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

on the close blinking eyes, and the scarcely
visible lips
"In the name of Heaven, Cecilia Gadbury,
have you no mercy on my health, that you let
all the violence of that wind strike me?" he
said, in sharp shrill voice. He was engaged
feeding large lazy tortoise shell cat out of a
silver salver, to bits of cream.soaked light
bread.
Before the splendid creature could answer
him, he cried out again, with more nervous
vexation than before, while he angrily scanned
her perturbed countenance through his gold
bowed spectacles.
Il am sorry you are worried" she said, at
last "but the storm is 80 dreadful | am
really alarmed There!" she cried, agitated-
ly, "what an awful crash Did you hear
it?"
"Hear it? DO you suppose 1 am deaf?
If so, you're mistaken! heard it just as
we'll as you. But the Gadburys are family
who don't play the fool over nothing. Mercy
above us, Cecilia Gadbury, do you see that
window open. Do you want me to catch my
death ?"
Cecilia apologized, closed the window, and
returning to the old mans side, sat down
wearily and gazed into vacancy.
"You look chilly and uncomfortable" said
the old man, querulously. $50 much for
standing at that open window, and riding
horseback through storm!
Il am not cold-nor yet ill.," said Cecilia,
"What's the matter with you, then ? No
matter! Give me my paper! l will read
even if you won't read for me-"
"But I WILL" answered Cecilia, with pa
tient gentleness.
So taking up the newspaper, she read di'
rectly on for half an hour, until the old man
said he was weary of the sound of her voice.
Then she ceased and sat still-only now and
then heaving sigh
"What on earth is the matter with you,
Cecilia Gadbury2" said the querulous old
man, waking suddenly from doze and catch
ing the faint sound of sigh.
20, am so tired-thats all !" she said.
"Tired?
eyes; tired to DEATH uncle"
Mr.. Gadbury gazed earnestly at his niece
for some seconds. He took off his gold.
trimmed spectacles, wiped them, put them on
again, gazed once more, and then said: "Ce-
celia Gadbury, is my nephew, Clarence, un'
kind to you'll Does he make you unhappy p
"No, no, no!' she said, clasping her hands
together, flushing and laughing in an embar-
rassed way; "Clarence is as good as can be to
me! I am free as bird in air. have all
I want! I do as please-and no one could
he moro attentive or kinder than MY husband
is to mel"
"Well, upon my word That Is jeremiad
upon the next Gadbury incumbent Of the
Bluffs" said the old man, disgusted with the
wifes eager praise and preferring to hear i'll
of Clarence "but," he added, composedly,
and drawing his wan, thin figure erect, "lt is
said that all the Gadburys are excellent men
and the women are all models of virtue; but
my knowledge of them teaches me that they
are fierce as tigers. know the record-l
knowit! Well, we'll, men are pretty much
alike all over the world But let me tell you,
if Clarence Gadbury is unkind to you, will
not allow it! You shall not be imposed on |!
think you are deceiving me, and will speak
to Clarence"
Cecilia listened to the old mans rambling
talk very patiently until he made the threat
ofa scene with her husband ; then she said, in
her slow, imperious way that never failed in
its effect
"Upcle Gadbury, I am at loss to compre-
hend why you should fasten upon my hus.
band suspicion of his unkindness to me! l
have told you frequently that it is impossible
for man to be kinder to his wife than he is
to me!'
"Well, well, letit go, then. You are like a
pair of turtle doves, no doubt He is the
pearl of husbands, you say; but doubt it.
Because, to believe it, leaves me without ex-
planation as to your low-spirits and marked
melancholy. You are not the same woman
you we're three years ago. don't understand
itW
There he sat, shaking his head, and looking
whimsical-this poor old man, verging on
his dotage.
Cecilia smiled and bowed, but said nothing
to aggravate him, although she continued to
| talk in the same sad strain
"I know am ungrateful, to be so depress-
ed and weary, but cannot overcome the feel
ing! Sometimes feel positively wicked and
want to die! And yet have not cause for
complaint, and my own heart tells me ought
to be happy"
"Certainly you ought! Certainly you
ought T said the old man; II am bound to
protect you and befriend you'll That ought to
be enough. Or may be you have secret in
your breast? May be you do not love your
husband2 How is that2"
"WLata ridiculous notion, Uncle Gadbu-
ry !' cried Cecilia, her cheeks flaming scarlet
II don't know that it is; 1 mind me now,
that Clarence told me you were very much
admired, and that you counted your lovers
by the Dozen"
$50 did," said Cecilia.
"But your first husband was an old man
and was shot in row with woman re.
member reading about it long time ago
Ferrenden-or Fezzenden-or some such
name"
Cecilia made made no reply. The old man,
ANNOYED at her silence and considering him