Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-04-29

l wish you would De KIND enough now 10
leave my room.
II would gladly accede to your request" he
replied, "but there is too much at stake in this
matter for me to relinquish my suit so easily.
Have you forgotten" he continued, bending
nearer to her and lowering his tone, "the
warning I gave you the last time I spoke to
you on this subject%
"Your warning" replied Alice, with flash
ing eyes, "was as idle as it was cowardly and
contemplate. Idonot fear you, weak though
look and seem. You can do your worst
threats will have no effect on me"
"Ah do you take that tone, my pretty
prisoner?" said Raphael, with malignant
look, for Alice's determined opposition aroused
his anger, while her unqualified and openly
expressed scorn, CALLED him to the quick.
'Take care how you defy mel have acted
fairly and gently by you, but if you drive me
to extremities you will find that l have means
to enforce my wishes, and that 1 will use them,
too"
"Fairly and gently echoed Alice. "Do
you call it fair and gentle treatment to shut
me up in this gloomy house. and try to terrify
me by base threats to submit to your odious
propositions ?"r
"You cannot deny" said her cousin, "that
you have been kindly treated, both by my
sister and myself, in every respect, save the
one of which you complain, and which is en-
tirely the result of your own self:willed obsti-
macy"
"And that cancels everything else" said
Alice. "You can't expect gratitude for the
paltry favors you have shown when you crown
them by such cruel and unjust behavior"
"Do you call saving your life paltry ia
vor ?"
eyes, ifit is done from interested motives"
"We did not even know who you were until
after we had brought you home. My sister &C.
cidentally discovered it on the following day."
81 dare say you thought, whoever | might
be, that you would derive some benefit from
your humane treatment of me-" said Alice, Bar-
castically.
Raphael's sallow face flushed at the taunt
"Take care" he said, warningly; "you try me
too far. 1t is dangerous to insult those who
have you in their power"
"Danger or not" said Alice, 81 am sick
and tired ofthis useless discussion, and wish
you would put an end to it."
"Your wish shall be strictly obeyed," said
Raphael "but take care that you don't re.
woke it before very long-the end may not be
as agreeable one to you as you anticipate"
He then went down stairs to inform his sis.
ter that Alice was utterly impracticable, and
that there was no prospect of her ever yield
ing to their wishes.
"Then the alternative must be adopted"
said Mrs. 3roderick "If we can't carry out
our plans by fair means we must by forcibe
ones. Leave her to me in less than week
you'll find her as docile as lamb"
"But hope, sister Martha, said Raphael,
little apprehensivey, "that you won't resort
to any-any violence, or use means that may
be turned against us afterward-you know we
have to be careful"
"Don't you suppose I do know it, simple
ton p replied his sister. "We're playing for
high stakes, and something must be risked
but you can trust me to 60 far enough and no
farther"
AS Alice was wearily trying to divert her
thoughts little while later by reading, Mrs
Broderick, with severe face, entered the
room.
"Alice Lynn" she commenced in an aus
tere tone, shave you properly considered the
proposal of marriage my brother has made to
you, and the consequences of your persistence
in refusing it?"
"Yes," replied Alice. II have already
given your brother my answer, and requested
him not to trouble me uselessl any farther"
"Very WE'LL" said Mrs. Broderick. "Inow
warn you that the consequences of your folly
will be on your head. You have had an op-
portunity given you of entering, of your own
free will, into an alliance which would be of
the greatest benefit to you. You have refused
to avail yourself of it, but you will find that
the proposal you have scorned is not to be so
easily set aside. Mark my words, and profit
by them You will have week longer given
to you to reconsider your decision. If at the
end of that time you persist in this stubborn
ness, you will, whether you consent or not,
become his wife,"
"You cannot-you dare not make me"
cried Alice stealing from her seat. 'It is not
in your power to force me to take such a
step! You are only trying to terrify me into
submission, and you will never succeed"
"You will see whether 1 am using idle
threats or not" returned her prosecutor. 81
intend to begin at once the process of tanning
your high spirit"
Alice, though inwardly trembling, was re-
solved not to betray any signs OF tear. Mrs.
Broderick then desired her to follow her out
of the room and Alice, conceiving it useless
to offer opposition in any minor matters, 81
lently obeyed Her conductress led her up
narrow flight of stairs, to small, dark attic
room, barely lighted by one window, and con-
tanning no furniture but cot-bed and a rush
bottomed chair.
"This chamber" she said, as she opened
the door for Alice to enter, "is assigned to
you for the future. Perhaps a few days So
journ in it, deprived of the indulgences which
have hitherto been allowed you, may bring
you to closer sense of your duty"
Alice shrank back in dismay. "That little
den she exclaimed.
EYES," said Mrs. Broderick, in tone of
satisfaction. 81 shall not compel you to re-
main here, however, if you are willing to
change your mind. There is still time for you
to do so"
"Never," said Alice, shuddering. "You
may imprison, starve me, if you will, but you
cannot coerce me into submission.
"Very WE'LL" said Mrs. Broderick. "Then
you will remain in here, and hope you will
find it comfortable. Should you feel cold,
don't doubt your heroic resolutions and lofty
pride will come to your aid and keep you
warm"
With this taunt, seeing that Alice still hes
itated, she took her by the arm and gave her
slight push forward; then quickly retreat
ing, closed the door after her and locked it on
the outside
Left to herself, Alice looked around with