Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-03-13
An 0rigiual Storg.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
THE BARSTOwS.
BY VICTOR VERNON.
CHAPTER V.


LucY's NARRATIVE CoNTINyED-cLoUDs IN
THE BLUE. .. .., ...-....
April 9th. We are having the loveliest
weather now! Spring has set in unusually
early. and in the hooks and hollows of the
mountains which have been sheltered from
the snow, the little wild flowers are already
springing. 1 gather them with JOY, for they
remind me of my dear native land. Although
different in kind from those to which have
been accustomed, yet flowers, after all, belong
to the same kindred everywhere, and like all
other offspring of bene6cent Nature, speak to
the heart with softening memories, and seem
to form connecting link between the far
distant corners Of the globe.
When, I wonder, shall we revisit our for
mer home? Ralph never speaks of 1t. l
suppose we shall at least spend this whole
summer here. ....
Yesterday, was walking out alone, and
could not resist the temptation Of going into
Franz Birkotf's to see the Holcombes. 1t
may have been wrong. but common civility
certainly required that should return Mrs.
Holcombe's call. She is old enough for my
mother, and after taking the trouble to walk
all the way to our house, she would have con-
sidered me perfect bear, not to acknowledge
her politeness. 1 had delightful VISIT and
was even more charmed with Miss Holcombe
(Margaret, her name is) than with her moth
er. They are refined, cultivated people, and
am sure if 1 was only allowed to be friend
ly with them, they would prove most congo
NAL companions Mrs Holcombe reproached
me, in pleasant way, for not having been
there before. l pleaded, as an excuse, that l
went out very little, and looked after all the
household affairs, which occupied good deal
of my time.
"But your household is a very small one,
she reioined, smiling. "Only your husband
and yourself" believe.
"That is true,' admitted. "But my hus-
band likes me to be with him, and-and-"
"And so you are always together" supplied
Miss Holcombe. "You ought to he devoted
to each other, to get on comfortably in this
secluded life otherwise you would be pretty
sure to get to quarreling"
"Quarreling!' echoed and then launch
ed out into praises of Ralph, which was fool
ish of me no doubt, but I wanted to change
the subject, and my hearers listened very in
diligently. At last Mrs. Holcombe said
"You must bring this husband of yours to
see US. am sure he must be worth know
ing"
81 will tell him." replied; "but notwith-
standing his many perfections he has one
fault, which is an aversion to paying visits.
"Not an uncommon one with gentlemen,
remarked Mrs Holcombe. "However, con-
sdering that we are strangers in strange
land, hope he will make an exception in
our case"
I left as soon as could, and on the way
home was overtaken by Ralph, who ran down
the mountain to join me. He had been out
hunting as usual, but this time without sue.
cess"
"Where have you been, little one? he
asked, drawing my hand through his arm.
"Oh, got tired of staying home alone, so
I went out for walk" replied. My cheeks
burned at the subterfuge I was practicing,
but was not sufficiently courageous to own
that l had disobeyed his commands.
After all, it is Ralphs own fault that am
driven to this concealment. He has made
me, for the first time, afraid Of him, or at
least Of his displeasure, which l find too ter
rible thing to encounter voluntarily. But
/ am unhappy in thinking Of what l have
done. I heartily wish the Holcombes had
never come to this place!
April 14th knew it would come at last
Well, the truth is out, and that is one com
fort; but such a storm as we have had
Day before yesterday there came note to
me from Mrs Holcombe, which ran on this
wise:
DEAR MRS. BARsTow-Sincey your charm
ing visit, my daughter has done nothing but
think and speak Of you, and to crafty hel
(and, need scarcely add, myself also), /
have thought of plan for bringing us all
together for whole day, to the promotion
of the acquaintance thus pleasantly begun
Margaret feels so much stronger and better
than she did, that she is quite equal to lit
tie picnic in the woods, and we have fixed
upon Wednesday next should the weather
be propitious, to visit the old ruined castle we
were speaking of, and dine there, going and
returning on mule.back, which will be easier
for her than one of these rough carts Now
won't you and your husband lend your CO.
operation to our scheme? | think we can
manage to spend our time very pleasantly
and the distance is not far. Please let us
have an answer by return of the little mes
senger. Very truly yours,
EMILY HoLCoMBE.
"P. S-If Wednesday does not suit you
another day will do quite as we'll"
Now felt myself in a dilemma! Ralph
was out but of course would have to know
all about it when he came home. l had one
alternative, which was to refuse decidedly al
once-but what decent excuse could | give
for doing so? If it had not been for that
unlucky postscript, I might have invented an
engagement for Wednesday, and kept to it
but leaving it to me to substitute another day
.cr l..od - ;nnosSih1a tO decline