Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-06-24
81 certainly was. I had never hoped
never dreamed of your return"


never dreamed your return"
"Never, Edna?"
II used to, long ago. But I had learned
to think it was useless hope, she answered"
with glistening eyes. He took her hand and
kissed it.
"If you knew how had longed to write to
you all that time! But thought it was bet"
ter not"
ut was better not"
"And my heart has been so weary! My
life has been weary enough altogether; al.
most broke down sometimes. Everything
seemed so hopeless"
"Ah! but what support you had, in feeling
how nobly you were acting"
ut was only my duty; I could not shirk
it. I was ashamed of being oppressed by it.,
sometimes. But I had such scenes to 60
through! I was thankful when my poor aunt
was at rest even more for her sake than mine.
Oh Edna, it is terrible thing to see any
one suffer as she did and then her darkened
mind-death was preferable to such life.
1t was one Of the most trying phases Of in
sanity I ever saw-bopeless, incurable; and
all that terrible physical pain in addition. l
trust l may never have such an experience
again"
"You must forget all that, now."
"Yes, I must" he replied, passing his hand
over his brow, on which a panied look had
settled while he spoke. ut is not difficult to
forget, in my present happiness. 1t is so
sweet to be again at home"
His eyes, as they rested on her, said-"to be
with you," but his lips did not utter the words.
She understood them as we'll as if they had.
A delicious content filled her heart, and over
flowed in her shining glances, her tremulous
tones. ALL this was compensation for all
those years of waiting-to have him with her
once more, to find herself still beloved.
The hours flew by on wings. When the
clock struck eleven, Hugh rose to Co.
"See how late l have kept you up" he said.
"But could net force myself away sooner.
II am often up as late as this. When shall
I see you again? want to present you to
my sisters, you know.
eff you wish me to come back for no other
reason than that, l shall be very apt to stay
away"
"Come for any reason you like, Hugh; I
promise you welcome, at all events"
II have had the sweetest welcome in the
world, tonight" he said, holding both her
hands in his, and looking down into her shin
ing eyes. 1T is the welcome that has met
me in my dreams-but the reality is better
than the dreams"
"It does not seem like reality to me, yet"
II must go now. Goodnight, and good
bye, for little while-I shall be over here
tomorrow, if that will not be too soon. 1t is
only to see your sisters, you know"
They parted, with happy looks and smiles
and deep ferventjo underlying this light sur
face-at least in the breast of one Edna,
when he was gone, sat down in sort of maze,
trying to comprehend it ALL As she had told
him, it did not seem real to her yet that he
should be there. She looked at the hand be
had kissed-she still felt the thrill Of that
kiss, and put her own lips to the spot his had
touched. She dwelt on his glances his tones; ;
full as they had been Of a meaning it was not
seemly yet for him to put in words. She did
not want fuller explanation yet. She wanted
to get accustomed to his presence first, to re-
aize little by little the full extent of her new
ly.awakened happiness. Poor Edna Her
heart had been hungering so long, it was no
wonder that it grasped with eagerness at the
treasure now brought within its reach.
Hugh Thornton, as he rode away under the
starlit sky, thought himself a fortunate man.
He had met, as he had said, with very sweet
welcome. 1t was pleasant to read in the eyes
of so fair and gracious a woman as Edna
Vaughan how dear his presence was to her,
and to feel that here was rest, and peace, and
tranquil affection, and home joys, after the
weary and troubled experience from which he
had but lately escaped. Like Edna, he had
never ceased to cherish the remembrance of
their early love ; though with him the memo
ry was perhaps less sacred, less intense, than
it had been with her. A man dwells more
lightly on such things than woman !; is more
easily distracted by intervening events. He
takes up the thread of a by.gone time, long
laid aside, more carelessly and as matter of
course woman touches it reverently, and
receives it into her holy of holies, the inmost
shrine of her heart.
She did not care to retire until her sisters
were at home, so she sat in her chamber,
reading little, but thinking great deal
more, until half past twelve, when the sound
of wheels warned her of their approach, and
presently their laughing voices were heard as
they ascended the stairs. She opened her
door that they might see her light, and they
all came in to wish her goodnight before
seeking their several apartments.
"Where are Jennie and Clarie ?" she asked.
"Oh! Mrs. Curtis kept them. They are
going to be there week. You are to send
their things tomorrow. Oh! Edna, we had
a delightful evening! The professor is so
nice"
"He mesmerized Virgilia, Edna and did
it perfectly-I wish you had seen it,"
"My dear Virgilia, how could you ?"
81 did not mind it, in the least; it was not
said Virgilia.
"I think you were wrong-suppose you had
felt any bad effects from it?"
ut would not have mattered," replied Vir-
gilia, coldly. "Good-night."