Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-02-07

guilty or SuCn aDSuru cOnuuCI.
"Don't trouble yourself about my conduct,
if you please, mother" was the cold and
languidly uttered reply. 81 am quite capa,
BILE of managing my own affairs"
"But you are not, excitedly rejoincd Mrs.
Dashwood. "You have no more discretion
than a child. Do you suppose any girl is
going to put up with"
. Helen waited to hear no more, but quickly
and noselessly retired. That an argument
or dispute of rather an angry nature was
going on, seemed evident, and she had no
wish to pry into family Misunderstanding.
On her way upstairs she met Myra, looking
shy and half frightened, as usual.
! "Was that the lunch bell, Myra" she
asked. 81 thought so, but was not quite
/ sure"
eyes. am coming down now" answered
Myra. At that moment the dining-room
door was opened rather violently, and the two
girls looking down, saw Allan Lambert pass
through the hall and 60 out the street door.
Directly AFTER Mrs Dasbwood appeared, and
called out to them, sharply, to come down.
She softened her tone in addressing Helen,
but was evidently quite disturbed. Her
cheeks we're flushed, and in speaking to Myra
she was even less courteous than usual. No
one was present at the lunch table but them
selves The meal passed off almost in silence,
Helen feeling, uncomfortably, that something
was wrong.
"Myra," said Mrs. Eastwood, when they
arose, "have you attended to the directions
gave you yesterday, about that sewing"
"Not yet, aunt" timidy answered Myra.
"And why not? Did I not desire that it
should be done at once ?"
Il had not time" rejoined the GIRL in low
Tone
"Making absurd excuses, as usual know
we'll enough that you could have found time,
had you chosen to do 80" angrily exclaimed
her aunt. Helen quietly slipped out. She
did not like to stand and be witness of poor
Myra's humiliation. As she left the room
she heard Mrs. Dashwood say, "Prevarication,
deceit, that is always what must expect from
YOU" She had just reached her own room
when Myra, painting, breathless, came rush
ing up the stairs. Her usually pale cheeks
were crimson, her eyes glittering with new,
defiant light.
"Myra | softly cried Helen. She made no
reply, but ran up the next flight of stairs,
and Helen heard the sound of a door violent
ly closed. Prompted by a sudden impulse,
she followed, and, without knocking, entered
Myra's room.
1t was a small, scantily furnished apart
ment, containing none Of the marks of luxu-
ry everywhere else visible throughout the
house. Myra had thrown herself upon low
chair, near the window, and buried her face
in her hands Helen approached, and kneel-
ing by her, gently tried to remove the clasped
hands The girl started, not having perceived
her entrance, and looked up with frightened,
yet half indignant air.
"Don't be vexed with me, Myra," said
Helen, pleadingly. Il oughtn't to nave in
truded on you, perhaps; but | fancied you
we're in some trouble, and felt sorry"
Myra made no answer. She looked away,
and her bosom swelled with repressed agta-
ton. Helen bent forward and kissed her
cheek. 81 wish you would let me be your
friend" she softly whispered.
l. IL. to
Mvras reserve. She hid her face again, and
burst into tears.
at is always the way' she sobbed II am
scolded, prosecuted, unjustly accused, and all
for no reason except that I am the object of
her hate Prevarication, indeed | did not
prevarcate l never do; but it is her habit
to assert that l do not tell the truth. If
| could only run away from her, would do
it; yes, this very instant. lead the life Of a
slave, of dog; l wish l was dead! -
"Hush, pray hush; you will be heard"
said Helen, in soothing tone, caressing, the
excited girl.
81 don't care if I am. don't care about
anything. am just getting desperate, now !;
l have stood this treatment too long already"
was Myra's vehement reply.
Helen allowed her agitation gradually to
subside, before saying anything more. When
at length she appeared calmer, she continued
persuasively-
Il hope you won't think that I want to dis
cover any of your secrets; but if you will
only talk to me little about yourself am
sure it will make you feel better"
GAS to secrets, l haven't any. 1t is no Sc
cret, the way everybody treats me here, " said
poor Myra, in disconsolate tone. "Aud the
only reason of it all is that my mother was
person they objected to-because she was not
my fathers equal. She was dressmaker by
occupation, because she was poor and had to
work but in manners she was lady, real
lady, as remember perfectly, though was
only child when she died."
"Have you been living here ever since?'
asked Helen, sympathizngly. She was not
sure enough of her ground yet to attempt to
offer consolation.
"Almost ever since; but I would never
have come at all if Aunt had had her way.
Uncle would have me because my father was
his favorite companion. They were cousins,
not brothers, but they called each other broth,
er always, and that is how | came to call un'
Gle, uncle, instead of cousin"
"He is good to you, isn't he?" asked Helen.
"Oh yes, he is good enough, and would be
better, if he wasn't afraid of Aunt. Of
course you have discovered already that she
rules him. | can tell you it was she who pre-