Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-02-28
"Go on, then" he exclaimed, throwing him

sell INTO cnaIr. AnyLnluB W Pioase Joo
Only do be quick, for my head aches and
want to 60 up stairs"
II will not detain you long," Mrs. Dash
wood looked out at the door to see that nc
one was within ear.shot; then carefully closed
it again and turned the key in the lock.
"What momentous preparations" observed
her son, with forced laugh.
"Not so momentous as the subject in hand,
she replied, solemnly. "Allan, will you give
me some explanation of your conduct during
the past few weeks"
"What conduct2" he asked, not without
quailing inwardly, for he did not know no"
much she might have found out.
"Your most singular, and I must add, un
gentemanly treatment of Helen-of US ALL
answered Mrs. Dashwood, with rising excite
ment in her look and tone. "Open and
marked neglect of your fathers niece, who
has, at least, claim upon you for the com
mon courtesies due to any young lady staying
under the same roof" to say nothing Of any
stronger claims, implied previously by your
attention to her. Continued and prolonged
absence from home, at the most unaccounta'
Bile hours. Do you not call this strange con-
duct? ?"
II am, hope, sufficiently master Of my
own movements not to be obliged to give an
account of how and where l choose to spend
my time," replied Allan, haughtily. "Your
solicitude, mother, to accomplish your own
ends, sometimes carries you little too far"
"Now, come, Allan, don't take that tone
with me-" said his mother, more gently, for
she was really afraid of pushing him so far as
to arouse his obstinacy, and defeating her own
purpose. "It is natural that should be 80,
licitous about the behavior of my only son,
especialy when it is open to misconstruction,
and liable to entail upon you such disastrous
results"
"What results do you mean 7"
"What results? Why, the loss of Helen,
and all that that loss implies. You must
confess that this, with your present prospects,
would be no small calamity
His "present prospects," How little did
she know what those actually we're!
"Helen has never engaged herself to mt" )"
he replied. "Apd I have no assurance that
she would have me if were to ask her."
"Have you ever tried?" asked his mother.
"You know have moi" was his impatient
reply.
"Then why delay trying The fact is,
Allan, have arrived at the conclusion that
you don't pant to try. Am l right or wrong ?"
81 am certainly not in hurry about it,
and won't be pushed or dragged into doing
it against my will" exclaimed Allan, losing
his temper, and rising angrily from his chair.
"If this is all you wanted to talk about, l
think we had better let the subject slide be-.
fore it leads US into quarrel"
"Aud you won't tell me, either, what you
have been doing with yourself during your fre.
ouent absences from homer"
"Certainly not. I am not apswerable for
that to anybody but myself"
"Very we'll l admire your wisdom and
beyond everything. But l
will only say this, that if you don't speedily
make up your mind in this matter, you may
be too late. Helen has already received a
7" 81,
"A proposal-of marriage, do you mean ?"
"Certainly; can mean nothing else. She
has a proposal of marriage, at this moment,
under consideration, and have very strong
idea that if you do not come forward at once,
she may give it favorable answer"
"Who is her sutor ?" asked, Allan, inter-
ested, in spite of himself.
"Her cousin, Mortimer Forester"
"Mortimer Forester!" He uttered the name
with contempluous laugh. do you mean to
say that she can possibly be thinking Of
hint"
81 only tell you the facts of the case, as
your father, but all hour since, told them to
me. Mortimer has made a proposal to Hell
en-, through him, with the expressed entreaty
that she will take week to consider it in,
before giving him an answer"
That's little different from the way in
which you led me to understand it at first"
said Allan. "As to bis requesting her to
consider it, that has nothing to do with the
matter don't suppose the answer has cost,
or will cost her, moments deliberation."
"You speak very confidently; but let me
tell you, mans personal merit or attrac.
tons has not so much to do with his being
accepted as you think. Many a girl has
married from jealousy or pique," said Mrs.
Eastwood, her thoughts, reverting, possibly,
to her own case.
"Jealousy! 1 don't see what jealousy can
have to do with it."
jealousy of your supposed preference for
another. Pique at your cavalier treatment,
and desire to show that you are no less an
object of her Indifference than she is, appa-
rently, of yours
"Why should she, or any one, suppose that
1 prefer anybody else ?"
when a young man has been paying
marked attention to lady, and suddenl ly with
draws it without any ostensible cause, that
conclusion is very natural one to arrive al"
"Oh we'll, all can say is, I've been tor.
mented enough about it, and don't want to
hear any more," he answered, walking to.
wards the door. His mother followed him
and laid her hand upon his shoulder.
Allan-my dear Allan, beg you, l entreat
you, not to let any feeling of resentment to.
wards me influence you now against your
own interests" she exclaimed, in beseeching
tone. "Rehect on the Importance of the
chances you seem so wlfully resolved to throw
away! Whose good am l striving for if not
your own? What motive but your good can
l possibly have in urging you as l have
done?'
"Well, mother, WELL admit that you
may mean it for the best" he rejoined, sub
mitting, not without manifest restiness, to her
caress "Of course know you don't want