Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-08-03

me now, and send Pearson to r,e-it's time
for me to take my tonic, believe"
CHAPTER VII.
Charlotte Darcy sat in her uncles parlor,
darning, with industrious fingers, pair Of
woolen socks This was one Of her established
duties, for Mr.. Chase fancied thatno one could
darn as we'll as she; and indeed it would have
been difficult to surpass the nicely of the
work, or to weave the yarn in and out of the
rent with more admirable skill, making it,
when repaired, look almost of a piece with
the rest of the soft, fine hose. To see Char.
lotte as she sat thus engrossed with her work,
you would have imagined that to darn a
stocking we'll was the chief aim Of her life ;
the solemnity of her countenance, and her un'
wavering attention to her task, seeming to in.
dicate that it was of most absorbing interest
and unbounded importance.
Her cousin Arthur had, somewhat irrever.
emily, implied comparison between Char
lotte and apple-dumplings; and it must be
confessed that there was sort Of likeness IN
her round, colorless face to those palatable
but singularly uninteresting-looking articles
of desert. In stature she was Of medium
height, of the style of figure commonly called
"dumpy;" her complexion was dead.whlte,
her eyes light blue and very expressionless,
her features of no particular order, neither
pretty nor plain her hair, which was scanty,
was of a pale straw-color, and worn in two
unpretentious little braids, tied together in
the back, schoolgirl fashion, with piece OF
pink ribbon. Her dress was as simple as her
coiffiure, consisting of dark gingham made
without hounce or furbelow of any description,
and white checked muslin apron with bib
in front.
Now it was not an astonishing fact that a
young gentleman Of ardent temperament,
with an undeniable poetic taste and strong
ly-developed love for the beautiful. such as
Arthur Leslie certainly was, should not feel
any very keen admiration for maiden of
such unprepossessing exterior; but add to
this that Charlottes manner and disposition
corresponded with her outward appearance
that she was phlegmatic, prosy and common
place-and it will be still more reasonable to
suppose that between persons of mind and
temper 80 different as theirs there could exist
no congeniality whatever. They had, it is
true, sort of liking for each other. AS Ar
thur had said, they had never quarrelled in
their lives. but had lived harmoniously enough
together during the eight years they ahad
been co.iumates of their uncle's house. Ar
thur had been wont to con6de his boyish trou'
bles and escapades to his cousin, and she,
with the quiet superiority of senior steadiness
and prudence, had extricated him from many
juvenile scrapes, dosing him with much
wholesome advice as an accompaniment to
her services and though detesting the ad-
vice, he had accepted it uncomplainingly in
consideration of the services, consoling himself
for the inaction by invariably acting contra
ry to it afterwards. He regarded her as a
useful, rather tiresome, but not wholly disa'
greeable, and, in fact, almost necessary ap-
pendage to his uncles comfortable establish
ment, rendered all the more comfortable by
her housewifely care and management. She
did not interfere with his pursuits, and was
afectionate enough to him in an unenthusias-
tic fashion of her own; never resenting the
boyish bluntness with which he sometimes ad'
dressed her, or the impatience which, it must
be owned, he not unfrequently manifested on
account of her "slow" ways. Altogether, they
logged on comfortably enough together-but
as to the idea of any warmer feeling than now
existed ever springng up between them, it
seemed too preposterous one to cherish.
As Charlotte sat darning her uncle's socks,
there came ring at the bell, and presently
a servant entered the parlor, bearing in his
hand choice bouquet.
"Mr. de Vaux's compliments, and bege
Miss Darcy will accept these flowers; and
hopes she is not fatigued after the party last
evening"
Charlotte took the flowers, an approach to
a blush radiating, for an instant, over the
blank whiteness of her cheek as she did so.
"My compliments, and am much obliged
to Mr.. deVaux. l am not feeling at all tired
to-day. Is he waiting, John?'
"a servant brought them, miss"
"Oh! very WE'LL"
John departed, and Charlotte, after wait
ing moment to be sure that no one was near
parted the thickly-grouped blossoms in the
centre and drew from their depths a small
curiously. y.twisted note, strongly favored with
a scent that was not born of its fragrant sur
roundings-it was rather an essence OF per
fumery.shop extraction. A smile OF placio
satisfaction overspread her features, as sht
opened it and read
"Light of my soul! Your satellite, revolving
within an orbit of two squares around your dwell
ling, yet not venturing to approach more nearly
in the broad blaze of day to the luminous centre
of his attraction, writes to remind you OF you
promise to meet him Without fail at the - Gar
dens at 4! P. NJ. await with patience the hou
of your coming.
"Your devoted A. de ""
"Halfpast four-yes, that will suit very
WE'LL" murmured Charlotte. 81 promised
uncle to see about his broken eye.glass, ano
at the same time +"
Her soliloquy was interrupted by an ap
preaching footstep and she hastily thrust thu
note into her pocket as the door was opened
and Arthur sauntered in. He threw himsel
in a deep chair, and leaning his head agains
the back, with his hands thrust into his pock
cts and his legs comfortably stretched out
watched his cousin, as, with something less O
composure than usual in her manner, sh'
busted herself arranging her flowers in vase
"Have you been gathering those at rhi
hour of the day?" he inquired.
"No. They we're sent to me-.
"By whom, may ask2"
"By Mr.. de Vaux," calmly replied Char
lotte."
"DeVaux! 1t strikes me, Charlotte, 20,
have made something of a conquest in tina
quarter" said Arthur, with an amused look
Dear me does it, really?" was the limo
cent rejoinder. Look, Arthur, how prettil!
these crimson and white buds are mixed
They make nice contrast, don't theyf
"Very nice. Wonder if that's owing to hi
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