Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-02-19
CHAPTER xxx.

CHAPTER XXX.
When Cecilia withdrew from the sitting.
room, old Mr.. Gadbury once more commenced
feeding his pet cat attentively. Absolute 81
lence reigned throughout the apartment. At
ter a while, Clarence Gadbury entered, and
throwing himself in an easy chair, was soon
apparently lost in the contents of new mag
azine. But the keen eyes of the old uncle
were not deceived He seemed in a deep
reverie but all the time he was watching,
suspiciously, the careless turning of the leaves
of the book in his nephew's hand, which be-
trayed his listless indifference to its contents.
Finally, the magazine was closed and re-
turned, with toss, to its resting'place on the
table; and Clarence, espying the evening
mail, caught up handful of letters, and rap
idly scanned their superscription. All at once
he cried out in sudden and strange astonish-
ment, ard then, with persistent and eager Gu
riosity, again studied the caligraphy upon
one especial envelope, bearing the New York
post-mark upon it.
"Good gracious, Gadbury!" cried his uncle,
rising from his chair, and hobbling to his
side, "what is the matter, that you yell loud
enough to deafen me Mercy! only letter
to your wife, with New York post'mark !?
Do you know the handwriting? Is that
what's the matter? ?"
81 don't know the superscription, at all,
uncle! 1 exclaimed over the quantity Of
letters that came in the mail. Nothing
morew
"Was that all, indeed?" cried the old man,
mockingly; "you give me credit for great
discrimination I tell you I know better
than what you are telling me! I know that
some one of those letters astonished you be-
cause it had the New York post-mark on it |!
Now the question is, why did it surprise you !?
Who is there in New York you don't desire
to hear from by mail? The letter is to your
wife. I must ring the bell and find out about
it Be so good as to ring!'
"You are the most singular parsonage 1
have ever known, uncle" said the younger
Gadbury, as he crossed the room and pulled
the bell vigorously, thereby evincing his own
curiosity on the subject, although he was more
successful in his attempt at disguise than his
uncle could possibly be-
A servant promptly answered the summons.
"Who went for the mail to.day7" demanded
the elder gentleman.
"It was Dan Beeksler, sir"
"Where is your mistress?"
MY mistress is in the drawing-room play
ing on the piano for Miss Docia, who is sing
ing"
"Tell her request her presence in the sit
ting-room ?" returned Mr. Gadbury, senior,
sinking back in his armchair.
The man bowed and retired.
By and by Cecilia entered. She stood
grave and silent, confronting her husband and
his uncle
"Dan Beeksler went to Salvisa to-day for
the letters, papers and periodicals." said the
old man, nodding his head slowly.
eyes, sir; gave him the order when l
gave him the notes to post which I addressed
to the Dudleys and Davenports to come to
dinner next Thursday"
"Humph! So Cecilia spends your patri-
mony in giving dinners to the Dudleys and
Davenports," said Mr.. Gadbury, aside to his
nephew.
20, yes," was the smiling rejoinder, "she
keeps up the sociability of the family"
The penurious old man shook his head and
gave utterance to low groan of despair. Out
of patience with his uncle's slowness, and
childishness, Clarence Gadbury now addressed
his wife.
"Cecelia," said he, "did you see the mail
when it was brought in ?"
At this direct Interrogation, which seemed
to imply secret knowledge of something con-
cerning her, Cecilia looked uneasy, and after
moment or two answered hesitatingly-
81 was not aware that Dan Beeksler had re-
turned. Why? Is there any difficulty about
the mail ?"
"No; the mail all came right side up with
care I was the first to see what came-un-
less you examined the post-bag before 1 en-
tered the room.
Cecilia looked first from her husbands per-
turbed countenance to the nut-cracker face of
his aged relative, and then assuming her most
majestic air, she said
"With due respect to you, Mr.. Gadbury, I
never examine thepost-bag. 1tis privilege
have never assumed. / leave it to you, and
have always done so."
Her husband shrugged his shoulders impa-
tiently. II am positive that the mail was
taken from the post-bag and placed upon the
table! If you did not do it, the question is,
who did? must know at once who has in
fringed upon my rights in this house?'
Cecelia's majestic figure seemed to grow
taller; her lips were ashen-hued with anger at
being addressed as if she had been menial,
and several abortive attempts to speak were
made before she found voice.
"Well, sir" she said, at last, II had been
out riding I returned just as the storm came
on; l."
"And pray what business had you riding
out alone, up and down the pike?" interposed
the old man, in severe tones; "you must be
aware such conduct is reprehensible! No
other woman ever did it belonging to the
Gadbury House!"
IL ! -. T