Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-08-30
CHAPTER III.

The short winter afternoon was Closing, ana
homeward bound footsteps echoed sharply on
the still, frosty air; but no sound disturbed
the profound reverie in which Sara Howard
was buried. She was halfreclining among
the cushions of divan drawn before the fire ;
one hand supported her head-in the other
she held book, a slender finger between the
pages. She gazed dreamily into the glowing
bed of Goals where grotesque figures fitted to
and fro. The opening of the door did not dis
turb her. nor the light step upon the velvet
carpet.
my pensive Sara" as Wordsworth hath
it, Wherefore thus2"
Sara looked up at the merry, handsome
face bending over her, and smiled. But there
fingered shadow Of sadness, and Rupert
was yet too much in love not to note every
change in her expressive countenance.
"What is It, dearest2 l am sure something
must worry you"
He sat down by her and began stroking
her hair in that old familiar way.
"No, not worried-only sad. don't know
why it is," she continued, "but though l have
read this book half dozen times, it always
excites in me the most painful emotions. The
incidents seem so real-indeed, l almost feel
as if it were my own experience, 80 intense Is
the interest"
Rupert took the volume from her hand.
"Ah," he said, halflaughing, "that highly
imaginary romance of Madame De StaePs,
the most absurd thing ever penned. Why,
Sara, thought you had too much common
sense-in short, were too far superior to the
generality of your sentimental sex, to allow
such story as this to have any effect upon
you. I am positively amazed at the dlscov-
cry. Now just listen at one sentence"-turn-
ing the leaves at random-"and see what
bundle of French affectations and strained
anlitheses Men err from selfshness; women
because they are weak Such stuff!'
He threw the book down impatiently; and
then with sudden change in his voice and
manner, resumed his toying with Sara's curls
Don't mind what say, darling" he be-
gan, gently. "Im a bundle Of affectations
and contradictions myself like the book
too-it has strange fascination for me; but
l feel, when I am reading it, a natural mas.
culine indignation that woman should read
US so we'll. It's like seeing ones self in a
concave mirror, when one is not very hand.
some at best But don't want you to read
it. Promise me you won't"
"Why2 You know there are no new books,
and one must read something"
Rupert put back the clustering brown ring
lets, and lifted the sweet face to his
"Why? Because won't have my violets
watered by such showers as know drenched
them this evening. Now you know, why
and there's the VOW of obedience you must
subscribe to before many months
She laughed now, and shook the curls down
to hide her bushes.
"Well, I promise not to read it till this day
year-till the 18th of December, 1865. Isn't
that fair2" with mischievous glance:
"Yes, III agree to that, for the war will be
over by that time, and / will superintend your
literature myself. By.the-bye, isn't it time
you were dressing for the ball ?"
He took out his watch.
"Yes, here it is quite seven, and we must
not be later than nine"
Oh you needn't imagine it will take me
two hours to make toilet" Sara cried,
laughing "but I'll be waiting halfhour
before you are prepared, l know"
"We will see! But whom do you think l
met at the door of the hotel as | came out ?
Why, Charlie Manning and Ada. He has
been promoted to the Lieutenant Colonelcy
of our regiment, and having leave for thirty
DAYS, wrote Ada to meet him here, as two or
three days might be lost in going to Auburn.
declare they are devoted couple. Aunt
Taylor and Fannie are here, too, and will
probably remain, as they prefer gayety to
monotony, and Fan says Auburn Is duller
| than ever-quiet as graveyard"