Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-04-22
CHAPTER XII.
AN UNEXPECTED PROPOSAL.

AN UNEXPECTED PROPOSAL.
Alice was sitting by her window, one after
noon, gazing listlessly at the dreary prospect
when there was knock at her door. Mrs
Broderick never knocked, and Alice knowing
that it could be no one but Mr. Chester, ant
resolved not to admit him ifshe could help it
would not say "come in," but went to tn
door instead. There stood the worthy Ra
phael, with curious expression of embar
rassment and uncertainty upon his unprepos
sessing face.
my dear cousin" he began, with little
preparatory bow, may I-are you at leisure
Just now, for few minutes conversation ?"
Eyes, suppose So" said Alice, unwilling
ly. "Shall I come down stairs ?"
"Why, ah-if you have no objection,
think, if you will allow me-we shall be more
private up here-my sister is busy down stairs
at present. l want-ah-to speak to yor
alone, if you please"
"Come in, then," said Alice; and reln
gushing her hold of the door, she allowed it tt
open sufficiently to permit the entrance Of
Mr.. Chester's lank figure, which Immediately
glided in and slipped itself into the neares
seat. Alice could not but observe as she
placed herself in a chair as remote as possible
from his, that there was an unusual air o1
nervousness about him, and that his manner
was more awkward and fdgety than she had
ever seen it. He looked at the fire, rubbed
his hands slowly against each other, and
cleared his throat several times before he
could collect himself sufficiently to open the
interview. At last, leaning forward with his
hands on his knees, and an insinuating, though
somewhat forced smile, dstorting rather than
embellishing his features, he said
II suppose, my dear cousin, you have nc
idea of the nature of the subject on which l
am desirous of speaking to you ?"
"No," briefly replied Alice.
"It is, apprehend, one which may be g
little unexpected to you-and, therefore, take
you by sur prise but hope-ahem that il
may not prove utterly disagreeable."
Alice, leaning her head upon her hand, anc
glancing with an Indifferent expression out oi
the window, waited in silence for him to pro
ceed.
"The fact is,'' pursued Mr.. Chester, "my
sister THAT is, l suggested to her, yer,
natural arrangement by which the unpleas
antness of your situation here q am aware
that it Is rather unpleasant for you in some
respects) might be cancelled, and degree OF
good feeling and-and -contentment estab
lished, which would be gratifying all round.
Still Alice was silent.
"You apparently take very little interest il
the matter" continued Mr. Chester, some
what more brisk V.
II am waiting to hear what you have tt
say" replied Alice.
"You are desirous, l suppose, that such
state of feeling as [ have alluded to should bt
established, are you not~
81 don't much care" rejoined Alice.
"Well, that isn't very encouraging" said
Mr.. Chester with an embarrassed little laugh
"but suppose must make allowances for 6
somewhat perturbed state of mind on your
part. But to come to the point. The ar
rangement l spoke of was this-that yor
should consent to become my wife,"
If an electric battery had Unexpectedly
been applied to Alice, the shock to her nerves
could scarcely have been greater than thai
which they sustained on the reception of thi
announcement. She looked at her cousin fol
moment in speechless amazement; then the
ludicrous side of the question struck her, and
for the first time in weeks, transtory smile
broke over her face.
"You must surely be joking" she replied.
"Joking?" said Raphael with somewha
offended air. us this subject for joking
never was more in earnest in my life"
"But you must know" said Alice, "tha
such thing would be impossible" :"
"And why impossible?" asked the wooer
moving to seat nearer to her. "Consder
my dear Alice. the advantages which woule
accrue from such step. You would becom
the mistress of this establishment, which
thong not elegant in outward appearance, is
| assure you, in most thriving condition
My fortune is modest one, but would b.
amply sufficient for our united wants, your
being | apprehend. not extravagant ones
and as to myself, if may be permitted to i'll
troduce so humble subject, you may rest as
sured that no mark Of consideration or-o
affection on my part, would be wanting to in
crease your happiness, since my heart is Who'll
ly and entirel y at your disposal"
amusement had entirely given place to vexa
ton and disgust as he proceeded, "it is quit
useless for you to say any more about tn
matter; for, as | told you before, it is quit
impossible for me to grant your wish
"But why, may ask ?"
If Alice had given utterance to the prompt
ing Of her heart, she would have answered
fatty, Because | hate you, and will alway
hate YOU" Feeling it incumbent on hel
however, to be as guarded in her expression
as she could, she answered, instead
because the idea is preposterous one
and not to be thought of for an instant"
"Slill l ask, why?" persisted Raphael
"You owe it to me, surely, to assign some rea
son for your reluctance to accede to my wishes
Am personally disagreeable to your"
Alice was silent. A deep flush spread ii
self over Raphael's sallow face, slowly ex
tending upward to the roots Of his limp hail
and sideways to the surface Of his large un
symmetrical ears. He gave sort Of gulE
and continued with an effort
"Your silence, in this case, is not tlatterine
if, as appreheud, am to construe it into a
assert?'
"The truth is" said Alice, facing round to
ward him, Il don't want to say anything rude
but you asked Il question which | couldn
well evade, and am not going to tell false
hood. l do not like you, and | thought yo1
knew it BEFORE
"You have taken no pains to conceal
from me" said Mr.. Chester, partly rising trol
his chair, as if intending Gas Alice devoutl
hoped to take his departure; but apparent
changing his mind, he sat down again, an
after short pause, resumed
II am not daunted, however, by,your inf;
vorable reception of my suit. Wooing, be
gun under no better auspices than mine, ha
ended in satisfactory manner, and | ventur