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

cloud of grief which had encompassed US
naturally put aside all selfish feelings. Still
I thought, had the love I feared really exist'
ed, must have perceived some symptoms Of
its existence, unless most carefully concealed
My parting with Olivia had been natural
ly sad, but very quiet and undemonstrative
She allowed me to kiss her pale cheek, and in
a gentle voice had expressed her hope that
might have prosperous journey, and find
qualification in my foreign tour. Rudolph,
as the head of the house, accompanied her
part of the way to her new residence; the re,
mainder Of her journey being accomplished
under the care of an elderly gentleman, a
friend of Miss Storr's, who had come to meet
her. A couple of weeks had elapsed since hel
departure, when I, too, bid farewell to Lyn'
don Park; and thus, in short time, our
household was scattered, and the whole course
of our lives, at least for the present, material
ly changed. I went abroad, and in the ex
citement of travel, and the interest of research
almost ceased for awhile to dwell on the OBJ
jects which had 30 engrossed me at home.
was strolling one day through picture
gallery in Florence, when was accosted by
familiar voice, and turning, saw at my ell
bow my old college friend, selwyn, from whom
I had parted more than two years before
We shook hands heartily, and expressed my
delight at meeting him thus Unexpectedly.
ut is equally surprising to me to find you
here," he rejoined. 81 thought you were
quietly settled in your Devonshire home"
"No-I have been abroad six months. My
brother looks after the place"
"You came of, then, just on leaving the
Alma Mater? How could they spare you from
home so soon 7"
"Did you not hear of our misfortune|
asked, and I briefly informed him of my moth
er's death, and the subsequent breaking upoi
our little circle. He had heard nothing oi
these events, and listened with interest, ex'
pressing his sympathy, when I had finished
in just the kind and ready manner in which
had felt sure be would. He was not a whit
changed, save that he looked older and hand
aomer; but be paid me the compliment ot
saying that be found me greatly improved.
II looked twice, Phil, before l would speak
to you, though I thought could hardly be
mistaken in your identity. Why, you have
grown at least a foot since saw you last u
I had, in fact, grown considerably, and
had gained in flesh besides; but I still felt
puny and plain in contrast to him. with bis
well.developed, though not muscular figure
and singularly attractive face.
"And what are you doing with yourself
now-roaming about for pleasure?"
"Partly for pleasure, and partly with q q
view to increase ny knowledge Of things in
general" I replied. 81 found myself, on
leaving college, still so ignorant"
"Now Phil, must nip that speech in the
bud-I'll have no mock modesty," he inter
rupted, laughingly. "I know we'll enough
and you know that I know, that you were
about the cleverest chap in college, and knew
more than half your seniors put together"
Thanks for your good opinion, Selwyn
but really, without any mock modesty, as you
call it, did discover myself to be lamentably
deficient on many subjects, and thought !
might add pro6tably to my stock of learning
and give myself recreation besides, by few
years of sightseeing and study combined"
"A few years! Then you intend to remain
abroad so longs"
"Until my majority, expect"
"Aud when will that be?"
"In rather more than three years time"
"Dear mel forgot how much your senio,
I was. Well, I envy you, Phil; I've got to
90 back home and shoulder the burden Of
life in couple of months from now."
"Tell me about your prospects," said l.
my prospects They are wonderfully bril-.
liant. They consist of dingy back-office in
the Temple, with Coke and Blackstone, and
similar worthless, for diversion, and an in
come-at present-of nothing year." he re-
joined. mot dazzling, are they ="
"You are barrister, then ?"
II call myself one" he answered, geily. 81
passed tolerably satisfactory examination
before came over here and have been try.
ing ever since to make up my mind to start
regularly in my profession-but 1 am lazy,
and hang fire somehow. I find the dolce far
niente infinitely preferable to active work.
don'tyou But no, I forgot; you were never
indolently disposed"
II looked at him, and for the first time de.
tected something in his face different from
what formerly read there. 1t was in the
expression alone, bat it spoke, though vaguely
of change. There was restlessness, a dissat'
isfaction in his glance, and I fancied, too, that
he looked less healthy than of old. He had
never been robust; but now thought there
was slightly haggard appearance about him
and the idea occurred to me that he might
not be careful in his mode of life. He did
not notice my inquiriug glance, and Of course
T made no remark.
"Iget just a triAe down.hearted sometimes, u
he pursued. "My people, you know, are not
rich, and have nothing to look to but my
own cleverness, to help me along in the world
I'm a younger son, too, more's the pity
though my elder brother won't have much to
boast of when he comes into bis inheritance u
Ifelt embarrassed, and longed to make him
some offer of assistance, while at the same
time was fearful of offending his pride. My
own means we're abundant enough, and
could not bear to think of his being deprived
of any pleasure or advantage which I could