Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-09-28

meet with her companions OF Iorner uays
that one ofthem would recognize her identity
There is something pathetic, too, in tn
change. As she looks up to meet her grand
fathers glance, and utters gentle respons
to some remark be had addressed to her, 20,
miss the old sparkle in her eyes and smile
and her manner seems subdued, almost sad
Her voice is silvery sweet as the murmur o
the meadow brook, but its joyous ring is gone
Her beauty is rarer, more refined, but some
thing of its wild enchantment has departed
Her look is softer, more tender, but also NOR
plaintive than of yore. Yet, if you question
ed her, she would tell you that she is happy
that her grandfather idolizes her, that ever!
one is kind to her, and that she wants TO
nothing. She herself, indeed, is scarcely con
scious that she does want for anything, o
that there is strange, unsatis6ed void in he
heart; but the void is there, and aches some
times with nameless yearning for which sh
can find no words.
Leila, my child" the old gentleman says
as he caresses the soft dark hair, wound nov
in shining coil about her small head, as suit
the fashion of the day-for Leila has Frencl
maid, who, like her French dressmaker, woult
be horrifed at the transgression Of any of tn
established rules of style and mode-"Leila
my child, now that we are alone, want tt
say few words to you on an important, yer,
important, subject. 1t is a subject that lie
very near my heart, and I wish you, darling
to listen to me patiently, and think carefully
before you give me an answer"
"Yes, grandpapa." Perhaps she has som'
notion of what this important, very important
subject may be, for it is with slightly con
scious air that she turns her eyes away agair
from his face, and bends them on the fire.
"You know, Leila, how dearly I love you
and how earnestly I desire your happiness
It would crafty me inexpressibly to see 20.
settled advantageously in life, before die.
am growing an old man now, and can no
have many more years to live. Next to you
Hove your cousin Arthur" d
It is not hard to draw an inference from
this speech, accompanied as it is by mean
ing look, which, however, she purposely avoid!
meeting. Her cheek takes warmer tinge
but she does not move or speak. ".. :'2.
"Dear child" Mr.. Chase goes on, '"Arthu1
has told me of his unsuccessful effort to win 9
promise from you, which, if you would bu
grant it to him, would make me almost a.
happy as it would him, and the ful6llment o.
which would brighten the last years of my life
as nothing else could do. Tell me, Leila
why did you refuse his prayerT
"Grandpapa, I could not grant it," is her
low reply. '...'. ....... ..''.. -.
"But why? Do you not love him?" -.
"As my brother, do love him dearly
.."Only as your brother, Leila? Is there nc
room for warmer love in your heart"
She shakes her head-a slight, but very de-
oidsd'movemeut; giving her answer as plainly
as words could have done.
"Perhaps, though, that love may grow in
time-may it not?"
"No, grandpapa. 1t never can. 1t is
quite, quite useless to think about it. l dc
not want to be perverse. would like to dc
anything to make you happy but indeed, in
deed, cannot do that. Please don't ask it !!
Her dark eyes, as she lifts them pleadingly te
his face, are full of tears. .... ..
"Have you no pity for Arthur, Leila" !"
She is silent, her face bent down again, he1
little hands clasping each other nervously.
"Don't you see that his heart is bound VI
iu you-that you have the making or mar
ring of his lifelong welfare in your hands ?
"If that is so," she family replies, II an
sorry for it-more sorry than 1 can tell-bu
I cannot force myself to love HMM tha
way"
There is short silence the old gentleman
still lightly caressing her dropping head
watches her with troubled look her answer
has filled him with disappointment, but hi
loves her too tenderly to wish to coerce bel
to his will.
"Well, my child" he presently says" O.
course, if you find it quite impossible to con
sent to Arthur's dearest wish-and NINE
will not urge it upon you; but must confess
that it goes sorely against me to relinquish sc
bright hope. You and Arthur are my sole
objects of interest in life-and since Charlotte
disappointed me so deeply by her foolish mar
riage, I have always looked forward to con
soling myself by seeing you two united. Thai
would, indeed, be marriage after my OWL
heart, and it would recompense me for all the
heart-ache and disappointments I have endur
ed. Even now, I cannot prevail upon myself
quite to abandon the hope that you may one
day change your mind"
Before Leila can make any farther reply
the door opens, and Arthur comes in, hand
some and radiant, and looking not in tht
least like despairing lover, followed by 6
tall, digni6sd looking lady ina black satir
dress. This last is Leila's governess and gen
eral superintendent, guide and monitress, un
der whose direction she has been, by degrees
successfully initiated into the proprieties O.
life. The cosy little tea.table is wheeled near
or to the fire, within easy reach of Mr.. Chase
elbow.chair and in the discussion of the del
icacies temptingly arrayed upon it, and il
conversation of a general and unimportant ma
ture, all farther pursuit of the con6dentia
and delicate topic which just now engaged
the old gentleman and his grandchild is neces
sarily postponed.
Christmas has come and gone; the snow
and froats Of uinter have whitened the eartl