Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-03-04

she does not wish to speak to US of, and which
may be the cause of her altered manner"
"My DEAR" said her husband, with growing
indignation in his voice, "whatever trouble
she NAV have on her mind does not interfere
with the pursuit of her own enjoyment; and
therefore, it cannot be made an excuse for hel
palpable neglect of some of her most impera
tive duties"
Mrs. Blandford was quite aware that he
alluded to Estelle's scanty attendance upon
herself, which had become particularly no.
ticeable of late; and, being quite sensible
herself, of the neglect she could make no sat-
isfactory reply.
"There you have been," he continued, wax
ing warmer as he proceeded, "a prisoner on
your back for nearlya year, and deprived Of
all your ordinary enjoyment, besides suffering
extremely at times, and she actually hasn't
manifested sufficient sympathy, or interest in
your condition, to give up any other pleasures
for your sake. To think of all you have done
for her-your devotion-your ceaseless efforts
to bring her up aright-and to think of her
making such return 1t is heartless-posi'
tiyely heartless. And when I contrast her
behavior to you with her devotion to my poor
brother, which he used to write about so con-
stantly, I can't understand it; upon my word
Ican't"
"I am afraid her fortune has turned her
head" sighed Mrs. Blandford,
II am afraid it has changed her heart
which is more to be deplored. To this day,
Emily, can't understand that legacy of poor
Dicks. How he could make up his mind to
leave valuable piece of property, like Silver,
lake, out of the family, passes my comprehen-
sion. Ifhe had left her money instead But
to bequeath magnificent place like that,
worth more than care to compute, to
young girl of alien blood-one who had no
claim upon him"
"Still, you know, we always insisted upon
her being regarded as one Of ourselves,
mildly interrupted his wife.
"Of course; and so far as doing everything
for her, in the way of education, and all that,
and, in fact, making her any reasonable pres
ents, why think it was perfectly right and
proper If my brother had chosen to leave
her all his ready money, should not have
wondered so much However, Of course it's
no use to discuss that subject any more; it's
neither here nor there, just at present. What
surprises me is the child's ingratitude, after
all that has been done for her."
The party, for which Estelle was preparing,
was to be quite large and stylish reception,
at the house of a wealthy neighbor. Several
people had been invited from the city, and
unusual pains had been taken to make it, al
together, grand affair. An entertainment
of the sort was an unusual occurrence in this
quiet neighborhood, and under different cir
cumstances, Estelle Nigh have been pardoned
for the interest she felt in it, and for her ex-
treme anxiety to appear to the very best ad-
vantage on the occasion.
| Among the invited guests was one upon
whom she particularly desired to make ia
vorable impression. Edmund Delaney, a
young Georgian of remarkable personal at
fractions, high talent, and amiable disposition,
had been introduced to her some months be-
fore, during her stay in New York, where he
was at that time on visit to some relatives,
and had paid her rather particular attention
at several places where they had met. Now
of all the young men whom she had ever met,
Mr.. Delaney pleased her fancy the most, and
she was secretly hattered by his preference,
and not averse to the idea of its ripening into
more decided liking. Truth to tell, his at
tention to her had been encouraged by his
relatives, who thought that it would be an
advantageous thing for him to make wealthy
marriage, being himself (though of aristocrat'
ic birth) in very moderate circumstances.
1t had been, in fact, through some skillful
maneuvering on the part of his uncle and
aunt that the two young people had been
thrown 80 often into each others society.
Even during Mr.. Richard Bandford's illness,
it had been rumored that Estelle was to be
his heiress, or at least to inherit consldera-
BILE portion of his fortune and when, after his
death, twas known how fully these anticipa-
tions we're realized, Mr.. and Mrs. Fletcher
Bruce congratulated themselves upon having
laid the cornerstone of an intimacy which
they trusted would be productive of most ad-
vantageous results to their needy but deserv-
ing nephew.
Edmund was no fortune.hunter, and when,
at the instigation of Mrs. Bruce, he had turn
ed his regards with careless good humor upon
Miss Blandford, it was simply with desire
to make himself agreeable, without thought
of her reputed expectations, or the advantage
he might reap from them ifhe played his cards
we'll Estelle was at that time playing the
r6le of devoted sick k.nurse, and went only to
small gatherings, and one or two quiet places
of amusement, where she appeared with SIM
plicity of dress and softened seriousness of
demeanor that quite won young Delancys
admiration. After the old gentleman's death
he met her but once, and she then seemed so
subdued and cast down by sorrow that he
sympathized with her more deeply than ever,
and felt touched by her tender womanliness
End loving, sensitive heart, which displayed
itself, as it were, against her will. On this oc-
casion he had ventured nearer approach to
positive manifestation of his regard than he
had ever done before. This, however, had not
proceeded beyond somewhat impressive
eave-taking, and a significant alusion to the
happiness in store for him when they should
meet again.
And now this meeting, long looked forward