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

Ill shippers duu uicosiuS So"o, 'hooSu oo'l'
handsomely embroidered, are in his closet up
stairs. The Colonel is thorough aristocrat,
and has large fund of selfrespect. He likes
his ease as we'll as most people, but does not
believe in taking it at what he considers un-
suitable times and seasons; and with only
servants for his spectators, he is as thorough
ly the well-bred gentleman as with the most
fastidious company around his board.
All the time that have been giving you
this description (Which, on reviewing it, ap-
pears to me rather clumsy and lame-still l
shall let it pass)-Colonel Dacre has been
looking through the papers and letters, just
brought him from the post-otice. The form
er he has glanced at and put aside. Of the
latter, three in number he has read one, and
now, breaking the seal Of the second, pro-
ceeds to acquaint himself with its contents
his countenance becoming thoughtful and
troubled as he goes on.
"Poor Eustace dead p he murmurs to him
SELF "Well, well-it was only to be expect
ed, of course, with his wretched health, and
still more wretched habits. What's this !! His
daughter-girl of sixteen-left to my care.
How extraordinary! And the thoughtful
expression changes to one of startled per-
plexity, as his eye encounters this unexpected
and apparently rather unsatisfactory clause.
He reads and re-reads the letter; then falls to
musing, with the open sheet on his knee, and
his scarcely tasted breakfast growing cold
Jeffrey hovers anxiously around, concerned
for the fate of the egg which his master broke
open some minutes since, and which he feels
sure must be already unfit to eat, but does not
venture to intrude upon this reverie. Pres
emily, with sigh, the colonel comes to him.
SELF
"Most singular-most unlocked forP he
says half aloud. "It can't be helped, though,
suppose-must make the best Of it. Heigh-
ho o!-Jef, bring me another cup Of coffee !;
this has stood too long"
"Yes, sir; and another egg, too, master p
mo, never mind the egg this will do"
And with an absent air he finishes, more rap
idly than usual, what remains of his break
fast forti6es his nerves, in conclusion, with
cup of Mocha, of the strongest then gath
ers up his letters, takes his hat, and walks out
to brace himself by stroll in the crisp NOR
ming air.
He was in fact, more than ordinarily dis
turbed, by the news which be had received.
The state of the case was, briefly, this: An
old college friend, Wilmot Eustace, of whom
he had seen but little during the past few
years, had recently died, bequeathing to him
the sum of ten thousand dollars, and the
guardianship of his only child-a young girl
still at school, he desired to remain un-
der his sole care until she should attain the
age of twenty. one, unless she contracted some
eligible marriage, with his consent, before
that period should arrive. Now, the first
named legacy-the money-was not of much
Importance to the colonel and, therefore,
troubled his thoughts but little. But the
other legacy-the girl-was very important,
indeed, inasmuch as the whole tenor of bis
daily existence would be affected thereby.
He had lived solitary life so long, and had
become so accustomed to a certain routine,
that he could not look forward, with entire
placidity, to the breaking up of ways and
habits which custom had rendered dear to him,
and which the presence of another person in
the house must inevitably, in some degree,
affect If it were boy, only-but girl!
The colonel pictured to himself bread.
and butter miss, in frilled muslin aprons, who
would always be munching candy, and read
ing novels in the parlor-not in has sanctum,
was his firm mental resolve. And she would
come down late to breakfast, and expect, no
doubt, to sit at the head Of the table, and
probably put things in confusion generally
And what, he reflected, with dismay, would
she find to amuse her in this big lonely house,
where there was every appliance for his con-
venience and comfort, but little to answer the
requirements of young person of her age :?
To be sure, there were books and his thoughts
turned, with slight thrill of aversion, to
certain set of Volumes which he had often. in
former days, seen lying on his wife's dressing
table but which had, for many years past,
occupied position Of dignified-or ignomin.
ious-retirement, in corner of shelf rarely
visited by him. Then there were horses,
provided she liked to ride but would he have
to escort her? He was getting too old to be
young girls cavalier. On the whole, the
colonel reflected, with sigh, this unlocked
for addition to his household would, in all
probability, be source of less qualification
than annoyance, in more ways than one.
But he was philosopher in his way, and,
still better, an unsel6sh gentleman +; and after
the first flush of half dismay, half vexation, had
cooled of, he began to think ofthe friendless,
or at all events solitary position of the inno'
cent cause of it, with softened and selfre.
proachful feelings. "Whata heard.hearted,
narrow minded old fogy must be-" he soilo-
quized, "to be lamenting thus over my own
personal annoyance, which is, after all, no
doubt, unreasonable and unfounded, instead
of bestowing a sympathetic thought on the
poor young creature thus thrown, without
any volition Of he- own, into position GER
tainly as trying to her as to me Just Or
phaned too, poor thing-though | fancy she
could not have been very much with her faith.
er of late. Still, all the same, she must feel
very desoate and forlorn. l ought to be
ashamed of myself, and so I am. After all,
l dare say we'll be company for each other
when we get used to things; mean, to each