Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-05-13
favor, and he had lived unmarried for her

Sslko.
Alice could have lived very happily in Mrs.
Delatour's pretty house, had it not been for
the feeling somewhat hurtful to her pride,
that as a stranger she had no right to trespass
thus upon her bounty. So when q fortnight
had passed in the fulflment of her duties as
teacher, she said one day
"Mrs. Delatour, I have been thinking that
perhaps could get room somewhere in the
village, in the house of some one that you
know Don't you think it possible"
"What do you want to get a room in the
village for ?" asked her friend.
Because" said Alice, blushing, II have
been with you long time now, and it is time
for me to begin to provide for myself 1 am
making enough to hire little room with and
pay for plain board, if I might pay at the end
Of each month
"Nonsense, child" said Mrs. Delatour, brief
ly. "Be satisfied where you are for the pres
ent, and don't talk about providing for your
self until you make little more money.
Are you not comfor table here?"
"More than comfortable" said Alice, warm
ly, "and am more grateful to you than |
can express but it seems wrong for me to be
staying here so long" -' pc.
"When am tired of you,s will tell you" >"
said her hostess. She felt, in truth, strangely
reluctant to part with the young girl, who had
already endeared herself to her. And though
she still hesitated in deciding to keep her al.
together, she could not make up her mind to
let her 20, just yet. So Alice stayed on and
enjoyed the luxury of her present life, and the
days slipped by until Gervais Delatour came
home.
On the very evening of his arrival, the
young man asked his mother if Alice had
consented to live with her, altogether.
81 have not asked her," quietly replied Mrs.
Delatour.
Gervais bit his lip, and walked of, some
what impatiently, toward the window.
"What is the matter, my dear ?" asked his
mother, in calm Tone "You look annoyed"
"Oh no, by no MEANS" he replied care
arrangement had been made"
Eyes, that was quite natural considering
how long she had remained here; but you see,
I don't like to send the poor girl away"
GOOD heavens! mother" cried Gervais,
turning around, show can you speak of such
thing? Turn her away!"
II said send her away, DEAR"
"Well, send or turn, it is all one. AS for
her having been here long, l don't see that
she has so far paid more than an ordinary
visit; one or two weeks only"
"Four." corrected his mother.
"Four, then. Has she spoken of her plans ?"
"No. I doubt if she has any to speak Of
To tell you the TRUTH" said Mrs. Delatour,
who liked to tease her son, but never carried
it too far, "she proposed some time back to
leave me, and board in the village, on her
scanty earnings, silly child But 1 told her
to remain quiet for the PRESENT."
"Did you? That was right" said Gervais,
you speak of? Has she any scholars ?'
eyes; a little class of six children, who
meet every day at Mr.. Glenmore's. I got
them for her without any difficulty. You see,
luckily, Miss Ames has just gone away, and
these are some of her former pupils. Marion
is good little thing, very diligent and pains:
taking She is getting to be favorite, and l
shouldn't wonder if in time she succeeded in
getting up quite school, By the way, Ger
vais, you can't think what fancy Mr.. Glen
more has taken to her. He walks with her,
and lends her books, and seems really smit-
ten."
"Mr. Glenmore! He is old enough to be her
father"
"Fully. But that does not preclude the
possibility of his liking her does it?"
"Oh no, certainly not. I Ionly thought you
meant"
THAT he had fallen in love with her
Well, it's not unlikely, now you've suggested
the idea. 1t would be a capital thing for
her, too," said Mrs. Delatour, musingly.
II cannot see Why" said Gervais, somewhat
sharply.
my dear son young girl in her lonely,
friendless situation, to become the wife of the
clergyman of the parsh-a man sufficiently
we'll of, too, to support her comfortably, and
leave her in good circumstances when he dies !!
Most people would consider it an excellent
match"
"Most people would be very foolish, then.
But l beg your pardon" he added, checking
himself; "perhaps you are one of them %
81! Oh! no. said Mrs. Delatour, good
humoredly. II confess I haven't troubled
my head about it. In fact, the little thing
ought not to think of marrying, for several
years to come. She's nothing but child"
"In years, perhaps" said Gervais, 'but
certainly not in character. No child would
act with the selfdenying resolution she has
displayed"
''She is certainly quite heroic; foolishly ro-
mantle, perhaps but with a great deal of
principle. And now, my dear, to change the
subject, do tell me something Of your visit
You have not told me word of the Grahams,
or Talbots, or any of those people I am inter-
ested in"
This conversation gave Mrs. Delatour some
insight into her sons feelings. And, indeed,
it was not very long before they became too
evident to escape even ordinary penetration.
Gervais was, undoubtedly, a victim to that
not uncommon, but seldom fatal malady-
love at first sight. His impulsive French
nature had yielded readily to the influence of
Alice's charms, and each succeeding hour of
their intercourse kindled the flame into great
er strength. His mother felt sorely perplexed
at the discovery. This was the contingency
she had dreaded !; but she had not looked for
, it so soon. However, as she had run away
with her husband on a six weeks acquain-
tance, and lived happily with him all her mar
Iried life, she could not exclaim now at the
oily or imprudence of this sudden infatua-
ion on her sons part. Alice was good and
bvely and sensible, more attractive than any
iirl she knew but then-she did not know
aough about her. Who were the Lyles?
he had never heard of them before. And
Alce-or Marion, as she called herself
vry reticent about her family. Mrs. Delatour
hld been able to learn very little concerning
tkm, Of the Chester side she had not spo.