Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-03-28


an entire revolution in the course of her
hitherto monotonous and unbroken life.
The bosom friend-Adelia St. Maur by
name-sat on a low stool at her feet, clasp
ing her hand and anon bestowing on it an
effusive caress, much as lover might have
done, which she calmly and passively accept
ed, but did not return. Adelia St. Maur was
a good.looking young woman of twenty, or
thereabouts, who passed for eighteen. Her
features were regular, her complexion deli
cate olive, her hair raven black. Her face
lacked candor, especially the mouth; but as
general rule, it would have found favor in a
critics eyes.
Mary Eustace-who, by courtesy, should
have been described 6rst-was quite con-
trast in appearance to her friend. She had
very fair, childishly pure complexion, with
the softest tint of rose on cheek and lip, and
large limpid blue eyes, pensive but not re-
Elective, that looked always with a sort of
dreamy wistfulness into yours. A cloud of
blonde hair encircled, like radius, her deli
cate head, that dropped little forward on her
slim white neck, like dew laden blossom on
its stem. There was nothing helpful or self
reliant in her attitude or look. As she sat
there with one hand lying lstlessly open on
her lap, her head resting against the frame
of the window, and her gaze fixed upon some
far-oF object, her whole air gave you the
idea of yielding, dependant creature, little
accustomed to think, act or decide for herself.
Not that her face was vacant. On the con-
trary, there was intelligence, as we'll as much
sweetness, in its expression but it was not
the intelligence that takes an active or prac'
tical turn. Indolent by nature and accustom-
ed all her life to the ease of wealth, nothing
had ever called her energies into play. Pet
ted, hattered and caressed by relatives and
friends, it had become habit to receive adu-
lation as her right, and, without particle of
pride or conceit, to accept, nevertheless, as a
matter of course, the position of one on whom
the thought, care and attention Of others
should be bestowed as simply her due. Per-
haps had she not been born an heiress, her
character might have developed differently !;
but had matters been otherwise than they
were she would not have been the heroine of
this tale.
One evil she would at least have been spar
ed; and that was the friendship and Aattery
of Miss St. Maur.
Mary had not chosen this young person as
her confdante. Indeed, strictly speaking, she
had no confdante, but Adelia assumed the
position of such, and boasted to every one of
dear Mary's tender, trustful friendship; for it
was something to be known as the bosom
friend of girl who had FIVE thousand q
year in her own right, and nobody knew how
much landed property, besides, under the
management of trustees. So Adelia revolved
around her as satellite around the moon,
and the calm languid moon beamed kindly
upon her and found it pleasant to be an OBJ
ject of such regard. And once in while a
rich silk dress, or costly ribbon, or set of
expensive embroidery, found its way into the
satellites wardrobe, much to her satisfaction,
since it was not in her power to procure such
luxuries for herself The veritable moon, in
all its silvery splendor, could scarcely have
held the 6nery of dress in more disdain than
did the young heiress, whose own attire
was always of the simplest Yet far be it
from me to imply that it was this spirit alone
that prompted the bestowal of such gifts
upon another, for it was real pleasure to
her to give.
Dear" said the satellite, as she laid Mary's
hand lovingly against her dark cheek, where
it looked so dainty and fair "dear, it almost
breaks my heart to think of our separation
and to think, too, that it is so near at hand !"
Eyes, very near" said Mary, with little
sigh. For naturally, it was not without a
slight inward tremor that she looked forward
to her removal to an unknown abode. She
did not, particularly, like school, but she was
used to it, and change was always unpleas'
ant to her.
"And our future paths in life may be far,
far apart-who knows?" pursued Adelia, SEN
timentally. ITO think that the sweet inter-
course of four years-intercourse so beautiied,
so endeared by the exchange of condolences,
the communion Of sympathetic thought
should be thus broken by sudden turn in
the wheel of fortune, perhaps never, never to
be renewed. All Mary, to you the change
will probably bring only happiness; but to
me, in my solitude, what comfort will come
for the loss of my only friend"
"Your only friend, Adelia ? You have
many other friends, have you not3"
"Other frieuds-but what are they, all to-
gether, compared with you? Or, how can
you suppose that any other society could COM
pensate me for the loss of yours?" was Ade-
lias reproachful answer.
Gas for solitude" Mary continued, 81 shall
be far more alone than you. At Colonel
Dacres house, I will probably have no COM
panion but himself"
HE companion-a man old enough to be
your grandfather isn't he?"
"Scarcely. He and my father we're COL
lege friends, you know. Though believe he
was rather older than papa"
Mary did not falter in pronouncing her
fathers name, though deeper shade ofgravi'
ty, for moment, overspread her countenance
The truth was, she was not as much affected
by his death as she would have been, had
their mutual relation been ola closer kind
Mr.. Eustice had, for years, led a nomndic life
spending season now in Paris, now in Brus
sells, anon making a pilgrimage across the
A., -, roto,;rp an tho Maditorra 90 n