Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-10-14
An 0rigiual Stury.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
SLEEPY HOLLOW.
CHAPTER Nv.
CURE FOR MELANCHOLY

CURE FOR MELANCdOLf.
Next morning Dr. Wardlaw bade US fare
we'll and it was with dreary feeling that |
turned into the house, after watching him ride
away from the front porch, and went about
my household duties as usual.
These were simple and few enough, for my
father would not have me trammeled by do
mestic cares, and our servants we're numerous
and admirably trained. paid daily visit
to the store.room, where held consultation
with old Aunt Patty, the cook, and gave out
suAiciency of -four, sugar, eggs, etc., for cul-
mary purposes. Sometimes I tried my hand
at pudding or cake, or experimental (of-
ten Enthusiastically on some new.fashioned
recipe in French cookery-book with which
I had provided myself; and this, in addition
to the charge of jingling bunch of keys,
which was sometimes in my pocket, sometimes
in drawer, and occasionally on the floor or
in possession of the cat constituted the chief
part of the responsibility which rested on my
shoulders.
On this particular day, having annoyed
Aunt Patty by expressing my total indffer-
ence in regard to the dinner, and dimissing
her to her own devices accordingly, I took a
fancy to pay visit to the chamber DR.. Ward
law had occupied-the guest chamber, as we
called it-justto see, as told myself, whether
the maid had put it in proper order.
Everything looked trim, and neat, and de-
serted. Who does not know the feeling of
going into room which friend has occu.
pied, after his or her departure, and missing
the presence which invested even the dumb
furniture with its own charm? Here, on the
day after DR.. Wardlaw's arrival, he had re-
ceived US with an invalid's privilege, while he
lay on the sofa, feeling too lauguid to 60
down stairs. A book he had borrowed from
the library was on the table; took it up,
and turned over the leaves lingeringly, recall
ing passages here and there which We had dis
cussed together. The past week, which had
glided by so quickly, seemed to me to be
fraught with the events Of year. felt
changed, and older, as if my past frivolous, gid
dy self had given place to another being and
when looked in the glass, though its surface
reflected no outward alteration, l could hard
ly realize that was the same careless Rosa
mond who had prepared so joyously for her
birthday celebration, a few short days before.
was turing away from the dressing'table,
after petuantly throwing out Of the window
some flowers l had placed there in vase on
the previous morning, when l esped lying in
a corner, a small case had not observed be-
fore, evidently containing picture. open
ed it, and saw that it was miniature
likeness of young and very pretty girl.
looked at it long and earnestly. The
face was bright and sweet in its expression,
with brunette complexion, wildly, yet del
icately colored, laughing brown eyes, full red
lips, childlike chin, deeply dmpled, and
dark brown hair clustering in short curla
about the low white brow. Could it be a
likeness of DR.. Wardlaw's dead wife? 1t
did not look to me like a face that would
have written itself lastingy on his heart |
should have fancied that he would be won by
something higher, deeper, more serious in its
sweetness. There was no thought on that pic
turesque forehead, no earnestness of purpose
about those curved, ripe lips; nothing to de.
note bond of sympathy with his calm deep
nature and reflective mind. Still I could not
doubt that it was indeed his wife's likeness.
I recalled his words-"one who passed from
earth unshaken by single storm !; flower
upon whom the wind had never blown with
rough BREATH" Yes, she looked like such a
one. No cloud of adversity could ever have
cast its shadow upon those arch, a''souc'ont
girlish features. could not imagine culver
of distress on that Hebe mouth, or tears OF
sorrow in those sparkling eyes.
"I wonder how he came to leave it here,
I reflected; and ringing the bell asked the
girl who had attended to the room where she
found that picture.
II pick it up, on the floor, Missy; | spec
he must be drop out some pocket when de
gentleman was packin' his clothes. Does you
know whose picter it is, Miss RosamondF'
"No; never saw it before"