Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-11-11

W.
as Barbara walked of. Then leading me to
the table, where supper stood prepared, be
added, before I had time to make any rejoin-
der, "Come Rosomand, if you have as good
an appetite as have, you will do justice to
all these good things that are awaiting our
pleasure. Barbara always has a substantial
meal ready for me on my return from jour-
ney, and this time she has added some unusual
delicacies in honor of you"
I wanted to inaugurate my new duties at
once by making the tea, but he insisted upon
my postponing that responsibility to the fol-
lowing day. At present was only to sit
down and be waited upon. Very odd, but
very pleasant, too, it seemed to be sitting there,
feeling that here was to be my place forever
more. I looked around on the handsome,
Well-lighted room. with ito tastefol furnitur1'
its pictures, its ornaments, its various appG.
ances of elegance and comfort, and tried to re-
alize that it was my own home-that l was
mistress of all / saw. The old butler, pic.
ture of solemn, ,white-tufted respectability, Sta
toned himself near my chair, and sedulously
attended to my wants while two young and
excellently-well trained domestics flew hither
and thther, obeying bis behests. Certainly
there was no lack of servants about the estab.
lishment.
Our repast being over, Dr. Wardlaw pro-
posed to me that we should adjourn to the H.
brary. I assented willingly, and found it a
pretty little octagonal apartment, much small
er than the one at home; but we'll stocked
with books, and delightfully."- home-like and
comfortable. A study.lamp burned on the
table, the maroon curtains were drawn, the
fire burned redly and silently, its first vehe-
ment blaze having subsidized into a quiet,
steady glow. A huge bear-skin did duty as a
rug, its rough head and 6erce.looking teeth
being displayed at one end, and its four paws
extended on either side. DR.. Wardlaw drew
chintz.covered sofa near the chimney, placed
me on it, then seating himself at my side, drew
me close to him, exclaiming, with deep sigh
Of content
"Now 1 have you all to myself, at last t!'
And then we talked, not continuously, but
with long, restful, happy 'pauses in between,
of the. life that was just beginning for US, of
our plans and wishes and hopes, and the joys
we were to share together; or, rather, he
talked, and listened and sssented, feeling as
if now was commencing to learn, really to
know him for the first time, while the convic-:
ton grew upon me. that each moment of added
knowledge would make me love him the more.
"Rosamond," he said, at last when the
warning clock had struck the hour of ten,
"bere, in our first confidential talk, in our
own home want to say something to you,
which I wish you particularly to attend to,
and never to forget. Will you promise to do
as ask your
I looked up at him, laughing.
"Blue. Boards key !' I said, jestingly.
"You haven't showed me the bunch yet"
"No, and don't mean to- But my request
may appear to you to be somewhat on the
Blue-Beard style; though I hope that there all
analogy ceases between that celebrated per-
sonage and myself: I must begin with word
of warning to you. In some respects, | am al
eccentric man."
"Now, Arthur, don't say that"
"Why not?"
Because I like people to be like other
people-not in all things, of course; but &C.
centric characters are so apt to be tiresome."
II will try not to be tiresome; but you
know, dear, like to feel that you under
stand nae thoroughly, and will not let any ofmy
crotchets take you by surprise. One of these
is, that don't like questioning"
"How, do you mean?"
"Well, you must not be inquisitive to know
the why and wherefore Of everything | do.
If any action of mine should at any time ap.,
pear to you little unusual or even unreason-
able, don't ask me for an explanation of it"
"Oh dear!" said I, in dismay; which was
half real, half feigned. ado you know that
you are putting me to very difficult testS'
81 hope not it ought not to be difficult"
"Woman's curiosity is proverbial, and /
am no exception to the generality of my sex"
81 think you are, in most respects. At least,
never saw any one like you"
"Now you are trying to propitiate me with
Aattery. But please tell me, Arthur, are you
contemplating any very serious eccentricity
atpresent, and is this preparation for it ?"
'Not at all. l am only speaking in gen.
eral way. I want you to love and trust me
so thoroughly that no word or act of mine,
however incomprehensible to you, shall in the
slightest degree excite your suspicion, or
make YOU place whit less confidence in me
than before"
looked meditatively at the fire. Here was
phase of married life that I had not before
contemplated. Why should Arthur shrink
from taking me into his confidence, wholly
and entirely, on all occasions, as / was quite
ready to do in regard to him? Mystery and
reserve were utterly foreign to my nature. l
did not like the idea Of their existing, in
ever so slight a degree, between myself and
the person I cared most for in the world
On the other hand, felt that I did love
and trust him, so fully, that it would take a
very heavy assault to batter down the bull
wark of my faith. And if he was little
crotchety, as he said, I need not on that ac-
count, feel less tenderly towards him. Every
one in the world had some failing, some weak
ness. I could not look for absolute perfec-
ton, even in him, my ideal.
"If you will only tell me-" l said, present