Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-07-29
never love any one but you-I have never
truly loved before"

Claribel, my little Clarie, have pity on me!
II do pity you'll pity myself toe" she said
brokenly. His face lit up.
"You love me, then! I was not mistaken.
Oh Clarie, we may be happy yet.
"Edna Edna! think of Edna!" she an
swered. The thought of Edna, forsaken,
heart-broken, was her one shield of defence.
edna is generous-she loves you better
than she loves herself Do you think she
would destroy your happiness-do you think
she could be happy herself, knowing that we
were both miserable" 7"
"She has been so good to me always! How
can make her such return as this :"
"Claribel, we do not hold our hearts in our
hands, to give them as we please. Is it our
fault that we love each other? ?"
She made no answer to this; but after a
pause she said, looking away from him
"Hugh, it would be better if I were to leave
home; I have thought of it before"
"Leave home! No, you shall not leave
home," he replied vehemently. "If any one
must 60, it must be I !; but Clarie, you will
not send me away"
II will not send you away-except now,
from here. Go, Hugh; entreat you to 60.
I have been wrong to let you stay-to listen
to you at all from the beginning. We must
forget that you ever spoke such words to me
as you have spoken this evening"
"Forget!" he echoed bitterly. "There are
some things, Clarie, that can never be forgot
ten."
"But this must be forgotten, and put aside
forever. Hugh, 1 could never be happy at
Ednas expense; I would be tortured by re.
morse all my life long, if I were to steal you
from her."
"You do not steal me from her I give my
self to you, because I cannot help'it fling
myself at your feet and implore you to take
me-"
"And I must always make you the same
answer-no," she replied almost inaudibly.
She had never before realized how dear he
was to her-how sharp pang it would cost
her to say that little word. But here the
leaves near them rustled in the path beneath
an approaching footstep, and Edna herself
came and stood before them. She looked
pale, but resolved, and greeted them with a
faint, forced smile. Claribel's heart smote
her at the sight of that sad, patient face she
threw her arms around her sister and hid her
face on her neck.
"Oh Edna" she whispered, "why did you
send him here p
81 sent him where I knew his heart was
drawing him, my child" Edna answered in
the same tone. "Look up, Clarie; you have
done nothing wrong. Hugh" she continued
aloud, turning to him while she still clasped
Claribels hand in hers, "why do you not say
to me at once all that it is your heart to say?
Do you not think l know that you love my
little girl ?"
"No no." interrupted Claribel, striving to
disengage her hand "Oh! Edna, why do
you talk in that way?"
Because it is always best, dearest, that the
truth should be spoken at once. know that
Hugh has a reason"-her voice faltered for
moment-"for not saying this openly; and
that is why I say it for him. I have not
made mistake, have I, Hugh?"
"Edna, how can I answer you that eues-
ton" he replied in tone of deep emotion.
"There is no reason why you should not.
We all make mistakes some time, you know.
The wisest of US do not always read our own
thoughts and wishes Alright. And if you once
made mistake, as know now that you did,
is it not best that we should all understand
clearly that it is so, and rectify it at once?
No one can wish you to do so more sincerely
than I. This child's happiness drew
her sister nearer as she spoke-"lies nearer
my heart now than anything else"
She spoke with such noble frmness-her
glance, as it rested on them both, was so ten
der and true-that they looked at her in won
derment half hoping that they had both been
deceived. And she smiled-yes, her poor
wrung heart crushed down it's agony, as she
acted out her part. I think Edna Vaughan
would have gone to the stake with composure
in righteous cause, and spoken words Of
cheer to those who loved her, even while per:
ishing in the flame.
Still Hugh was silent. He knew not what
to say. He could not be egotistical enough to
tell her that she was making sacrifice in
giving him up-he could not utter falsehood
and deny the truth of her words-he could
not reject Claribel, to whom his soul went
forth in intense yearning At that moment
he admired Edmonia as he had never done
before. Never had he dreamed that such un.
selfish devotion was part of her nature.
His part was difficult one to perform, for
there had been no acknowledged engagement
between Edna and himself, and he could
make no allusion to the bond which she now
chose, resolutely, to ignore yet that was the
only obstacle which stood in the way of the
accomplishment of his desires-and, dearly
as he loved Claribel, he could not receive
her thus, from her sisters hands, without re-
morseful pang.
But Edna ended the difficulty. Indeed,
she could not much longer have supported
this scene with equanimity, and she was re-
solved not to break down. Gently laying her
hand on Hugh's arm, she drew him toward
her, and placed Claribels hand in his
81 give her to you with my fondest bless
ing," she said, almost in a whisper. "Take
her. my dear brother Hugh"
And in another instant she was gone, and
the Autter Of her white dress vanished among
the trees
Thelovers stood there, clasped hand in hand,