Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-07-29
gu 0rigimal Sturg.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
THE SEVEN SISTERS OF YORK.
CHAPTER XI.


corded in the last chapter, Claribel, feeling
oppressed and melancholy, stole quietly out
of the back door to avoid Jennie's question
ing, and sought the shrubbery in the rear Of
the house, to indulge, without interruption, in
the sad thoughts which troubled her.
In the last few weeks change had come
over her, which had wrought pain and grief
in her heart, while at the same time it mingled
with these emotions brief tastes Of exquisite
joy, which in turn vanished to leave behind
them the sting of acute remorse and self're-
proach. What can be more bitter, more
heavy to be borne, than hopeless love?
How or when the revelation of this love had
first dawned upon her, she scarcely knew.
,Jennie's well-meant caution having opened
her eyes to the state of Hugh's feelings toward
her, made her at first avoid him ; and in the
regret that this enforced avoidance caused
her, she began to perceive that his compan'
ionship was dearer to her than she had known.
Then her thoughts naturally dwelt much up
on him-more than she should have allowed
them to do. She recalled various little cpl
sodes in their intercourse, in which his look
and manner had been fraught with involun-
tary tenderness; words briefly spoken, to
which she had attached little Importance at
the time, but now invested with an unmis-
taxable significance. And she pitied him
pitied him intensely, with deep, vain yearn-
ing to comfort him and then she found-poor
Claribel that she was beginning to pity
herself as we'll. She could not blame him
there are few women who can blame man
for being weak enough to love them, even if
that love is hurtful to another. She was SIM
ply sorry for him, and felt that fate was deal
ing very hardly with him, and with them all.
The thought Of his forsakiug Edna never en-
tered her mind she did not know what the
end of it all would be, but only had a vague
hope that by some means or other things
would come right in the end. And so, as
Virgilia had said, they went on living sur
face-life, outwardly the same as before, but
with deep thoughts and emotions, hopeless
longings, stern regrets, vain pity and remorse,
bitter fears and pain, stirring and tossing in
their hearts.
Thinking over all this, Claribel moved slow
ly along through the trees until she came to
little arbor at the far end of one ofthe walks,
quite out of sight of the house and its imme.
date surroundings. There she sat down, and
plucking the late blossoms from vine that
waved its tendrils near her, pulled them idly
to pieces and watched them as they whirled
and futtered in the breeze,
"These flowers are emblematic of my hopes"
she said unconsciously, halfaloud, "destined
to be blighted and destroyed by the cold
breath of adversely"
"Claribel," said voice near her. She
looked up, and saw Hugh Thornton standing,
with an agitated face, at the entrance of the
arbor. The tell-tale blood rushed to her
cheeks, which had been colorless moment
before; but mastering her confusion with an
effort, she strove to smile, and to make some
commonplace answer to his greeting.
"May I come in here with you" he asked.
"Certainly you know have no especial
fancy for solitude" she replied with assumed
lightness.
81 know you have had an especial fancy
for avoiding me oflate," rejoined Hugh, as
he entered and took seat on the bench at
her side. He spoke reproachfully, and she
did not venture to meet his eyes. She felt
that there was danger in this interview, but
did not know how to escape from it.
"Claribel," he continued after short 81
lence, II have just been with Edna, and she
sent me to find you
"Did she?" murmured CIaribel. Once on
time this announcement would have caused
her no surprise but Edna had long ceased
making little plans to bring them together, as
she had been wont to do at first.
Eyes. She told me that she had seen you
come into the shrubbery. Was I right to
obey her?'
"Claribel gave him swift glance.
"No," she said courageously; 81 don't
think you were right"
"Why not?"
She saw that he knew why; but she an
swered him with that feigned carelessness
which she found so difficult to maintain.
ut seems rather reversing the order of
things, does it not, that you should leave Edna
to come to me"
"But if the order of things, as you call it,
ought to be reversed-if they are unbeara-
ble impossible to be endured? l cannot en-
dure them much longer. Claribel, sometimes
feel as if should 60 mad"
"Hush! hush," said Claribel imploringly.
"You must not talk to me in that way"
"But must talk have kept silent long
enough. 1 feel that am acting farce-a
miserable, wicked farce; it is time that l
should speak the truth"
II think" said Clarbel rising, and speak
ing hurriedly, "that you are excited, now,
Hugh, and you will say something you may
not mean-something you will regret after
ward; cannot stop to listen to you. Will
you come with me to the house ?"
"No," said Hugh, stopping in front of her
as she sought to pass out of the arbor mo |
will not 60 to the house and Claribel, you
must not 60 either-stay and listen to me.
You must know what it is in my heart to say"
And then he took her hand, and in broken,
passionate words revealed to her his love.
For little space she listened to him in silence,
overborne by his pleading, while her heart
thrilled and glowed with feverish joy-then
she suddenly drew her hand away, and turn
ing from him hid her face and burst into tears.
L