Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-03-28
that it would not be long before, in some way

Presently there came sound Of carriage
wheels, and then the announcement, "Colo-
mel Dacre is waiting in the parlor for Miss
Eustace." l." With beating heart, Mary an
swered the summons, following slowly in the
wake of her principal, who sailed majestical.
ly down stairs in order to receive the visitor
and gracefully yield the charge of her quon-
dam pupil into his hands.
The Colonel presented himself to Miss An
derson, one or two conventional phrases we're
exchanged, and then Mary came in, looking
very quiet and little timid, but charmingly
pretty in her deep mourning garb, which set
of to such advantage the lily purity of her
complexion, now tinted with slight blush Of
shyness as she advanced to meet her guar
dian's outstretched hand.
Colonel, this is your ward" said Miss
Anderson, beaming graciously upon her.
"Allow me to say that it is with entire salts
faction that relinquish her-puttiDg aside
all selfish considerations-into the keeping Of
one SO emiDently fitted as yourself to 6ll the
post of her protector, counselor and friend"
II hope, indeed" said the Colonel, "that l
shall prove myself worthy Of so important
trust" He pressed Mary's slender hand as
he spoke, looking earnestly, with his kind
eyes, into her downcast face He already felt
an interest in her much warmer than he had
deemed it possible she would awaken within
his heart. Her beauty, her gentle, serious as
pect, quite touched him, and the responsible
ty be had so much dreaded no longer seemed
an onerous one.
II hope, indeed, my DEAR" he said, still
holding her hand in his and speaking with a
warmth that no one could doubt was sincere,
II hope that I may be able to make you hap
py." The speech sounded less like a formu.
Ia than his previous one, and gave Mary cour-
age to raise her eyes.
THANK you, sir, she answered simply, but
with grateful glance that expressed more
than her brief words. And so the meeting
was over, and the pair were mutually salts
fed and relieved
"Colonel, you will allow me to have some
refreshments brought" said Miss Anderson.
81 cannot permit dear Mary and yourself to
start on your journey without partaking of
plain lunch first"
"The colonel drew out his watch. "You
are very kind" he replied, "but I fear-un-
less Miss Eustace feels the need Of some re-
freshment-th we can scarcely delay SO
long. 1 ana already little later than in.
tended to be-
II have had lunch already, thank you"
said Mary, "and am quite ready whenever
you wish to start"
"Then I think we had better take leave at
once" said the colonel. The trunks were
strapped on the carriage, and Miss Anderson
summoned all the pupils, still in the house,
to bid their companion goodbye. A great
deal of embracing ensued, and some few tears
were shed, chiefly by Adelia. The last good
byes we're exchanged, Mary entered the car
rage and was driven rapidly away-her
school-life was over, and her face turned to.
ward her untried future home.
The Colonel beguiled the journey with
much cheerful and kindly chat, choosing
such themes as he thought would interest bis
young charge, who listened, rather than re-
piled, still feeling too shy to shake off her re-
serve entirely, though she quite appreciated
his efforts to amuse her. Each of them was
new experience to the other; the Colonel, at
least, since his youthful days, not being at
all accustomed to the society of girls of her
age, and she equally unused to that of elder
ly men; for an elderly man the Colonel
seemed in her eyes-he being forty-three and
she seventeen. He called her MARY" and
"my DEAR" quite naturally, as though he had
been her guardian all her lfe But she could
not make up her mind to address him other
wise than as "sir," fancying that Colonel
Dacre" sounded formal, yet not knowing
what else to say.
They did not reach Mosslands until the af-
ternoon of the following day. The sun was just
setting as they drove up the long avenue of
oaks leading to the front gates, which two little
darkeys held open for them to pass through,
displaying their ivory teeth to the fullest ex.
tent as they did so. More domestics gather
ed around as they approached the house, where
still an nother group waited at the door to re-
ceive and welcome them. Mary looked out
curiously at her new home. The exterior was
pleasant and inviting enough to satisfy her.
The fair open lawn, with its groups of noble
trees, the little parterre gay with few har-
dy blossoms of early spring, and in the dis
tance blue river winding through a mea-
dow with q line of hills beyond, at once ban
ishing the idea of seclusion and gloom with
which, half unconsciously, she had, in antici-
patton, invested her destined abode.
"Welcome home, Mary" said her guar
dian, as he helped her to alight They went
into the dining room, to which the reader has
already been introduced. A cheerful fire
was blazing on the hearth, before which Col
onel Dacre drew upa cosy chair, bidding bis
ward be seated and rest and warm herself,
while preparations for dinner were being
made. The cleaning light shone on dainty
china and antique glass, and reflected itself
in the polished woodwork Of the room as the
twilight gathered more soberly around, and
shadows began to creep into the corners and
hide among the folds of the crimson cur
tains; and Mary leaned her head back
against the cushions and dreamed, while she
gazed into the hospitable blaze that offered
her so warm a welcome. 1t was not very
long before dinner was brought in. Candles
were lighted, shutters closed, and the Colo