Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-04-20

place be held, and could not but regard him
with involuntary pride, sentiment at that
time quite unmixed with any less worthy feel.
ing; but did not yet know how high was
the estimation in which he was held, by every
being in the country around.
"Pm glad you have come home in time for
your birthday, Phil" he said, presently.
"Well have a rousing celebration on that
day. And by the way, do you know who I've
arranged to have, among other guests?'
"Who /" I asked.
"Olive-Olive Marchmont, you know. The
old lady, her protectress, has agreed, after
much coaxing, to bring her and stay three
days-a grand tribute to my powers of per-
suasion, for she is frightfully averse to leaving
home, and has not stirred out of Bath for six
years. But she is so fond of Olive she would
do almost anything for her."
"Did Olive want to Gomez"
"Oh yes, she seemed 70 like the idea amaz'
ingly. She has never been back here, you
know, since she left"
"Do you see much of herr" was my next
question, somewhat hesitatingly asked.
II run up to see her once in while.
have paid her good many visits. You'd
hardly know her, she is 80 improved-won'
derfully improved, may say"
"In her looksf" rejoined.
"Not so much as to actual prettiness. She
was always pretty, you know but in her gen.
eral style and accomplishments, and so forth
Not that she's one of your fine, fashionable
young ladies, for that should detest, but she
has such graceful dignity, such perfect self:
command. Altogether, shes uncommonly at
tractive, think. I'm not very good hand
at giving description, am aware; but you
will soon see her and judge for yourself
Here's picture of her, by the way" and be
took daguerreotype from the mantel-piece
and handed it to me. Photographs had not
come into fashion, in those days. I took it
without manifesting any of the eagerness
felt, and scrutinized it carefully. To my eyes
the face was greatly changed, but that was,
no doubt, owing in some degree to the style
in which the hair was dressed, for instead Of
flowing in natural curls, it was now braided
in womanly fashion, high up on her head.
The whole air was more dignifed and com.
posed than of old, but bright, sweet arch.
ness of expression beamed in the dark eyes
and about the small mouth; not an actual
smile, but just sufficient to give life to the
picture. 1t was very beautiful, I thought, or
rather gave one the idea of the original being
So To my mind, there can be no real beauty
in those dull, unsatisfactory representatives Of
nature.
"Is it good likeness ?" I asked.
Doesn't do her justice, but pretty good on
the whole. That wasa capital likeness Of
yourself, Phil, you sent me from Dresden. /
have it up there, too. You see I've given it the
| post Of honor next. to- UIVas, > You cant
think what company those pictures have been
to me, many time when I've sat here alone
with only the dogs for company. I've looked
at them, and kept thinking about you both
until could almost fancy you we're actually
with me-"
"You must have found it rather dull, some
times"
"Dull believe you Not hut what !
have some amusement, of course. There's the
hunting, and the archery club, and all that,
and an occasional dinner and ball, and l have
some fellows here usually in September for a
couple of weeks Then run over to town oc.
casionally and refresh myself with little
sightseeing, and pay @isit once or twice a
year to Bath, as told you before. But all
that doesn't make up for the absence Of the
home-faces, and the lonesome every day life
However, I am happy to think that l shall
have no more to complain of on that score, v
he added, brightly. "You have no idea of
leaving me again, I hopef"
I replied no, that 1 supposed I would be a
fixture for the future; and dinner being just
then announced, we left all farther discussion
of our plans for some other time.
It was now May, and my birthday comes in
June. I felt very impatient to see Olive, and
formed the project of going to pay her little
visit. mentioned this idea to Rudolph, and
found that he approved of it, and encouraged
my putting it into execution without delay.
"It will be decidedly the right thing for
you to do, Phil. Go right to the house when
you get there, and Miss Storr will no doubt
ask you to spend the night. which you will
find more agreeable than stopping at ho-
TEL"
"But you forget that I am a stranger to
her." I objected.
"Never mind; she's hospitable old soul,
and will be glad to have you, I know"
did not follow Rudolph's counsel in this
matter, but on arriving in Bath, whittier
wended my way day or two after our con-
versation on the subject, sought hotel, and
having secured room, prepared myself in
private for my visit, to which looked forward
with an unusual degree of trepidation. 1 was
conscious of solicitude respecting my per.
sonal appearance which I rarely felt, and all
my old discomfort, which in these later years
had seemed to be laid at rest, revived now as
I gazedat my reflection in the glass before
which my toilette was being performed. What
would Olive think of me, wondered. Would
she find me altered, and if so, for the better?
Or would she comment unfavorably on my
pale face and bony frame, which had seemed
well.placed among my fellow'students abroad,
but looked ugly and uninteresting enough
now that 1 was in the midst Of my own heal.