Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-05-21
his joy, his sunshine, the staff and prop of his
declining years.

bloom, and the air was filled With their de-
licious fragrance; few soft white clouds were
fitting across the deep blue sky in the
branches of the surrounding trees the little
birds we're twittering their vesper song, and a
humming. bird darted busily to and fro, amid
the tendrils of woodbne that twined over
the porch, now thrusting his long bill deep
into the heart of one blossom, now wheeling
away with the rapidity of lightning to seek
fresh feast in another; from the distant fields
was borne the lowing Of the cattle as they
were driven home, and the voices of laborers
returning from their daily toll. Ellinor, al
ways kcenly susceptible to the influence of
pleasant sights and sounds, looked and listened
in dreamy enjoyment, thinking how fair the
world around her was, and wondering how
people could ever be so unreasonable and un-
grateful as to say that there was nothing en-
ioyable in life. Presently a sigh from her
grandfather aroused her, and turning toward
him, she found him regarding her with an un-
usually melancholy expression on his fine, be.
nevolent face.
"What is it, Grandy?" she asked, caressing-
ly laying her arm over his knee. care you
feeling tired, or badly, this evening?"
"No, my child ; I was only thinking" he
replied, tenderly smoothing the jetty locks
back from her appraised brow, "and my
thoughts were little sad"
"They have no business to be sad" was the
playful rejonder. "What was the subject of
them, may ask?"
"Yourself, my Nellie"
"Indeed now l don't call that at all COM
plimentary," said Ellinor. Gam l such a
plague to you that the contemplation of me
makes you sigh?"
"You aresuch blessing to me, he replied,
"that 1 cannot bear to think of your life ever
being less bright and tranquil than it is now"
"Then why should you think about it p
asked the girl, momentary seriousness cloud
ing her face. "Whqt put such ideas into
your head ?"
81 was trying to look forward to your fu-
ture, Ellinor. Do you not suppose that it Is
a ubject which is often in my thoughts ?"
"But why should it worry you, Grandy?
Providence arranges everything, you know;
I have often heard you say it was wrong to
trouble oneself about the future
"And so it is, darling but we are all weak,
you know, and cannot help such thoughts
coming sometimes. I have been thinking,
my child, of serious subject-your marriage"
"Mv marriage!" A deep flush swept over
Ellinors brow, and she looked away again
toward the lawn, though with her head stately
and erect "That was an odd thing to think
about Grandy."
II don't think so, my pet; marriage is a
very common thing, isn't it? 1t is time that
I should make up my mind to losing you one
day." :.
"No fear of that" said Elinor, speaking
very quietly. "I do not expect to marry"
"Young girls often say that" he replied,
patting her cheek, "but everybody knows
what it means. "No, no, my dear Nell, the
old man would be very sorry to think that
you spoke in earnest"
"But I do speak in earnest, grandfather,
and mean what say
"Perhaps you do-nay, l ain sure you Go,
if you tell me so, for you are never inslncere.
But your views will be different, I hope,
when"
"When what, Grandy?"
"When the right man makesh his appearance
on the scene"
"There will be no right man, and so he will
never make his appearance"
"Tut, tut! don't talk like that, my pretty
one. He is bound to come, some time or 9TH
er. Do you know, Nell, I was even thinking
that perhaps 1 could be wizard enough to
form some idea of who he would be?"
Again the crimson flush rose to Ellinors
face, but her tone was quite composed as she
replied
"You would, indeed, be a wizard, I think,
to be able to do that
"What would you say, if were to tell you
that long ago, before you were old enough to
think of anything but your dolls and your
picture books, a certain consultation was held,
in which it was agreed that certain individ-
ual-I won't mention his name just yet
would be, if all things suited when the time
came, very fitting person to be put in pos
session of the hand and fortune of Miss Ellinor
Hollingwood?"
"But not of her heart?"
"That is understood, Nell"
"Now, Grandy, excuse my irrcverence, but
you are just talking nonsense. Who on earth
could ever have been foolish enough to try
and make arrangements for my marriage,
while was still in the nursery?"
"Foolish or not, it was done; and it was of
this very matter, my child, that have been
wanting, for some time past, to speak to you"
Ellinor looked toward him, involuntarily
attracted by the earnestness of his tone.
Listen to me, Nellie" said Col. Holling-
wood, tenderly. 81 am an old man now, and
failing every day, and it is but natural that
the desire of seeing you happily settled in life,
before leave you, should be strong one.
l should be loath to leave you alone and un-
protected, as you would be now if were
called away. And therefore you must have
patience with me now, for little while, and
listen to what have to say. You know your
Columbia relatives, the Sydneys?"
eyes"
"Well, it has long been thought that it
would be desirable arrangement for both
parties, if a union could take place between