Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-04-29
CHAPTER XIII.
RAPHAEL PRESSES HIS SUIT.


a newspaper in her hand, which she laid be-
fore his eyes, pointing to an advertisement in
one of the columns as she spoke. Raphael,
who was near-sighted, adjusted his eye-glass,
and read the following:
GIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS REwARD.-Lefth her
home in Spartanburg District, on the both of last
December Alice Marion Lynn, aged sixteen
years is rather tall, of slender figure, and fair
complexion, with dark blue eyes, straight fea-
lures and curling light brown hair; had on when
she left plain alpaca dress, high morocco snoes,
black cloth cloak and brown straw hat trimmed
with black ribbons. 1t is supposed that she was
on the cars which collided with an up freight.
train OH the Greenville and Columbia Railroad
on the morning of December 29th. AS no tldlngs
have been since heard of her, any information
concerning her will be thankfully received by
her distressed friends, and the above reward paid
for her recovery, or 81 900 to any person who can
give certain information respecting her tate. Ad-
BarnweIl District, s. G., or I. N. Gravey, solic-
tor, Columbia, S. c."
Dear me !" said Raphael, drawing long
BREATH as he finished reading. "Why, that's
good thing for US, sister Martha, amt it p
"Good enough, if you'll act sensibly, and
not like baby as you've been doing lately"
said Mrs. Broderick. Give thousand dollars
is good thing, but fifteen or twenty thou
sand is better-don't you think SOP"
"Certainly," assented Raphael.
"Well, if you marry the girl at once, nine
ty.nine chances out of a hundred you'll get
that much, and more toe"
"Do you really think so ?" said her brother,
doubtfully.
"Think! It's plain enough for any fool to
see. 1 knew all along it was only question
of time for the old gentleman to hunt up Alice
and make her his heiress, and that's what has
started him on the search now. But you see
he's just little bit too late in carrying out
his plans if he'd taken the notion of sending
after her few weeks sooner it would have
been the better for him, and the worse for u.s.
Now don't pretend to think that as your
wife Alice will get tenth part oft fortune
she might have got otherwise; but she'll get
something, and something worth while, too.
Once married, you can manage her as you
like, and make her get round the old gentle
man easy enough, and win his forgiveness for
marrying you, and if he doesn t come down
handsomely, sooner or later, I'm mistaken.
You have the game in your hands if you will
but play it properly. It's the luckiest chance
in the world that that accident happened 80
near our home. I knew at the time it would
be the making of our fortune, if we turned it
to proper account.
During this harangue Of his sisters, Mr..
Chester turned the paper about in his hands
with a thoughtful look. His cupidity was no
less than hers, but his prudence was greater.
He believed in the ancient adage, "A bird in
the hand is worth two in the bush," and was
strongly inclined to take the $4,000 now, in
stead Of waiting OH the tempting but uncer-
tain prospect Of much larger sum in the fn.
ture. He was willing enough to marry Alice,
but his courtship thus far had proved trou-
blesome, and as he was naturally indolent, he
was in no hurry to take farther steps in the
matter. He was quite alive, however, to the
necessity of something being done noao with
out delay; so after a pause, he said, some
what reluctant y
"Well, if you think so, sister Martha, I'll
speak to Alice again, at once"
Better let me speak to her." said Mrs.
Broderick. II don't believe you said half
enough the last time, though you told me you
did,"
"Really," said Raphael, with a somewhat
offended air, 81 think, sister, you take little
too much on yourself You know generally
yield to your judgment, because have faith
in it; but sometimes I may be permitted to ex-
ercise my own. I am quite capable Of speak
ing to Alice on this-ah-somewhat delicate
subject, myself, and so, if you please, | won't
trouble you to act as my mouthpiece."
So saying, he stalked out Of the room, his
sisters eyes following him, as he did so with
balfresentful, halfcontemptuous gaze.
"Silly blockhead !" she muttered, when the
door was closed after his retreating figure; she
may well say he generally yields to my judg-
ment. 1 don't think his is worth much.
Well, he'll have to come to me in the end,
unless he's bolder than think him. ucould
like to see him carrying on his courtship
Pshaw how edifying it must be"
And with little sniff of scorn, the strong
minded lady turned to her household occupa-
tions, while Raphael proceeded upstairs on
his delicate mission.
Alice was obliged as usual, however reluc.
family, to grant him admission. for her door
had no inside fastening, and the key was new
er in her keeping. Her only greeting was a
glance of aversion, and as he took seat near
her she involuntarily drew the folds of her
dress aside, as if he had been lizard or bee
tie she feared might crawl on her.
"Well, my fairest cousin" commenced Ra-
phael, on whom these little marks of disfavor
were by no means thrown away. Chow fares
it with you this morning?"
Alice briefly answered that she was we'll.
II am reioiced to hear it; but there is too
much of the lily predominatng on your cheek.
would rather see it wear the tint Of the
blooming rose. What can we do to restore
the vanished blush Z
"Let me go away" said Alice. II shall
die if you keep me here much longer"
"Die may Heaven forbid" said Raphael,
with an air of gallantry, but with an uneasy
glance He saw that Alice really looked i'll
and worn, and feared there might be some
truth in her words.
mo, my beautiful Alice, you will not die, "
he continued, attuning his voice to the ten
derest key of which it was capable "you will
live to bloom charming flower, in the gar
den of my heart, which l have already laid,
an humble Offering, at your feet. Why will
you scorn the proffer Of my love? Do you
not know that your happiness is in my keep.
ing?'
II have already told you," said Alice, turn
ing Indignantly aside, that the idea of mar
rying you is odious to me. Why will you
persist in forcing the proposal upon me"
Because much depends upon your consent
to do so," replied Raphael; "more than you
have any idea Of Listen to me, Alice-your
fortune depends upon this step; for it will
lead to mine, and the two are irrevocably
bound up together"
"You are speaking riddles" said Alice,
"and have no wish to unrayel them. All