Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-08-12

her. II should not have made you come out
but longed to have little of you all to
myself, as + am not to see you again tor
whole long week."
"Will it be whole week, Hughf"
"Yes; perhaps longer, if I don't get my
business arranged to my satisfaction. Are
you sorry to have me 60, darling?"
ayes, very sorry; but-"she hesitated'
"Hugh, don't think it can be only that
which makes me feel as do"
"How do you feel, love?"
$50 strangely-I have such weight herr"
she laid her hand on her heart, shat seems
like foreboding of coming sorrow. Hugh,
do you believe in presentimentsY p
"Not the least in the world" he answered
gaily. II never had one yet that didn't prove
a cheat"
"Well, I never felt like this before. 1t
seems to have come upon me all of sudden,
while you were speaking, in the strangest
way"
She shivered and clOng more closely to his
arm as she spoke.
"Foolish child" said Hugh tenderly. "1t
is nothing but sort of reaction after all the
excitement you have been through-blended,
hope, with little regret at the thought OF
our parting, brief though it will be-"
"Hugh," said Claribel after moments 81
lence, "suppose anything should happen to
prevent our meeting again as soon as you ex-
pect?"
"How do you mean? ??
"Suppose you were kept away long time
or suppose one of US should diep
"Clarie my little Clarie, what can have
put such gloomy ideas into your head?
"Idon't know-but they will come. The
thought just flashed over me of how you would
feel if you should come back and find me
dead-if you should 60 into the library, for
instance, expecting to meet me living and
we'll, and see me lying there instead"
Hugh pressed her passionately to his heart.
"Hush-hush," he said in a smothered tone.
"For Heavens sake, don't talk in that way.
You know it would kill me outright-the
very thought is too horrible to be endured.
But what folly to think about it at all" he
added more lightly, with tender chiding in
his voice. "You are morbid tonight, dearest,
or you would not try to unnerve me by speak
ing of what is the most unlikely thing in the
world. Why will you make me more unwil-
ling to part from you than I was before?"
"Perhaps was wrong to say it; but it
slipped into my mind, and I just said it right
out"
"But what made it slip into your mind?"
"Ah! that cannot tell. Who can account
for their thoughts?"
"Do you often amuse yourself with such
cheerful fancies?"
"No, not often. do not think that that
idea ever occurred to me before"
"Well, trust it will never occur again"
They walked on little way in silence
then Hugh continued, in different tone
"Clarie, can you not give me final answer
now, to the question have so often asked
you? Don't let me leave you with the un-
certainty still hanging over me-"
"Oh Hugh, please wait until you come
back"
"But why? I cannot understand your mo-
tive for the delay. Is it that you are not suf:
6ciently sure of your regard for me to be able
to make up your mind to resign yourself to
my guardianship"
"You know that is not the reason"
"rhen should like to know what is.
"To tell you the TRUTH" rejoined CI..ribel,
slowly, II scarcely know myself don't
think really have a reason. Sometimes
fancy" She stopped abruptly.
Fancy what?"
81 don't think I'll tell you, because it is
silly, and I've told you enough of my silly
fancies for tonight"
"Well, let me hear it, at all events. 1t is
we'll that I should know the extent of your
Stiffness"
81 was going to say, that sometimes fancy
we shall never be married"
EDO you mean that you intend to jilt me p
"No, 1 do not mean that You know that
I love you better than any one in the whole
world"
"Do you, indeed, love me better than any
one in the world ?"
"You know I do, Hugh"
"Then I will not scold you for the prepos.
ferrous idea you advanced just now-almost
as preposterous, by the way, as the former
one. But you have chosen an odd time to
indulge in melancholy presages-a festive
night like this, when every one is expected to
be blithe and cheerful in honor of the occa.
sion."
"People say there is skeleton at every
feast" rejoined Clarbel.
At this moment a chilly gust came sweep
ing around them, whirling the dry leaves
about their feet, and making Claribel wrap
herself more closely in her shawl.
"How cold it is growing" she said with a
shiver. II think we ought to 60 in"
~ suppose we ought l suppose, by
the way, it must be quite time for me to start
on my journey. Clarie, I'll depute you to
make my adieux to the rest of the family.
won't interrupt them now but will just tell
you good-by out here, and leave you in the
front piazza
II wish you did not have to 60, Hugh"
$50 do l; but necessity has no law, you