Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-05-23
MARY EUSTACE; ;
Or,
TRUST BETRAYED.
CHAPTER Xxx.

Colonel DaCre only neeueu du lIteTVal VI
perfect rest to bring him up again. He had
been overtaxed, both mentally and physical
lv. and in his still enfeebled state had been
unable to sustain the unwonted pressure.
But now, that mind and body had found equal
relief, and that he had the happiness of see
ing Mary once more near him, his recovery
was rapid, and in few days time he declared
himself quite equal to the journey home
"Mary," he said to his ward, as they sat
together one evening in Mrs Stanley's cheer
full parlor, where the freight shed pleasant
glow around, and illuminated two very hap
py faces that were gazing into it, side by side,
"Mary do you know that have been think
ing great deal to day"
"Have you?" Mary's blue eyes looked up
ouestioningly. "What about, if l may ask p
"About you, chiefly, my dear. l have been
! thinking that l should find it very dull at
J Mosslands now without you-so dull, that
think the solitude would be almost unendura.
BILE. And yet-as matters stand between
us-I cannot very we'll take you back with
me; can ?"
"You know best, suppose" said Mary, in
a very low tone, as she bent her head. Her
heart beat fast at this introduction ofa sub
iect which, oddly enough, the Colonel had not
before broached since his return. '.a
"One has to consider peoples opinion, you
see," he went on, holding fast the little
hand he had drawn into his, "To you and
to me it seems the most natural thing in
the word to be there together, as we were fol
such long time. But then we must recol
lect that you are not my daughter, any more. u
Mary laughed softly. 1t seemed So odd
now, to think that she had ever regarded her
self in the light of his adopted daughter.
"One thing, though, / want to be quite
sure Of" pursued the Colonel, stopping tc
look into her face. 81 want to know wheth
er you do not regret this altered relation be-
tween us. That promise that you made me
before left home, has it never weighed un
pleasantly on your mind?"
She gave him reproachful glance, which
he answered with smile.
"Tell me-" he said, holding her chin gent
ly in his hand, that she might not turn away
her head. 81 have thought about it so often
and the fear has haunted me that | might
have taken an ungenerous advantage Of the
relative position in which circumstances had
placed us that might have surprised you
into consenting to proposal which you would
afterwards, perhaps, regret having acceded
to. Was my fear quite unfounded?"
"Have given you any reason to believe
the contrary?" she asked.
"No, you have not. But we have been
much separated, you KNOWN fact, entirely
separated since this compact was formed
Now l wanted to be quite assured that you
had not, in the least degree, changed your
mind-that no conflict, no mistaken idea
about duty, had found a place in your heart.
"Do you say this" asked Mary, "from any
thing that you have heard about me?
know" she added, crimsoning, and speaking
with an effort, "that-that tale:
have been told you by an acquaintance o.
mine. But if she said anything to make you
suppose, for an instant, that was changed
that l had acted in any way unworthily-"
'Not word, my dear-not a word" saic
the Colonel, earnestly. "And if she hao one
80, should not have believed her. No, sht
laid the blame only where it was due Anc
have had painful evidence, since, of how
fully it was deserved. But had a certain
person, Mary, been the only one in question
had no promise ever been made to me
would the case have been different? | know
YOU will answer me frankly
"The case would have been the same, so fa
as my inclinations were concerned, had there
been no one else in the world besides tina
other person and myself" said Mary, decided
ly. e.,
"Then | am satisfied" said the Colonel
There was brief silence. He seemed to b.
still revolving something in his mind.