Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-02-25

piano. after her music.master had left, Mr..
Laselle came in, and pat down by her, appa-
rently in order to note the progress she had
made. She looked up and smiled, and went
on playing for some little time, until at last
he put out his hand and stopped her.
"Put aside your music for the present, Nita, y
he said, gently, "and come and walk with me
in the garden. am longing for little talk
with you"
She rose obediently, and having gathered
up the scattered sheets and closed the piano,
she went up stairs to fetch her hat and shawl.
Soon they were strolling along one of the sun
ny walks, and Mr.. Laselle, who had drawn
her hand through his arm, led her presently
to the summer-house at the end of the garden
where he had first seen her. The sun was
shining warmly and pleasantly through the
trellis-work of vines which the frost had de-
muded of its leaves ; and placing her on the
bench, he seated himself at her side.
"Here we can talk undisturbed," said he
"and Nita, l have something very particular
to say to you this morning."
She looked inquiringly at him. He was
regarding her earnestly, with an unusually
serious expression on his handsome face.
"What will you say" he continued after a
pause, "when tell you that before long am
going away?"
"Oh SIR" escaped Nita's lips. The excla'
nation was almost like cry, so full of sud-
den pain and he saw how her cheek flushed,
and then paled again with the emotion his
announcement had stirred within her. Bend
ing forward, he gently took her hand.
"Will you be sorry, Nita?" he asked IN a
low tone.
"But are you really going, sir ?? she ASKED
without replying to his question.
II think I muslin fact am sure OF 1t.
"When2" Her tone faltered slightly now.
"In the spring-early in March, l think
About four or FIVE weeks from now."
"And when will you come back, sir p
"That I cannot tell"
There was silence. Nita looked away, and
slowly traced pattern in the gravel with her
little foot; she felt bewildered and grieved at
what she had heard, yet instnctively shrank
from betraying the extent of her discontinue.
Was she about to lose this friend for ever
The thought was invested with pain impossl'
BILE to describe. The longer she dwelt on 1t
the worse it seemed. She felt the tears coming
into her eyes, but struggled bravely to keep
them back.
Her companion watched her keenly. tie
was anxious to let his announcement take full
effect upon her undisturbed, and also to see
what that effect would be. Thus it was some
moments before he spoke again.
81 cannot tell you," he continued at length
in the low melodious tones which had become
like music to her ear, chow earnestly l have
sought for means to postpone this movement
which has at last become necessity. Never
before have felt such reluctance to leaving
home"
mI1r:,, NJ ~ tno ~ oekoA N'ta
with an effort ?"
"Ohl no. She never accompanies me
abroad"
care you going to-to Europe, sir?"
eyes, to Italy,"
Now Italy seemed to Nta the utmost con
fines of the earth. Her heart sank lower
than before.
"Italy-beautiful Italy, the land of poetry
and song! 1 have been there before, and
loved to roam beneath its sunny skies, and
revel in its treasures of art and antiquity
but no longer delight in the prospect of re-
newing my acauaintanceship with its familiar
haunts. Plain, dull, uninteresting Charles
ton, has now greater charms for me, than all
other places on the face of the earth"
Thus spoke Mr.. Laselle, giving his words a
meaning by the tone in which they were ut,
tered, and by the pressure which he bestowed
upon his companions hand a meaning which,
unsophisticated as the girl was, could not but
find its way to her comprehension, though, in
the sudden revelation thus opened to her, she
was too much dazzled to realize the entire sig
ni6cance of his words.
"Can you guess, my little Nita, what it is
that invests my hitherto unattractive home
with such charm ?" he continued, looking
into her downcast face.
"No, sir" The answer came low as a
breath of summer wind.
"Shall tell you?"
"If-you-like-to." Poor little Nita
She was already betraying her consciousness,
in the tell-tale bushes the averted glance,
the faltering accents which frustrated her ef-
fort at selfcommand.
lit is your presence" he whispered softly.
"Did you need that should tell you that? l
have learned to love you, Nita-you are the
best, dearest little friend have and would
have you love me in return. Does it grieve
you much to think that we should part?"
"Yes-oh! yes," she faltered below her
breath.
"Then do not let US part" he exclaimed
fervently. "stay with me always, beautiful
child! With me you will be happy-yes, 1
promise you all the happiness that it is in the
power of mortal to bestow My heart is en-
tirely yours; 1 lay it at your feet-take it,
and give me yours, which 1 will prize as the
costliest gift earth has for me! Say, Nita, do
you consenti"
Nita's breath came quick and fast, and her
pulses throbbed as she listened to him. Could
it be possible that she, a poor obscure girl,
should marry a grand gentleman like Mr..
Laselle? She WAS dazzled by the vision of
such unexpected honor and happiness. She
trembled, and could find no words to answer.
uC.asl- T.. .,,e y Io nrnad in the co mo aanar