Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-05-13


OF 1T.
Some weeks passed by. One evening, al
Alice was sitting alone in the library, engrossed
with volume of poems, Gervais entered, and
seating himself near her, commenced idly
turning over a portfolio of prints which lay
on the table. Alice read on for little while
without looking up; then raising her eyes
she blushed to find him gazing intently at her
his head resting on his hand, and his elbow
heedlessly crushing one of the engravings he
had been feigning to examine
"What is that which interests you so?" he
asked, glancing at her book.
"An odd volume of Lamartine, I found on
the upper shelf"
"You are French scholar, then?"
"Oh no, I only read tolerably. Well
enough to understand it when the idioms are
not very difficult"
IF you spoke it, you would delight my
mothers heart. She clings to everything as
sociated with the home Of her ancestors, in
spite of being born and brought up in Amer
ica"
II have not had many advantages" re-
Joined Alice. "You know I was educated in
the country, and at the school went to, they
only taught the rudiments of French; but l
like it so much that have read good deal,
with the help of dictionary, and brought
myself on little in that way"
IF you would let me help you," said Ger
vais, perhaps I would not prove myself a
very inefficient teacher"
"You. Oh! I would not give you the
trouble" said Alice. "And l have not much
leisure time-only the afternoons"
"And the evenings" said Geryais. "Could
we not read together, then?
"Perhaps," said Alice, doubtfully. "But
your mother"
'"She could enjoy her nap in peace"
"But she likes to talk, too; and am afraid
it would be impolite."
Gervas felt little annoyed at her want of
readiness to enter into his scheme.
"Oh if you don't care about it, of course
that makes difference" he answered care
lessly. There was a silence. Alice fancied
from his look that she had displeased him In
some way, but could not understand how.
After pause he resumed.
my mother and I have been discussing a
rather important question lately-important
to me, that is, and almost equally 80 to her
though I don't fatter myself that it would
prove Of much consequence to any body else.
She has suggested that I should make a visit
to France"
"To France!" Alice looked up, her face
full of eager interest. "Oh! how pleasant
that would BEL"
No shade of regret in her tone, at the pros.
pect of his leaving home Gervais felt u keen
thrill of disappointment; but he answered
with well-feigned nonchalance-
"That is just question I've been debating
with myself. can't make up my mind
whether it would be pleasant or not Under
some circumstances, it might-but-"
"To you, I should think it would be delight
flu" said the unconscious Alice. ut is the
country of your forefathers, and you would
find so much to interest you"
II can't say care much about my fore
fathers" said Gervais, irreverently. II have
no doubt they were ell very good people; but
you must recollect that 1 never knew any of
them"
"No, of course not" said Alice, laughing.
"3ut should think you would like to see
that beautiful old Chateau de la Tour, where
your great grandfather used to live"
II have seen its picture" said Gervais. 81
suppose my mother has often shown it to
you"
"Yes. Would she go with you, if you
went?" asked Alice, struck by new idea.
"Oh! no she is no longer young enough
to undertake such journey. And the fact
is, I should hate to 60 alone"
Alice looked contemplative. Gervais hoped
she was thinking of his possible journey.
But, in reality, she was only wishing that she
had the power to travel about at will. She
would not, in that case, be likely to neglect so
good an opportunity as he had of seeing for
eign countries.
"If I should co." he continued, II would
be abroad, probably for year, at least"
eyes, I suppose SC" said Alice. "You
could hardly see everything you wanted to in
less time than that. But should think that
Mrs. Delatour would miss you very much"
II should be glad to think" said Gervais,
"that somebody else would miss me, too."
"Who ?" asked Alice, innocently.
"You"
"I" She blushed again, embarrassed at
his earnest look, but still not divining his
thoughts. "I would not be here all that time,
you know"
"Why not? You could not leave my
mother alone"
Alice did not know what answer to make.
Her position at Elmwood still seemed doubt.
full one, for no arrangement had been made
for her permanent residence there, though
whenever she spoke of going, Mrs. Delatour
always put the question aside by saying that
there was time enough yet for her to think
about it,
II hope," said Gervais, speaking rapidly,
and from sudden impulse which he could
rot resist "that you will never leave Elm.
wood, unless-unless you leave it with me"
She gave him a startling glance, full of
wonderment then her cheek and brow flush
ed crimson, as his eyes sank beneath his.
"Miss Lyle-Marion! !" he exclaimed, bend
ing forward and taking her hand, don't you
kDow-don't understand why wish you
to care about my going? Don't you know
how much love your"
II did not know il" said Alice in very
low voice, when she could summon courage
to speak. II never dreamt of such thing" ."
The truthfulness of her tone it was impos-
sible to doubt.
"But now that you know it," he pursued
with feverish anxiety, twill you not give me
one word of hope? Tell me that have not
been very presumptuous in daring to cherish
this beautiful dream-tel me that you will
not be cruel enough to destroy tt"
Alice looked panied, and turned away her
face. II am very, very sorry" she began
falteringly.
Sorry! Then you don't care about me
Oh! Marion, if you only knew"
His voice trembled with the intensity of his
emotion, and he paused to recover his compo.