Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-08-02
soul by fairly hugging her, and exclaimed, in
in voice of deep thankfulness-

soul by fairly hugging her, and exclaimed, il
in voice of deep thankfulness-
"Thank Heaven-oh, thank Heaven !"
"Dear me, dear me, what are you 80 thank
full for2" she said, looking more bewilderec
than ever as she set her cap straight after my
uncouth caress.
Here was a dilemma My darling-]
might call her so now-evidently wished oul
previous meeting to remain thing of the
past; 80 I stammered indistinctly something
about remains of brain fever, and changed
the conversation by asking how long Mrs
Freeman had been in Clokesham.
"Only came last night. have not seen
her yet, you know. She married poor Ned
Freeman-a runaway match-the only son Of
Mr.. Talbot's only sister. He was shocking
young scapegrace, and went off to the dia'
mond fields with his delicate young wife,"
"How long has he been dead 2" asked.
II don't know how long; but I think he
must have met his death in some disgraceful
manner, for Mr.. Talbot never speaks of him
voluntarily, and if his name is mentioned, be
only says, poor Ted, poor Ted! Enough to
break her heart, poor young thing"
"Well, Miss Golding," said, briskly, u
must not stay here talking scandal one min
ute longer" So thanking her warmly for
her kindness, I set of, leaving her still in a
state of considerable doubt as to my fitness
for attending to other ailments.
With what intense relief I found myself
once more in the solitude of my little home,
and sat down to think over, as calmly as
could, the events of the morning! My love
was here, near to me, and free. I questioned
naught as to her antecedents, her life since
we had first met; she was free for me to WOO
and win if I could. My love swallowed all
prudent scruples, all worldly wisdom, at one
gulp, and there remained but the one fact
that there she was; and 1 resolved to risk all
to win this one love of my life.
Some short happy weeks passed by; we
met frequently, and l felt that the pleasure OF
these meetings was mutual That little note
signed IN. Betram" was my most precious
possession. "Mary Betram"-I had always
seemed to know that "M." meant "Mary."
How long ago that morning appeared What
a lifetime of wretchedness I had lived since
then Yet, in the midst of my happiness, a
keen pang of disappointment would cloud it
for the moment, at some indefnable change
in my darling's character. The old stead
fastness was wanting, the strength of will l
had 80 much admired, and in its place there
was reliance on others which should have
thought impossible in her; the very thought
seemed disloyal, and with an impatient sigh
| resolutely stamped it down.
One morning, on calling upon Mr.. Talbot
on parish business, and finding be was ex-
pected home every minute, was shown into
the dining room to await his return. Mrs.
Freeman was in the garden. How lovely she
looked in the bright June sunlight, as, in her
heavy black dress, she stood by large old
fashioned rose bush, reaching up to pluck
some white cluster roses which hung almost
beyond her reach.
"Wait one moment, Mrs. Fireman let me
help you," called out. exultant at the pros
pect of few moments tete-atete and sprang
through the window on to the lawn.
"How do you do, doctor I want some of
those white roses for my vases Than K you.
How pleasant it must be to be so tall and
strong"
eyes, when it enables me to be of the slight
est service to you," said, and then 1 hated
myself for the coxcombry of the speech.
"Ah! yes," she replied, quietly, avoiding
the compliment, "to be of service to those
who want help must be the noblest use of
strength"
"You should know that feeling WE'LL" said
I, nay mind full of her unsel6sh devotion in
those former days of our acquaintance.
"Why? / have never been of service to
any one; on the contrary, have always been
an anxiety to everybody"
Would she, even when alone with me,
maintain that barrier Of reserve about the
past?
"And indeed it seems as if am to continue
so to the end of the chapter; for, when every
one thought they had got rid of me, here |
am, in less than year, back again as depen-
dent as ever, and this time upon my husbands 8
relatives Oh dear, wish I we're strong
minded enough to face the world and work
for my living for time"
why should you feel dependence bur.
den," blurted out, "while r." The digni-
fed astonishment on her face stopped me, and
I completed my sentence by adding, "even l,
great strong fellow that am, have been de-
pendent upon my mother until a few months
ago?"
"Ah mother is so Different" she said, a
touching sadness creeping into her voice. 81
never knew my mother"
I felt passionate longing to take her into
my arms and ask her to let me gil the void,
to tell her my love was vast enough to supply
every deficiency, to satisfy every want of at
fecton she had ever felt but the rebuke con-
veyed by her manner after nv last outburst
restrained me, and I took refuge in the uni
versal topic, the weather.
"Ah yes," she said, in reply to my remark
on the storm Of the previous night "But
you never have real storm in England ;
you should see such as I have seen in Africa,
when was at those terrible diamond fields. y
"Were you nervous? Did you not long for
home and civilization ?"
"Home!" !" she exclaimed, turning upon me
with flashing eyes. my home was in my
husbands presence, and his love was my civil
ization my only nervousness was when he
was cruelty taken from me-"
She hid her face in her hands. Her sorrow
maddened me I was even jealous of the dead.
To my relief, Mr.. Talbot's CHEEKY voice called
to me from the window. I bent to her, and
whispered
"Forgive me, dear Mrs. Freeman; would
rather give ten years Of my life than willingly
cause you pain"
II am very silly" she said, smiling through
her tears you have done nothing to need my
forgiveness. Make haste in, or uncle will
wonder what we are talking about"
silently pressed the little hand she held
out to me, and left her standing by the rose