Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-01-27

"I do not understand you, sehor Alasquez," !"
she coldly replied.
"Ahl Sonora. Isyour comprehension, then,
so dul"
"It certainly is, in this case; since l must
admit that you are quite right, in believing
me incapable of divining the cause of your
interest in my affairs, which supposed con-
cerned myself alone"
"But now learn your error" he rejoined.
"To me your welfare is of the highest impor-
tance. Your happiness, oh beautiful, adored
sehora, is the object which lies nearest to my
heart!
His voice, while sinking almost to a whis-
per, had suddenly assumed, at the same time,
tone of passionate and intense devotion,
while his glittering eyes were fixed intently
on her face. Esther started from her seat,
her cheeks afame, her breast heaving with
suppressed excitement and indignation.
'senor Alasquez," she replied, with difficult
ty controlling her emotion, "this is not fitting
language in which to address me; nor can l
listen to the expression of a regard couched
in such terms as you have just used. If you
feel an interest in my welfare, must thank
you but remember, you are an acquaintance,
and nothing more"
can acquaintance only! Sehora, your
coldness wounds me, inexpressibly! Do |
not, then, merit even the name of friend p
"Friend, if you WILL" she answered, still
struggling to maintain show of composure.
"And I would be more. Oh! 80 much
more. Listen to me- Seaora. Nay, entreat
you, do not look so haughtily upon me. I
crave your pardon if have offended you by
too sudden, too. unexpected betrayal of my
feelings. Yet it was from an irresistible i'm
pulse, which hurried me beyond the bounds
of prudence ere was aware. Tell me that
have roi transgressed beyond the hope Of for.
giveness."
81 will endeavor to forget your offence"
rejoined Esther, in an icy tone, and still
standing as she spoke, "only on condition that
you do not again allow yourself 80 far to
overstep the bounds of common propriety and
respect. A sentiment of real respect and re-
gard, Seiior, would lead you to consult my
feelings more carefully"
II stand rebuked," said the Spaniard, bow
ing low as he uttered the words, with an air
of humility that had something almost of
mockery in tit was so exaggerated and
overstrained. A covert smile, too, cleaned
for an instant over his features but this, Es-
ther, who kept her eyes averted from him,
did not perceive. "Since, then, I am restrict
ed to such formality of speech, permit me, at
least, in friendly language, to continue the
discussion of the subject upon which we had
entered"
"If you allude to my position here, I pre-
fer not discussing that, or any other Of my
anafTs at present, she FsP11su:
Given at the risk of again arousing your
anger, Sonora, I must repeat that you are
wrong-very wrong" he continued, with
pertinacity which her freely expressed dis
like to the subject did not seem to affect.
"Believe me, you are exposed to many dan
gers here, though you have been fortunate in
escaping them hitherto. Why not be per-
suaded to remove to safer locality, and &C.
cept of my guidance and protection in ma
king the move?" am we'll acquainted with
the country around, and could, without diff
Guilty, transplant you into something like civ.
ilization, where you could be comparatively
secure"
II have already told you that feel no
fear here" said Esther, with much impatience.
"Why will you persist in trying to force up
on me change for which I have no inclina-
tion, and one, moreover, which 1 most posi-
lively decline making?"
"You do, then, refuse to accept my ad-
vice?
II do," she replied, with unn'istakable de-
cision. "After this, Senior, trust to your
good breeding to trouble me no more in re-
gard to the matter; but consider it laid at rest
at once and forever"
"Alas /" said the Spaniard, eff I but had
the honor of occupying higher place in your
esteem, Sehora, I might hope ultimately to
prevail in my arguments; but am unhappi-
ly aware that ain the object of your dislike
and disdain."
"Whatever estimation may hold you in"
rejoined Esther, "has nothing to do with my
yielding or not yielding to your representa-
tions prefer to exercise my own judgment
in regard to my movements, and as my mind
is quite made up, all farther argument on the
subject would be wasted"
"Then, of course, am reduced to silence"
said Alasquez reluctantly. Il trust, howev-
er," he continued after pause, "that you
will attribute the persistency Of which have
been guilty to entirely disinterested and most
friendly motives and also that if at any fu.
ture time you should reconsider your decision,
you will call upon me to serve you, in any
capacity which you may desire"
"Thank you," was all Esther said, for she
could not bring herself to make any more
cordial acknowledgment of his offer. After
lingering few moments longer, her unwel-
come visitor, to her inexpressible relief, took
his leave and as she watched him ride away,
devout wish arose in her mind that it might
be long ere his presence should darken her
doors again.
This visit of Alasquez, and the interview
which had taken place between them, filled
her with new uneasiness and apprehension.
She had shrunk in horror from his declaration