which she stood wondering and charmed.
Whereas with Gertrude I strove to infuse in
nv manner that tender solicitude that beto.
kened the lover. I, perhaps, was not so sue
cessful in this latter role as the former; but
let any one undertake this dual existence, and
he'll find out how difficult it is to keep the
two characters from infringing upon and
mingling with each other.
Mr.. Cavendish was one of the agents the
gods chose for my discontinue The man
was detestable to me- T abhorred his long
drawn sighs and penitential snif1e. 1t had
become positive bore to find him so often
with Gertrude, bending upon her similar
regard to that with which willy beacon
strictor envelopes his prey. He had persua-
ded her that her knowledg ge of crayons would
be of use in drawing the plans for the new
chapel, and he remained many hours with her,
their heads almost touching, their hands in
close proximity over these wretched drawings.
I decided when we were married would try
to convince Gertrude that her forte lay not in
architecture.
But was not prepared to say that cared
to have the nuptials hastened-in fact the
subject was distasteful to me. Bigby had
maintained commendable reticence with re-
gard to my private affairs, and it was only in
the bosom of his elightful ia mily that could
forget my cares and the unhappy future in
store for me. AS Gertrude was desirous to
have the foundation of the new chapel laid
before we were married, and numerous parish
duties weighed heavily upon her, I was del
icate about intruding upon her valuable time.
But the Bigbys were always at leisure OF
course Bigby himself was engaged the greater
part of the day down town, and Mrs. Bigby
was busy experimenting her household; but
Hattie had plenty Of time to spare, and was
too young to 60 into society. I had told Big
by that the closer he adhered to his own pri-
vate family the better it would be for girl
so young and impulsive as Hattie. So / was
little annoyed when he told me he thought
of taking his wife and daughter to another Of
"them there charity concerts"
"You do very wrong, Bgby," I said, re-
provingly. "Hattie will be sure to attract
idle attention, and think you'll regret it"
"Pooh, pooh Mr.. Fithan," said the good
natured father; 1--WE can't keep her in 6 lass
case you know"
"Would to Heaven we could !" I groaned,
and went in search of her.
I found her wild to go. We were in the
summer-house, and those little octagon-shaped
boxes force people into close proximity. She
had never been so beautiful. In her white
dress, with tear in each of her soft blue eyes,
she was the embodiment of womanly lowell
ness.
"Please let me go p she said, with her white
hands o1ocDod antroo Tin o1u
1 moved toward her, impelled by a strange
magnetism. l was dazzled, confused, bewil-
dered.
"Why do you ask mes" stammered. us
my consent necessary to your happiness p
Eyes, yes" she murmured II could not
enjoy it otherwise !" She stopped and drew
long breath felt it on nay cheek, and
sweet rapturous conjecture was suddenly con-
ceived in my heart. Isank back, overwhelm-
ed with the conviction that loved her with
a mad, ungovernable ardor.
A dim sense of disaster spoiled the dawn
ing of my first passion.
She looked at me with sudden fear.
81 have wounded you," she whispered.
"Now that is enough. I will not go !"
"You ViW" l cried "You shall But
with me, Hattie. love you, child"
Then took her in my arms and kissed her,
and went rapidly out of the summer-house.
But before l went home it was arranged that
she should 60 with me to the concert, poor old
Bigby giving a wondering but bland consent.
l determined, upon reaching my lodgings,
to send little note to Gertrude, stating my
inability to be with her on the MI ght Of the
festivity, but found upon my table note from
her. opened it with languid interest; but
upon reading the first few lines threw it
down and walked madly across the room.