Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-01-24


of the matter is, she has found out that he is
in love with her, and she is by no means in
love with him.
Victor Duclos is pale, grave, reserved
man of business, neither handsome nor talent.
ed. but with an excellent disposition and a
solid mind. He is not bad looking, either.
His eyes, indeed, are very fine, being large,
dark gray in color, and singularly soft, yet
penetrating in their expression. His brow is
lofty, and denotes candor and reflection. The
somewhat square mouth and firmly moulded
chin indicate resolution and stability of pur-
pose. In figure he is not remarkable, being
neither tall nor short, heavy nor slight. To
look at him, you would arrive at the opinion
that his face and manner are more than or.
dinarily intelligent and attractive.
Helen is decided beauty, of the genuine
Southern type. Her features are delicate and
piquant, her eyes dark, and rather languish-
ing when in repose, and their lashes unusual
ly long, almost sweeping the rounded outline
of her cheek, with its soft ye. rich coloring,
as she sits now apparently engrossed with her
embroidering. Victor envies the cushion
cover. with its half:completed device 10 gay
scarlet and gold, because those eyes, whose
glance he prizes so highly, are fixed 80 per-
sistently upon the senseless thing. Her
dark-brown, abundant hair is loosely braided,
schoolgirl fashion, aud tied with pink rib
bon. Her dress is of some simple sober-hued
material, fitting perfectly her plant form,
and unrelieved by any adornment except a
tiny ruche of lace around her white throat.
Victor watches the movements of her slender,
taper hands as they ply their task, thinking
how pretty they are, and how much happiness
it would afford him to hold one few min
utes in his own. Then his eyes ascend to the
slightly dropping face, which he likens in bis
mind to a flower, though far fairer than any
flower he has ever seen, taking in every
charm of it's contour and coloring and ex.
preston, with an ever keen sense of the low
illness that sways his being to the very core.
"Mademoiselle," he presently says-it is
thus he is always in the habit Of addressing
her-notwithstanding the intimacy which con-
slant intercourse has established between
them.
"Pgaitils" Helen looks up with smile.
"Mademoiselle, I wish that you bestowed
half the attention upon me that you do upon
that gaudy sampler"
ut is not sampler, Monsieur Duclos," !"
says, Helen, demurely; ''is cushion for your
aunt's prie.dieu." T."
"All the same it is the object of your con.
slant regard, to the exclusion of everything
else. Is it so necessary that you should COM
plete it within given timer"
"It is very necessary, for 1 intend it as a
gift to Madame on her birthday"
"Her birthday! Why that occurred three
months ago."
people have birthdays every year, Mon
sieur," Helen gravely answers. II allude
to her next birthday not to the one which is
past"
"Then it will take you nine months from
the present date to accomplish your work."
"You forget how many other occupations
I have. My studies engross large portion
of my time, and it is only on holidays or ex'
ceptional occasions, that I can make much
progress in work of that Sort"
"Ah! those studies. However, in four
months more, you are to he released from the
thraldom of school. Then, you will have
more time to work, and to bestow some notice
on your friends
II am not rude, hope, Monsieur"
"By no means; you are simply absorbed.
1t is natural, of course, that you should pay
most attention to that which interests you
most"
Half laughing, hut with heightened color,
Helen put her embroidery aside.
"Now, Monsieur, that inuendo is too plain.
You force me to prove to you that l do not
6ud you uninteresting. as you imply. am
at your service to entertain you in any man.
ner that is most agreeable to you. Shall l
play for you, sing my last new song, or con-
quer you at a game of chess? Or, perhaps,
you would prefer taking walk down the av'
euue. We might meet your aunt and escort
her home"
81 do not wish you to do any of those things,
Mademoisele. / am in no mood for music
even yours-nor your games. As to my aunt,
she neither needs nor desires an escort, beyond
the one she is already provided with, in the
person of old Jean. I want you simply to
talk to me-and, to look at me little"
HE bien; what shall we talk about?" re-
Joined the young lady, affecting to yawn
slightly, for she had no desire to drift into a
sentimental vein. II cannot entertain you
with the gossip of the day, for at Mademois-
ellie Lsclerqs I hear none.
$50 much the better. The gossip of the
day is seldom improving, and am no better
versed in it than you are Tell me, rather
about yourself; what are your anticipations
in regard to leaving SCHOOL,"
"My anticipations !-Oh they are pleasant
ones, of course freedom from rules, liberty
to walk, ride, 60 out and dress as I like, sleep
late in the mornings, and find time for every.
thing, including my embroidery" said Hell.
en-, mischievously.
"They do not include anything more i'm
portant-a journey of any sort, for instance p
"a Journey ?" Helen looked interested.
"What do you mean, Monseurf"
"I had an idea-I feared, from something
my aunt one day said-that possibly there