Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-01-24

OuC oPcuSo ~ 4uIS0lS 0uN '1AAS~ W. s>~S 20
nature-"Augusta Dashwood."
"From my aunt!" she exclaimed; and
turning back to the first page she rapidly ran
her eye over the contents. Victor watched
her face as she did 80. He saw her color
come and 60, and read evident surprise and
perplexity in its expression.
"Read it, Madame" she said, excitedly,
when she had come to the end, holding it out
to the old lady. The latter, however, shook
her head.
"You forget, mon snfant, I have not my
glasses on; besides, I could not read it while
walking, without difficulty"
"Then I'll read it aloud" said the young
girl; and in tremulous voice she began
my dear Niece
"Mon Dieu," interrupted the old lady. "Is
it from your uncle's wife, say your"
"Yes, Madame" J."
"Ah! She recognizes you as her niece at
length 1t is a marvel; but 60 on, ma
chere."
"MY DEAR NIECE Your uncle requests
me to write to you in bis stead, as he has re-
Gently been i'll, and is still suffering from ex-
cessive debility, which will not permit him
to make any exertion and as he has piece
of news of an interesting nature to commu'
nicate to you, he wishes it to reach you with.
out delay. It is briefly this: Your great
aunt, Mrs. Mary Forester, "a very aged lady,
whom perhaps you do not recollect, as she
spent all her life in remote country place.
died on the twelfth of last month, and it is
discovered by her will that she has left to
you nearly the whole of her large property,
amounting to a hundred and fifty thousand
dollars, all securely invested, besides her two
plantations and some city lots, all of which
are of considerable value, though of course
deprecated since the war. Your uncle says
that had this inheritance become yours prior
to the emancipation Of slaves, you would
have been perhaps the richest heiress in the
United States, for she owned large number
of very fine negroes, who would, doubtless,
also have descended into your possession. AS
to the business part Of this matter, dear Hell
en-, q mean regarding the securities in which
the money is vested, and so on) all that will
be properly explained to you hereafter. 1
have neither the head to explain, nor you,
probably. just now, the wisdom to understand,
all these details, which can be more clearly
communicated to you in business form,
either by your uncle or his lawyer. What I
wish chiefly to say is, that I offer you my
warmest congratulations on the good fortune
which has befallen you. 1t could not, I am
sure, have come into better hands. The sim
cere interest I have always felt in your well
fare makes me rejoice in your prosperity ;
and this sentiment is shared by your dear
uncle, who sends all manner of kind mes.
sages to you, and by my son Allan, who,
though unknown to you, like myself, feels a
friendly regard for one so closely connected
By the ties of mutual relationship.
"Your uncle begs me, in addition, to recall
to your mind the fact that, on the expiration
of your school term, which must now be at
hand, it is understood that you are to return
to your native home, to the roof which you
must henceforth consider as your own, and
to the hearts which are anxious to welcome
you back from the land of the stranger, with
all the warmth prompted by their sincere and
afectionate esteem and regard.
"Hoping, dear Helen, soon to become per-
sonally acquainted, remain.
"Your aAectionate Aunt,
"AUGUsTA EASTWOOD"
Madame Previle listend to the reading OF
this letter without word. An inscrutable
expression rested upon her face.
As to Victor, he had become even paler
than usual. His lips were firmly set, and with
his eyes fixed steadily ahead, and an erect
air, he, too, walked on in silence. Helen,
agitated and uncertain whether to laug h or
cry, followed the example of her friends, and
not word was uttered again until they
reached the house.
TO BE CONTINUED.