Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-04-08

it. She Immediately left the room, her mind
agitated with strange doubts and fears. What
could it mean? Her tranquility for the rest
of the day was destroyed. She found it i'm
possible to fix her attention on the work with
which she had previously been occupied and
though she reproached herself for her own
folly, she found herself continually specula.
ting on this mysterious circumstance, which
| filled her with vague uneasiness and alarm.
When she again met Maurice, she fancied
that his manner to her was constrained, though
he spoke as kindly as usual. The idea made
her miserable, and when she went to bed that
night she wet her pillow with tears.
Two or three days passed, and one evening
as she was standing alone in the front porch,
looking listlessly down the road, Maurice
came out of the house and stood beside her.
He made one or two remarks on the beauty
of the sunset, and the freshness of the atmos-
phere, and presently asked her if she felt like
taking little stroll with him. She joyfully
agreed, and ran in for her hat and shawl, fol
it was growing chilly with the approach of
autumn. When she returned he led the way
through the back-gate, down an unfrequented
path where they were not likely to encounter
any one, and walked on for some time in 81
lence At last, somewhat abruptly, he stop.
ped and said
"Alce, I've something here, would like to
show you; it's so pretty, think you'll ad-
mire it,"
As he spoke he drew small morocco.case
from his vest pocket, and undd the clasps.
"Mind," he said, half smiling, and glancing
at her with curious expression, as he paused
before opening it, "dont you tell anybody
about it, please. I can trust you, know"
EYES," said Alice, forcing herself to an:
swer his smile, though her heart commenced
to throb painfully. Il promise you not to
TELL"
"Then, see here" and opening the case, he
showed her small ivory picture of beauti-
ful girl, with laughing dark eyes, and dark
flowing hair, somewhat fancifully dressed,
with a scarf thrown over the head and par
TALLY concealing the round, white shoulders.
Alice looked at it intently, though mist
seemed to- gather before her eyes, and make it
blurred and indistinct. She was trying to
collect her thoughts to answer, but NO words
would come.
"Well," he said, presently, in half:disap-
"Very pretty" said Alice, making an effort
to speak carelessly, though she could not re-
press slight tremor in her voice. "lt is-a
likeness p
"Yes. It's the likeness of pretty little
girl met at Rome-a friend Of mine. |
coaxed her to give it to rne. 1t was great
favor, | assure you, for lots Of other fellows
wanted it and couldn't get it. She was an
arrant little frt; believe she onl y gave it
to me out of caprice for she tried her best to
get it back afterward. But Of course |
wouldn't let her."
"What was her name" asked Alice.
"Lucia," said Maurice, briefly.
81 suppose You knew her very we'll"
"Oh yes l was always at liberty in the
evenings, you know. Some young men car
ried me round to her fathers house once when
they had reception, and after that l got
pretty sociable there. The old man was very
hospitable."
"Were you in Rome long?"
"Six weeks-no not quite little over a
month"
"Wel, Maurice, III make a guess" said
Alice, with sudden resolution to discover. if
possible, the worst at once. "The letter l
brought you the other day was from this same
Lucia, wasn't it ?"
She spoke with feigned gayety, but her
heart seemed almost to stand still while wait
ing for his answer.
"You're little witch" he said, laughing,
as he took the miniature from her hand and
put it back in his pocket. "How could you
guess SO we'll? Yes, it aOas from her. But
mind, Alice, you promised not to betray me
honor bright"
Il never break promise" said Alice; and
the next moment she bounded from his side
with the heetness Of deer, and rushed down
steep, rocky descent which led to a little hol-
low, where cool, bubbling stream pursued its
way beneath the shadow Of clump of trees.
Astonished at the suddenness Of her flight,
Maurice followed her at less rapid pace, and
came up with her as she was kneeling beside
the streamlet, and filling cup Of twisted
leaves with the crystal fluid.
"What on earth did you run away from me
for ?" he asked. II thought you would break
your neck, you came down that path at such
a rate
Il was so thirsty, and this water was so de-
liciously cool. Look what lovely drinking
cup, fit for the King of the Fairies. Won't
you have draught out Of it?"
"No, thank you; I'm not the King of the
Fairies, and don't feel thirsty this cool even.
| ing What's the matter with your cheeks p
"My cheeks? OH they are rather warm,
I believe; from running down the hill, | sup.
pose. Come! Are you ready to 60 home ?
It's getting late"
She jumped up from the ground as she
spoke, hinging hack her disordered curIs and
tying on her hat, which had fallen from her
head, and hung by its ribbons round her neck.
Maurice looked at her inquisitiVely, wonder:
ing at the eXcitability Of her manner, and
the feverish brightness of her eyes. For the
first, time he coincided with his mothers Oft
expressed opinion, that Alice was very
strange girl.
"If she goes on in this way often at home,
don't wonder at anybody thinking so, was
his reflection Their walk home was almost
silent. Alice's thoughts were in a tumult,
and she felt rs if she could not talk rationa-
bly, and her manner made Maurice uncom-
Portable though he was far from dlvining the
cause.
That evening uncle Brainerd complained
| OF 1eellng Ill, anu Delore tne HeAt molHilS d
severe attack of fever had come OH. Medical
aid was summoned, and in a day or two he
was relieved of the worst symptoms; but
though in the course Of a week he was able to
sit up again. it became evident to all that his
strength vas failing rapidly, and that there
was but little chance Of his complete recovery.
In fact, this attack was but the precursor of
the gradual, but sure decay of his bodily and
mental powers. He grew more and more
| feeble. and in nroportion as his strength failed