Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-06-24
gu 0rigima1 Stutg.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
THE SEVENSISTERSOF OF YORK.
CHAPTER. vi.

4Au NIL 0lN O1N 11VO VI l. O1VAs
CHAPTER. vi.
When her sisters were all gone, Edna had
taken her chair and book out into the front
piazza, and sat down to enjoy quiet evening
undisturbed 1t was treat to her to have
an evening like this, once in a while, to find
relief from the busy duties of the day, in leis-
ure and repose. Dearly as she loved the
younger girls, their thoughts and feelings
were not always in harmony with hers. Jen-
MES lively chatter, Dolly's commonplaces,
Virgilia's gloomy looks, the soft babble of the
twins, sometimes oppressed her, Even Clari-
bel, her darling, was less of a companion than
pet. 1t was pleasant to be alone, with such
happy thoughts as hers we're now for company.
She took out her 4etter-that much-prized
letter that she carried about her ever since it
came-and pored over it for the 6ftieth time.
Then she closed it,and imagination went swift.
ly back to the days of her youth. How plain
ly she saw the frank, fair face, with its light
moustache and curly chestnut hair, its kind
brown eyes and pleasant smile. Would it be
much changed, she wondered, or would she
easily recognize it again? Old tender say
ings, bright glances, pressures of the hand,
crowded into her mind-memories of a brief
season where all was happiness and sunlight
then of change, sadness and trouble, and a
cold gray barrier interposed between her and
her hopes. That barrier had seemed so i'm
penetrable, so fixed, so cruel and now all Of
sudden magic touch had swept it away,
revealing glimpses Of a brightness that daz'
zled her unaccustomed eyes. He might come
now-any eveuing-almost at any moment !;
and she thought what strange chance it
would be if he should choose this very hour
for their meeting, with no one near to mar its
enjoyment, by curious glances or thoughtless,
frivolous remarks. Actuated by the idea, she
had dressed herself with even more care than
usual; rose.colored ribbon at her throat,
and a flower in her hair, added grace and
brightness to her ATTIRE and youthful look
to her face She had been conscious, while
looking in her mirror, of thrill of passing
vanity in the reflection that Charles praise had
not been unmerited. Changed she must be,
since Hugh had seen her last; but would he
find anything displeasing in the change?
Something of a shadowy presentiment of
his coming-it was scarcely expectation
gave her restless feeling, quite unlike her
usual serenity and composure. She found
herself casting frequent glances toward the
road, and once, when a solitary horseman ap-
peared at distance, her heart gave sudden
leap, and for moment her breath came fast
as she watched his approach; but as he drew
nearer she recognized the broad-brimmed hat
and slouching shoulders of an old farmer who
lived in the neighborhood, and could not for
bear a smile at this Transformation of her
ideal into the real.
Farmer Price was in conversational mood,
and as he came within talking distance, he
drew rein for little chat.
"Good evenin'" he called out, cheerily.
"You look lonesome, settin' thar on the piazzy
all by yourself"
II don't feel lonesome" said Edna, smiling.
"But 1 will be very glad, Mr.. Price, if you
will stop and rest yourself for a little while" :"
"Thank you, not now. My old woman
will be lookin' for me- Young folks all out,
hey?"
ayes, they have gone to spend the evening
at DR.. Curtis"
"Well, now, it's a shame you warn't asked,
too"
"Oh I was asked but I didn't care to 60" !"
"Is that so? Now it's my opinion you
ought to ha' gone. If you don't like dancin'
and such things, why anyhow, 'twould make
you feel good to look on at the juveniles"
"There will be no dancing" said Edna,
rather stifiy, for she inwardly resented being
others, as the old mans words seemed to i'm.
ply.
"Is that so? Well, now, I du think dan
Gin is a great thing for young people. I
reckon you used to like it yourself, didn't
you? But seems to me folks don't care
about them kind of amusements, like they
used to. Of course the Methodists don't like
'em; but then, amt Methodist, you know.
Well, goodnight, Miss Vaughan. I reckon
my old woman will be maxim fuss if don't
hurry home;" and the farmer rode off with
no symptoms of hurry in his steed's easy,
shambling gait. Edna turned to 60 into the
house, almost in pet. What a silly old man
Mr.. Price was! How old did he take her to
be she wondered. But that was the way.
She supposed because she had six younger
sisters, and took charge of the house, her age
passed current for forty, at least, among these
people around. She rang for lights, and or
dered tea, in tone in which Cyrus detected
little unusual sharpness; but she was
ashamed, directly, Of the momentary weak
ness, and spoke to him afterward with more
than ordinary kindness to compensate for it.
When the tea-which was served with as
much carefulness and precision as if the whole
family had been at home-was over, she found
it necessary to 90 into the store.room for some
domestic purpose, and had well-nigh forgot
ten all agitatiug thoughts, in her attention to
this homely employment, when the storeroom
door was burst open, and Jake, the little black
house-boy, rushed in.
"Miss Edna! Miss Edna Gentleman in
de parlor come for see YOU"
"Who sit, Jake ?"
Dunno, ma 'am," said the little imp, show
ing his glistening teeth. "Him didn't tell