Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-02-28
Am 0rieiaal Storg.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
MARIPOSA;
OR,
THE HEART OF A BALLET GIRL.
CHAPTER XIV.

One day, as Posy was sitting alone IN her
room, her attendant having gone out on an
errand, note was brought her by one of the
hotel walters, who said there was no answer.
She opened it and read the following:
II entreat you to be warned N time, and
cease at once TO encourage the advances OF
certain gentleman who pays you great atten'
tion. They can neuer result in happiness to
you. On the contrary, you will bitterly repent
if YOU allow them to continue. This IS not
written in idle malice, but from the sad ex-
perience of suffering heart. -
ONE Who WISHES You WELL"
Posy was greatly surprised. And with her
surprise, emotions of a less agreeable nature
were mingled. This anonymous communlca
tion was by no means the first she had re-
ceived but none of the others had regarded
any subject but herself. Usually they had
been testimonials to her personal charms,
sometimes impertinent, occasionally absurd
and generally fattering, but to none of these
had she ever paid the slightest attention
This however, was of grsver import and con-
cerned something lying nearer to her heart.
1t set her thinking very seriously, and in
thinking, she discovered plainly, for the first
time, that Allan Lambert had made himself
master of her affections.
What was to be the upskot of it all? In
nocent-minded as she was, she was not so SIM
ple as to be unaware of the social difference
between them. She knew we'll enough that
if he ever married her, such marriage would
be deemed mssaliance by his family and
friends. Marriage! Her cheek crimsoned at
the very thought. Why, he had never even
spoken of love to her. And if he did not
mean marriage, what right had he to seek
her out and try to win her love? Poor Posy
had read in his glances his pressure of her
hand, the iDfexions of his voice, the knowl-
edge which he had not openly revealed to
her, and it had hitherto only brought her
ioy. But low she began to fear that danger
might lurk in this uncertain happiness. 1t
seemed to her that it would be wrong not to
put an end to it at once.
While she sat meditating very earnestly on
the subject so startlingly brought to her
consideration, Margaret Tanning came in.
Though of plain origin, she was woman OF
good sense and discretion, and Posy did not
hesitate to con6de her trouble to her.
Margaret read the note and threw it aside
with an expression of disdain.
Anonymous letters amt worth nothing
Mariposa," she said. You've got enough of
'.m before, that you never noticed bit"
"Yes. But this is different. Do you really
think need pay no attention to this?" ask
ed Posy, only too willing to be assured.
Margaret thought moment "lll tell
you what my DEAR" she said, presently. 1t
won't do not to be careful. | don't say but
what there might be something in the back.
ground that we don't know about. You let
me show Mr.. Lambert this note the next time
he comes, and see how he'll take it."
"Oh! no, no." cried Posy. THAT would be
showing him hat-that-people think-l
mean, dare say he has never intended any.
thing, except to be polite and kind, and |
wouldn't have him dream that ,oe thought of
anything more
Never mind" said her attendant. "If he
don't mean anything, it'll only put him on his
guard, and make him stop coming here so
extra often; and if he does-why, it'll be no
surprise to him, that's all.
Margaret had her way. When Allan next
came-that very afternoon-she went to re-
ceive him instead of Posy, and showing him the
note, asked him bluntly and without circum-
locution. if he knew who could have written
it, and what it meant.
Allan's brow flushed redly with anger as he
read it.
II can even guess who is the writer of
this" he replied. Call I know is, that it is
nonsense, and worse than nonsense, from be-
ginning to end. Margaret, | swear to you
that have no intentions, towards that inno-
cent child, but what are perfectly right and
pure
"Ay, sir. But then, what are those inten-
tions?' rejoined Margaret, shrewdly. "And
che amt child, either, as you called her just
now. She's woman grown, aud she has
woman's heart"
Allan was silent for moment. He felt that
Margaret was right; but he was not prepared
to be brought thus to bay. What 'oere his
intentious2 Surely not evil ones, as he had
said but if his conduct implied more than
he was ready to perform, would not the result
be all evil one, though no evil had been medi-
tated?
His irresolute nature was dismayed by the
problem suddenly presented to it, to be solved.
Margaret, who was watching him keenly,
read his inward perturbation in his face.
"Don't you think, Mr. Lambert. for a sim
gle minute, that Posy would ever look at you
again, if she found out or believed. that you
had been Intentionally misleading her, or
even that you repented of the attention you
have shown her" she said, in an emphatic
tone. "She never encouraged you by look
or word, from the FIRST. She's not one of your
light-minded, giddy sort, as you ought to
know, by now. She took your civility in good
faith, as she supposed it was meant don't
say but what it pleased her; but she's ready
enough to give it up, and ifyou say So, it had
better be done at once"
els she ready to give me up?' asked Allan,
in low voice. The thought of losing Posy,
of relinquishing the charm and joy of his life,
smote him with sudden pang, that shut out
the consideration ofeverything else.
II don't know about giving you up. She