Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-04-11
CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER VII.
The Colonel, after hunting about little
while for his ward, presently found her in the
garden, where she had gone to gather some
fresh flowers for the library, which she usu'
ally kept adorned in this way.
"Come with me, Mary" he said, taking her
hand, "and let US take little ramble togeth-
or. I have something to say to you"
"You are at home early, are you not, sir =
she asked
"Yes; have news to tell you, my dear. I
expect very shortly to leave home"
"Not for the army, sir?"
"Yes, for the army. We are going into
active service in Virginia, and will probably
receive marching orders in fortnight's time. y
Mary was silent. In her heart she felt
dismayed at the intelligence; but though it
came upon her with a shock, she did not
know whether it would be best to betray the
feeling or not, and so she had nothing to say.
"You will not experience any personal in.
convenience from my absence" her guardian
continued, "since, for the present, at least, you
will remain quietly where you are. I shall
write, to. night, to Mrs. Blanding, and request
her to come Immediately to Mosslands. She
is in very reduced circumstances. ard lives
with married son, whose wife, believe, is
not very congenial to her; and I make no
doubt that she will be quite willing to take
up her abode here for as long period as
I may desire. She is under some obligations
to me, and will be glad to return them in
this way. l do not think you will find her
presence otherwise than agreeable. She is a
very quiet, amiable person, and always will
ling to make herself useful"
II dare say she is very nice" murmured
Mary, absently.
"Then, Maurice Cleveland, as you know,
is not likely to be fit for military duty again.
He thinks he will, poor fellow, but l fear he
is mistaken; and he will remain here in the
capacity of your protector. 1 shall 60 of
with much easier mind, knowing that every.
thing here is under his charge. The servants
are all fond of him, and will look upon him
as sort of safe guard in the absence of their
master This arrangement, 1 hope, meets with
your APPROVAL"
my approval, sir p repeated Mary.
"Yes-you like Maurice tolerably, do you
not, and will not object to his remaining in
the house?'
Il do not object at all, sir-we are pretty
good friends"
80 1 thought. Well, then, in that case.
and supposing that Mrs. Blanding agrees to
come, everything will be satisfactorily settled
and I hope you will all be quite happy and
comfortable here together, ,----------.------
81 dare say we shall be comfortable enough
SIR" said Mary, slowly; "but-your being
away will prevent me, at least, from being
very happy"
"Well, 1 should like to think that you
would miss me, just a little" said the Colonel,
cheerfully, but with asweling heart. "War,
however, entails many disagreeable things
upon people, partiDgs among the rest. We
shall meet under happier auspices, I hope,
before long"
"How hate war" said Mary. with little
burst of energy quite unusual in her. Had any
one else propounded the sentiment, the Colo
mel would probably have rushed into an argu.
ment to prove how much more desirable is a
righteous war, than cowardIy submission to
injury and oppression. But, somehow, just at
present, the shadow of impending separation
weighed upon him and prevented his enter
ing on political discussion of the subject.
At that moment, he, too, was inclined to wish
that there was no such thing as war.
They had now gone far beyond the lawn
and flower. beds, and had come within the
limits of a little shrubbery which bounded the
lawn on the west of the house. Here was an
arbor, and bench or two scattered about
and on one of these the Colonel sat down,
drawing his ward to his side.
"We won't have many more chances for a
quiet CHAT" he said. II shall often think of
this pleasant home-picture when l am far
away. The old house yonder amid the trees,
the shadows lying on the grass, and the blue
river in the distance, gliding so peacefully
along. 1t has come to my mind many time
before in the days when was roaming about
in foreign countries, and always broug a
yearning with it to see it again.
tTH- L uorroolf 2''
asked Mary.
Eyes, even then-though don't remem.
Der, on the whole, that did enjoy that row
ing life so very much. Home is best, when
one is happy there"
"And were you not happy there always,
sir?"
"No, my dear, I was not" said the Colo
mel, frankly, and then he sighed 81 am very
happy here now," he continued, presently,
"for have everything to make me so-and,
therefore, my thoughts will turn to home with
special regret"
att lovely old place" said Mary.
"Are you fond of it, Mary'"
"Yes, sir; very fond"
81 hoped you would learn to like it, when
1 brought you here; though feared it would
no. offer many attractions to one so young.
You have had but dull time since you have
been living with me, am afraid
"No, indeed, sir"
"What, not dull, with only tiresome old
fogy like me for company"
81 don't care for gay company, sir"
"Could you be happy here always, do you
thnk2"