Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-05-23

"Then-after married, I mean. My first
trip abroad was made eighteen months after
wards"
"Did she-Blanche-go with you ?"
"No," said the Colonel, gravely. "She
preferred staying at home"
Mary felt that this was topic which even
she had best leave untouched, and asked no
more But it came to her mind, with feel
ing of comfort, that of the Colonels first wife,
or rather of her memory, she certainly had
no cause to be jealous.
The Colonel did not recover his strength
sufficiently to resume his command in the
field; but being unwilling to remain idle
while he could in any way serve his country,
he got himself assigned to an office of trust
nearer home, where he discharged his duties
with earnestness and fidelity as long as his
services were required The following year
witnessed the close of the war, and its disas-
trous accompaniment, entailing distress and
ruin upon so large majority Of our people.
The Colonel's own property, with the excep-
ton of his house and lands, was swallowed
up in the general wreck, and so was con-
siderable portion of his wife's A part of
her fortune, however, he had, while in the
capacity of her guardian, invested in foreign
securities, and with this they were enabled to
live in comfort, and maintain their estab-
lishment, though, in order to help others, they
dispensed with many of the luxuries which
they had formerly enjoyed. A number of
the old family servants remained on their
place, among them the faithful old Jeffrey,
whose attachment to his master was too
strong to permit any adverse influence to part
them. Caesar Augustus, too, remained, and
continues to the present day to exercise his
functions as gardener; and the lawn at
Mosslands is as smoothly mown, and the
flowers bloom as gaily about the doors, as
when Mary first admired their trim beauty.
In fact on visiting the place, you would not
suppose that the ravages Of war had ever af-
fected its owners but many private act of
self denial, many charity unpublished to
the world, limits the qualification of their own
tastes and desires, though bringing with it a
truer pleasure, a more substantial satisfac'
ton, than mere selfindulgence ever could
afford. 81.
Maurice Cleveland returned to his pro.
fession after the war, and continues to lead a
desultory bachelor life, partaking Of all the
amusement going, and aiming, apparently, at
nothing in particular but his own entertain
ment The Colonel has long since pardoned
him for his i'll conduct but Maurice is shy of
both Mary and himself, and there is but lit
tie intercourse between them.
Adelia is welded to a New Yorker, the
brother of the Mr.. Scott with whose famil y
she stayed as governess for some time prior
to the close of the war. She has wealth at
her command, and is, consequently, happy.
Her mother still lives at home, but she sup
plies her with various comforts, and con-
soles herself thus-if she needs such consola-
tion-for the neglect of which she has been
guilty toward her parent for so many years
past She has ceased to correspond with
Mary. Their paths in life are widely apart,
their aims and tastes totally uncongenial, and
she has no longer any object in Aattcring her
once bosom friend. The Colonel does not
regret this cessation of intercourse, as she is
not person whom he admires. He says he
supposes that she considers him in her debt,
for the information she gave him concerning
Maurices behavior at Mosslauds; but as
her motive in telling him the tale was proba-
bly, rather a feeling of personal anger to-
wards the offender than anything else, he does
not consider the obligation on his part very
great.
The Dacres' life flows on TRANQUILITY.
Probably no striking events will again occur
to disturb its peaceful routine. Mary is
busy matron, occupied with household affairs.
Her four children, too, keep her fully en-
ployed, for she educates them herself, and is
very particular about their bringing-up.
The Colonel looks younger than formerly, in
spite of some additional gray hairs, and
more contented husband and father probably
does not exist. Perhaps one of these days,
reader, you may visit them at Mosslands, or
meet them elsewhere, and then you will not
wonder that l have thought them of suM
cient Importance to make them the subjects
of story. Though, probably, what have
told you about them, would have interested
you more, had it been written by more ac-
complished hand.
THE END.