Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-01-11
The Sturp. Tener.
Kate KENNEDY'S GHOST,
BY MRS. HENRY DEAs.
CHAPTER Nv.

Geraldine Harcourt's had not been q hap
py life. Her father, whom she dimly remem'
bered as kind and caressing parent, had
died while she was very young, and between
her mother and herself no close tie had ever
existed. Mrs. Harcourt had been disappoint-
ed at her birth, having desired and hoped for
an heir instead; and though the child was
certainly not to blame for her, sex being a
mistake, it appeared as though the misfortune
we're destined, in many petty ways, to be visl-
ted upon her sunoHending head. When she
grew old enough to understand the conversa-
ton that went on around her, she was fire.
quently mortified by hearing disparaging
comments made upon her by her mother, in
the presence Of strangers. She was neither a
pretty nor clever child, and her plain ap-
pearance and stupidity we're openly remarked
upon and condemned, until her deficiency in
both respects became msgnifed into undue
Proportions in her own mind. If visitor
noticed her or tried to draw her out, Mrs.
Harcourt would exclaim, ooh! it's no, use
talking to Geraldine, she's such little Ounce
you won't get anything out Of her" Her one
beauty was her hair, which was richly abun-
dant, and of pale golden color, falling in
silken curls over her shoulders; but if this
was admired, her mothers reply would be-,
eyes, it's fortunate the poor child has some
thing to be proud Of; without that hair / am
sure she would be too ugly to look at" Then
she would be subject to such critical remarks
as these ado, Geraldine, for PHYS sake, hold
yourself straight and try and look less awk.
ward Was there ever such figure p Ger
aldine, lift up your head and answer proper
"; you have no more manners than plough
mans child" "For mercy's sake, child, keep
out of the parlor if you cannot behave better; I;
positively Pm ashamedkof you," and so on,
until she really grew as bashful, awkward
and unprepossessing as she was accused of
being. She lived with her mother in large.
lonely house, elegant arstocratic and fearful
" dull. She had a governess, who alternately
neglected and scolded her, aud no friends but
a cat and canary, of which, as we'll as of a
family of dolls, she was devotedly fond. As
she grew older, desire to improve her mind
as we'll as natural fondness for reading, led
her to spend much of her time over books,
aud she gradually acquired large and va
ried fund of knowledge, picked up in some
what irregular manner, but very useful, new
ertheless. And had she met with any con-
genial companion, with whom she might have
exchanged thoughts, she would probably have
been found both entertaining and sensible
for though by no means brilliant, she had a
fund Of quiet intelligence and an excellent
memory, and turned all that she learned to
good account When about eighteen, she
was taken into society, but derived little en-
ioyment from the amusements of the fashion
able world As her mother expressed it, she
did not "take," and receiving but moderate
degree of notice, found nothing pleasant in
spending hours at one gay assemblage and
then another, where she knew few people,
aud passed great part of the time in looking
on. Mrs Harcourt was angry at this failure
She had hoped that in virtue of her fortune
at least, Geraldine would have attracted at
tention, and have been able to secure desir-
able match but after four seasons vainly (in
this respect) spent in London, she gave up
her schemes in despair, and consented to her
daughters wish to remain, in future, quietly at
home. About this time the heir to neigh
boring estate returned from prolonged stay
on the Continent and became visitor al
Beechcroft, Mrs. Harcourts place. The elder
people had long been on terms of intimacy
and it soon became evident that the father of
young Mortimer was anxious to establish a
vet closer bond between the two houses. The
principal reason for this, though Geraldine's
then unsophisticatedi mind suspected it not
was obvious. The Mortimer estate was heavi.
ly mortg.ged, and Geraldines fortune would
have proved most acceptable bulwark to the
declining prosperity of the family. Ingenious
and open-hearted herself, she never dreamed
of secret motive underlying the Aattering
attentions bestowed upon her, and received
them with undisgused pleasure. 1t was some
thing so new to her to be courted and sought
after, that it was no wonder she yielded read
ily to the snare George Mortimer was g
good tempered, gentlemauly fellow, proposes
sing in appearance, and with that universal
courtesy and kindliness Of manner which over
flows from cheerful disposition and con
tented mind He did not share his parents
designs but it was impossible, under the cir
cumstances, for him to do otherwise than fol
low their lead in paying attention to Geral
dine, without appearing pontedly cold o.
rude. She. poor girl, uuhappily interpreted
his friendliness into something deeper ane
more significant, q delusion all the more read
lily excited, from her own strong prediction
in his favor and believing that he was reall,
fond Of her, she yielded herself without reserv
to the influence of the new and delightful
emotion thus awakened in her heart He
dream of happiness was destined to be rudel.
dispelied. Young Mortimer suddenly lei
home. and she heard no more of him, excep
through occasional casual mention, for a loni
time. Then the old peoples excessive fondues
for her seemed gradually to cool of, and
nally their place was sold and they meve
out of the neighborhood, thus putting an en-
to all intercourse between the two families.