Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-02-27

"Thank YOU, I'll not stay so long," was
my reply. "rve merely stopped in for a
little while, to pay my respects"
swell, goodbye tEen-sorry can't stay,
for I promised to meet Dutton in the fields
at eleven" And with careless nod, he
sauntered off,
entered the house and found Mrs. Tracy,
as had beer forewarned, in the parlor with
her daughter. Both ladies we're sewing, and
both wore their usual aspect They rose ut
my entrance, and Fanny, good little soul,
fastened to wheel forward an easy.chair.
"Sit there, Uncle Perry, and have good
rest after your ride" she said. "Isn't it cold
and raw out2"
"a little windy, my dear; nothing more.
find you both quite we'll, ladies, I hope?"
The usual civilities passed between us, and
then inquired after Ralph.
"Ralph," said Mrs. Tracy, taking the re-
ply upon herself, "has chosen to leave home ;
or, perhaps, I should rather say, has been
called from home, by business engagement,
which could not very we'll be postponed. 1t
is rather an inopportune call, at such time.
told him, for appearance sake, he ought not
to 90 off just after his wedding. Our &C.
quaintance might think it odd"
at can be easily explained to them, NAM
ma" said Fanny, in low voice.
"Oh yes, easily enough; but such explain
ations are fatiguing, when one has to repeat
them to every fresh visitor who comes in'
You have no idea," she continued, addressing
herself to me, chow many visitors we have
had. They have come by scores. You are
one of the latest"
"Indeedw said I. "It seems, then, that
must apologize for my tardiness; but really
time passes so quickly that did not realize
how many days had elapsed since the wed
ding. How long will your husband be ab'
sent, Fanny"
A flush rose to her pale cheek at the ques'
ton. 81 am not quite sure, sir" she replied
"He thought he would return, probably, in a
week."
II hope he will" said Mrs. Tracy, 'for
Mr.. Tracy and expect to leave here Tues
day or Wednesday, on visit to town, and l
wish nothing to occur to delay the journey"
eff Ralph is not back in time," said l,
Fanny can come over and stay with me un'
til his return. Then there will be no obstacle
in the way Of your leaving"
"You are very good" said Mrs. Tracy,
stifly, "but 1 should not dream of leaving
the house shut up. No, I shall, of course
postpone my departure until he comes. am
too we'll accustomed to laying aside my own
inclinations to suit others, to find it not an
especial sacrifice in this case"
1 could not help wondering, mentally, how
long it was since it had been her habit to make
her wishes yield, in this complaisant manner
to those of her friends, for. i had always been
of the opinion that she generally carried
things her own way.
At this junc,ure Mrs. Tracy was summoned
from the room by the house.keeper, who prob
ably wished to consult her in regard to some
domestic arrangement. To my surprise, she
was no sooner out of hearing than Fanny,
throwing down her work and rising from her
seat, came to my side with a look Of agitation
and entreaty upon her face, impossible to des'
cribe.
"Uncle Perry" she whispered, laying her
hand on my arm, "do you know where Ralph
has gomez"
"I know, my dear! How should II"
wonderingly replied. "Where has he gone p
81 cannot tell! I, of all people, am igno'
rant of his destination !" she bitterly answer
ed. "Think of my being kept in the dark on
the subject! Why should he have left in this
mysterious way?"
explain, my dear Fanny" said I. "You
forget that have heard nothing whatever ot
the circumstances; that I was not even aware
until few minutes ago, of his absence from
home"
"He went off last Monday, just four days
after our wedding. We did not know any
thing of his intention, and it was not unit
1 found a note on my dressing-table, saying
that business had unexpectedly called him
away, and that he would probably be gone
about week, that we learned why he hac
not returned to dinner. At least, DOM
think he had spoken of it to any one else.
Though mamma is so strange, l can't get
much out of her. But why did he not tell
me?"
"You say he speaks Of this summons as
unexpected. Does not that account for his
previous silence?" Irejoined.
She shook her head. ut is all very strange
and mysterious" she said 81 hope nothing
is wrong. Besides, 1 think he must have
been at home when he wrote that note and
left it in my room, for none Of the servants
will own to having brought it there. And
if he was, why could he not see me and ex
plain in person"
"Perhaps you had gone out" suggested.
"No, for that day did not leave the house
at all. 1 was in this room most Of the time
for we had a good many visitors, and he
mil ght easily have come in by the back en-
trance and gone up stairs without my seeing
him."
"Then, suppose, as you were engaged with
company, he preferred not to disturb you,
said l.
"But mamma was here. 1t would have
been very natural for him to send for me, il
he was going off, and no one could have con
n L l.