Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-07-22
gu 0riginal Sturp.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
THE SEVENSISTERS OF YORK.
CHAPTER x.

THESEVEN SISTERS OF YORK.
CHAPTER X.
One chilly, misty afternoon in the begin.
ming of September, Virgilia put on her hat
and shawl and set out for Mr.. Holdweg's cot
tage. 1t was the day for her German lesson,
which she rarely missed even in the most in
clement weather. She had not gone far be-
fore the rain began to fall; but she had taken
the precaution to bring an umbrella with her,
and Fastening her steps, she succeeded in
reaching her destination just before the light
drops thickened into very decided shower.
Mr.. Holdweg, who had apparently been
watching for her, came out into the little
porch to meet her, and taking her hand led
her into the house.
are my very good pupil" he said in
German for she had sufficiently mastered
the language by this time to understand him
when he spoke to her. "You never slacken
in your pursuit of knowledge, even under diff
fculties."
II don't think it was my lesson that brought
me here, particularly" she rejoined. He had
conducted her into the sitting room, where
fire had been kindled to counteract the damp
ness of the atmosphere. And having taken
off her wrappings, she stood leaning against
the side of the chimney, and gazing at the
fame with moody and downcast look.
"No?" said her teacher inquiringly, scruti-
nizing her face as he spoke. "You came,
then, for the pleasure of the walk?'
"Mr. Holdweg, you know why came"
replied Virgilia in quick, petulant tone.
"Ah so, it is, then, because you remember
ed my advice. Is it not, mein Frdulein r
"It is because I could not help it. You
draw me here when you WILL" murmured
Virgilia, still without raising her eyes. A
peculiar, covert smile rested for an instant on
her companions face.
"What is it, then, dear young lady, this
magic influence which I seem to possess ?
How comes it that you, in your home mile
away, feel the wish that I have to see you,
and come to me accordingly?"
II do not know" replied Virgilia, "but so
it is. could not have remained away this
evening, had the weather been ever SO in
clement"
"In that case I would not have been selfish
enough to desire your company. But knew,
if you came, that could do you good"
"How?"
"That is question not too quickly to be
answered. But why stand, msin Frdulein :
Here are chairs in plenty, though not such
comfortable ones as your big stuffed velvet
ones at home, in your pretty parlor." He
pushed one near her as he spoke, and she
sank down in it, wearily.
81 like these better; I hate the house at
home and everything in it."
"Why SOP"
"You know we'll enough why! she ex-
claimed, vehemently. "It is because I am ut
terly wretched there. have told you so be-
fore"
$50, so! Do not excite yourself, mein
Frdulein. Is it, then, so bad as that? You
should have come to me before"
"Come to your Do not come here twice
every week."
"Ah yes But mean, come to me for ad-
vice. Even the advice of musty, fusty, ugly
old foreigner like me may be useful some
times. To begin with advise you to put
aside your books for this evening-we will
have no class. See how the rain comes down."
"You will not teach me alone, then ?"
"Not in German-no. For once we will
take holiday. wish to talk to you instead"
1T is almost pity, then, that I came"
said Virgilia, glancing uneasily out of the
window.
mo, dear Fraulen it is good you came.
But tell me, now, all your troubles open your
heart to me-you know am your true friend.
Speak to me with entire candor; physician
cannot heal bad wound without probing it
first. Let us see, then, how deep this wound
Of yours lies.'
Virgilia, for some moments, did not reply.
She sat with her deep, dark eyes fixed i'm
movably on the fire, her hands clasped to-
gether on her lap, and an expression of con-
centrated gloom on her pale, intellectual brow,
and about the lines of her sternly compressed
lips. Mr.. Holdweg, sitting on the opposite
side of the fireplace, watched her intently, as
if striving to read her inmost thoughts. At
last, with an effort, she slowly looked up and
met his gaze.
Things grow worse every day." she said in
a low, reluctant tone, as if the words were be-
ing drawn from her against her will. "My
sister is most unhappy, and her unhappiness
is mine. 1t breaks my heart to see her striv-
ing with her sorrow, and yet not be able to
comfort her."
"She does not come to you for comfort?"
"Ah no-no, she never comes to me- Since
this trouble, she notices me less than ever"
replied Virgilia, bitterly.
"Ah and your youngster-the beautiful
sister with the golden hair. She cannot con-
sole her, either"
"Do not name her !" cried Virgilia, clench
ing her hands; lit is she who is the cause Of
all our misfortunes-itis is she who has wrought
evil to me from her babyhood. That might
forgive-but to have her murder EdDa's hap.
piness, that l can never, never forgive. She
has come between me and Edna's love, like an
evil shadow, all her life; but l strove not to
hate her, until she turned to sting the bosom
that had cherished her-the tenderest heart
that ever beat, to her; though to me cold, cold
as MARBLE