Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-08-03
course, in that way; otherwise, we are very
good friends"

lows from chllQnOOQ, anu nave Always aP'
peared to me to get on capitally together"
$50 we have. / think Charlotte, as you
saw. an excellent girl, and don't remember
ever quarreling with her in my life. But as
to marrying her-that's different thing, un-
Gle, altogether"
II can tell you it would be very good
thing-a very good thing indeed, for you"
said the invalid, waxing impatient, for he had
not looked for opposition on this point, and it
irritated him. "The only doubt in my mind
is, whether Charlotte would consider it good
thing for her. She might think she could do
better, you see.
Arthur was too clear-sighted not to see
through this fimsy little pretence of taking
down his selfesteem. and stimulating his de-
sire to attain something not easy to be won:
He knew that his uncle dotted on him, and
had no fear that Charlotte would refuse his
hand should it be offered to her; though ne
himself had sufficient modesty not to feel
equal certainty on the subject.
"Well, uncle, may be she would he an
swered, good-humoredly. II am not so vain
as to imagine otherwise. In that case we
could cry quits, for must honestly avow that
I don't want her,"
"Upon my word p said the old gentleman.
"This is the chivalry of the present day, is it ?
All can is, Mr.. High-fyer, that you might
20 farther and fare worse 1suppose, because
your cousin is good, plain, sensible girl, not
all airs and graces and fine dress like that
Miss Gravely-"
"Miss Gravely! She is not my admiration,
I assure you," interrupted Arthur, hastily.
"May be not. So much the better. But
let me 90 on, will you? I was going to say
that supposed you wanted something more
snowy and brilliant for a wife. Charlotte, |
suppose, is too unpretending and matter-of-
fact"
Gas to her being uupretending, 1 find it
one of her greatest attractions" said Arthur
"But in the first place, uncle, Charlotte has
always 6lled the position Of elder sister to
me-you know she is actually three years old
er than I amp
What of that? She'll be the better able
to guide you"
"Guide me! But I don't want wife to
guide me-" said Arthur, half laughing, half
vexed, yet unwilling to anger his uncle in his
present feeble state, by too decided an oppo-
sition to his plans.
"No, of course not. You'd like to marry
some pretty fool without any brains, who'd
let you 20 your own way without knowing
whether it was a good one or bad one. l
can tell you, my money shall never 60 to that
sort, my boy. Marry to please me, and it's
yours if not"
He abruptly broke of, and drank some
more water in lieu of finishing the sentence.
81 am sure, uncle" said Arthur, insinua-
tingly, "you would not want me to marry tor
the sake of money. If felt no real attach
ment-"
"Real fiddlestick Arthur, you put me
out-you really put me out" said Mr.. Chase,
beginning in a very loud key, but softeniug
down at its conclusion. "Did you not tell
me yourself, minute ago, that you liked
Charlotte excessively, and thought her an ex-
cellent girl2'
al said thought her an excellent girl, and
so do; but as to the ercessire liking, am
not sure that committed myself 80 far" said
Arthur, glancing sideways at his uncle to
Judge how far it was safe to venture upon
testing tone. 81 think apple dumpings are
excellent things-for people who like them !;
but am not excessively fond of them, my
self: I suppose it's because I haven't good
TASTE"
"Now, Arthur" said his uncle, frowning,
"I wish you to drop that trifing tone, which
I consider unbecoming-highly unbecoming,
and, as I should think, your natural sense OF
propriety would show you, quite unsuitable to
the present circumstances. You must recol-
lect that I am on couch Of illness-it may
be, one of death. At all events, can not
have but few years longer to live, and surely
you will not refuse to consider seriously prop
osition which, if you would but accede to it,
would, in its ful6lment, ensure your happiness
and crafty me inexpressibly."
Arthur was Immediately sobered by Mr..
Chase's serious tone and after short pause,
he replied in an altered voice, as he laid his
hand afectionately on the invalid's arm
"Dear uncle, I need not tell you, [ think,
how earnestly have always tried to repay
your kindness to me, by being dutiful and
obedient, and consulting your wishes in every
particular-it has been the aim of my life to
prove to you that am deeply grateful for all
you have done for me, since first you took me
under your protection. Therefore l hope you
will believe me, when | say that it is not
mere caprice or pervisity which makes me
unwilling to crafty you now. Uncle, there
is no congenialitY between Charlotte and me; ;
do like her, in some ways; but as to loving
her, as-as-in that way, mean," here Ar
thur stammered and grew confused, and
blushed very red, as he touched on this deli
cate theme, ."indeed I can't. And do hon
estly think that if was to propose to her,
she'd laugh at me-"
"Laugh at you! I'd like to see her do it,"
said Mr.. Chase, driven upon the opposite tack
to the one he had taken before. "Why
should she, prayf'
"Well, she'd think it ridiculous, know"
and Arthur's mouth relaxed little again at
the corners as his senses of the ludicrous pre-
vailed. 81 tell you, she has always treated
me as if I were ages younger than she; and
feel 80, really"
"And what is this mighty disparity of
years, that you harp upon? Three years
what is that to make fuss about2
"Nothing, if the disparity were on the right
side But you see it's on the wrong side,
uncle"
"How old are you, let me see. I've for
COTTON
II shall be twenty.one next October-on
the twenty-second."
"And Charlotte is but twenty-five" ex-
claimed Mr.. Chase, triumphantly.
"Twenty-three next November, | assure
you"
"Well, simpleton, twenty.ous from twenty
three leaves two years, doesn't it? So she is
but two years your senior, and barely that,
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