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

CHAPTER v.
Mr. Maurice Cleveland returned to his
bachelor lodgings in the city, in somewhat
restless and dissatisfied frame Of mind.
His visit to Mosslands had been all toe
pleasant for his own good, and he found the
change back to the routine of business life
decidedly distasteful, after his brief bu1
enjoyable holiday 10 ''.' '' 81.
On entering his room the second evening
after his return, somewhat tagged in conse
quence of hard days work at the Office, he
found, lying on his dressing table, a small note
curously folded, and directed in very fine
slanting hand.
Deuce take it; she's been writing to mt
again!" was his impatient exclamation, as he
snatched up the missive, and ran his eye
over the contents, which were as follows:
DEAR MAUR1cE:-Though I don't think
you deserve to have me call you so, after your
behaviour to met s so long since have
heard from you, that write this line to know
whether you are dead or alive, or whether
in the later, case you have quite forgotten my
existence? For ten whole days have wait
ed for your coming in vain have solaced
myself with the suppostion that you were
obliged to leave town on business. | don'l
think, unless you were absent you could have
had the heart to prove SO neglectful of one
who has done nothing to deserve your neglect
Please write or come at once-no, write, thai
1 may know exactly when to expect you
and assure me that my doubts and fears are
unfounded-for my silly heart is oppressed
by doubts and fears, try as may to Danish
them! Any evening that you will come al
the usual hour, you need fear no Interrupt
ton. I am always at liberty until eight
o'clock. wait with impatience for an an
swer to this. "Ever yours,
"A. ST.. NJ"
Maurice flung the note down, and himself
into chair, and with knitted brows pondered
for few moments in silence.
"It's con.foun-ded BORE" he said aloud
with deliberate emphasis, at length. "l'm
tired Of this affair; dead tired, and can't get
out of it, try as may. That girl-by Jove,
her perseverance, is something wonderful.
And I've got to answer this precious epistle-
and I've got to go; there's no escape for me.
Good Lord, wish could have stayed at
Mosslands But poor unfortunate wretch
like me has no will Of his own. Well, here
goes-I may as we'll write at once, suppose,
and get the thing over"
And pulling out writing materials from a
desk, which stood on the table, he dipped his
pen in the ink, and recklessly dashed off the
following reply.
"MY DEAR ADDIE: 1T is very unkind of
you to suppose that could forget you, or
anything Of that sort" ("How could for
get her. when she's 80 deuced careful to pre-
vent it ?" he muttered.) You are quite right
in imagining that my non-appearance has
been caused by absence. l was forced to
leave town, on business of great Importance,
and was detained much longer than | expect
ed to be. In fact, l went off with the inten-
ton of staying but two days, and remained
six, instead. Since my return, have been
very busy, indeed, which must account for
my failure to report, as usual. If agreeable
to you, will be there, without fail, at seven
o'clock tomorrow evening. Meantime, re-
main as ever yours, M. Z. Z.
"There, that's vile-looking scrawl but it's
got to do" was his comment, as he glanced
through it. "Now, must hunt up that imp,
Jackey, and brbe him to take it. The dimes
I've been obliged to squander in this enter
prise would amount to small fortune, if |
could collect all them altogether"
Jacky was shrewd youth, employed on
the premises of Mrs. Blount, Maurice's land
lady, who was fond Of earning small sums by
the performance of various errands and off.
ces of trust for the different boarders. To his
care Maurice now confded his nissive, which,
as it had to 60, might as well be sent by safe
hands, as he had no desire for it to miss its
destination and draw upon him the risk of
discovery
Having discharged this duty, and partaken
of the light evening meal with which Mrs.
Blounts table was habitually furnished at
that hour, Maurice next lit cigar and stroll
ed out into the lamp-lit streets. He thought
that the combination of a quiet walk with the
fragrant weed, would soothe his ruffled nerves,
but he was not destined to ramble undis.
turbed.
He was not more than five minutes walk
from the house door, when man, who had
been slouching along in the shadow of the
opposite pavement, crossed over, and with a
familiar gesture tapped him on the shoul'
der.
"Ah, ha ! Mr.. Cleveland !! thought it was
you," he exclaimed as Maurice turned sharp
ly round. YOU'RE just the man | wanted to
see."
"What did you want to see me for ?" asked
Maurice roughly.
"Come now, Mr.. Cleveland, don't look as
if you knowed nothing about ii" was the re.
joinder, accompanied by an insolent wink.
s.I don't want to be forced into making disa-
greeable explanations. partic' larly y when they
amt necessary. I came after you one day
last week, but heard you was out of town.
Now you are back, hope you intend to
come down handsome"
81 don't know what you mean by coming
down handsome" replied Maurice. II have
no money, if that's what you are driving at. y
mo money! and you such swell young
gentleman Now, Mr. Cleveland, that's only
come of, declare it is. Swell young gen.
tlemen, like you, always have money in their
pockets"
"Mine are empty, at all events, !" said Mau'
rice. "You can turn them inside out, if you