Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-04-03
an 0riaiual Stury*
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
THE BARSTOWS.
BY VICTOR VERNON.
HtPTER XII.


of excitement. He had received an invitation
to a dinner-party at the house Of Mr.. Cour-
taine, the lawyer with whom he was studying
his profession.
"You accepted, of course?" said Madame.
"Yes; but 1 am rather sorry now that l
did ?"
"Why so?''
because 1 am afraid it will be grand
sort of affair, and you know 1 have never
been to a party in my life"
"Then it's time you should begin, mon
cher. assure you there is nothing to be ter
ri6ed at" said Madame, amused. "For my
part, I am very glad you are going. Mr..
Courtaine seems to be an estimable gentle
man, and it is we'll that you should meet some
of his friends"
"Oh! have met plenty Of his friends, .
reioined Wilfred. "Pretty good fellows, most
of them seem to be. But fancy there will
be a different set at his house; some New
York fashionables-just the sort l know moth
ing about. 1 saw Mrs. Courtaine down at
the Office one day, and she looked like reg
ular-regular-"
"High.Ayer?" suggested his friend.
eyes. that's the word couldn't recollect
it. All ribbons and laces, and waving pumes.
She has young daughter, l believe"
"Don't lose your heart to her" said Mad
anne, jestingly. w
"No fear of that, Madame. When | lose
nv heart it shan't be to dashing, fashiona'
Bile, 6ne young lady. I wish you were going
with me"
"To protect you?"
Exactly. know l shall feel lost"
ooh! you will soon feel at your ease. At
all events, go prepared to enjoy yourself"
Wilfred looked doubtful. But he had
promised to go, and could not withdraw from
his promise. The following day was the one
appointed for the dinner, and at half:past five
he presented himself, duly attired in swal.
low.tailed coat and white kid gloves, at the
door of Mr.. Courtaine's handsome residence.
He found, to his dismay, that he was the first
arrival; but his host, entering the room,
quickly put him at his ease.
81 am glad you are sensible enough to come
early," he said. "I dislike so much to have
people delay until the very last minute, and
vet they are sure to do it. When | invite my
friends to a six o'clock dinner, l want them
to be here half an hour before hand, to get
little settled and comfortable, and, if they are
strangers to one another, to give them chance
to become acquainted"
How much of this was sincerity, and how
much politeness, Wilfred, of course, could not
determine; but he was willing to take it for
what it was worth. After chatting for FIVE
minutes, Mr.. Courtaine opened door which
led into an adjoining apartment
"Here is our conservatory" he said. III
you would like to walk throug h it, l can show
YOU some choice flowers"
Wifred, of course, assented. AS they
passed through the door, he suddenly became
aware of the futter of white dress near him.
A dark-haired girl, with her hands full of
flowers, turned around blushing, at their en-
trance, from heliotrope stand, over which
she had been bending.
"You here, Daisy!' exclaimed her father.
81 did not know you were down stairs. Let
me introduce Mr.. Barstow-my daughter,
Mr.. Barstow."
Wilfred bowed an acknowledgment He
supposed the young lady did the same, but he
was so confused, for the moment, by the un-
expected encounter, that his ideas on the SUBJ
ject were not very clear. .
81 was just getting my flowers" said Dai-
sy, with little girlish laugh. 'Do you know,
papa, that Simmons forgot all about them ?"
objectionable of Simmons" said her
father. II dare say Mr.. Barstom will help
you arrange them. Excuse me a moment,
please; I'll tell my wife you are here"
This was to Wilfred and Mr.. Ceurtaine,
having suddenly bethought himself of some
directions he wished to give his butler concern
ing his favorite wine, slipped off to the dining
room, leaving the young pair together.
A conservatory is charming place; and
and when beautifed by the presence of a
young and lovely girl in white muslin, it is
apt to be particularly charming. Wilfred
found it so in the present case. When. ne
got his senses sufficiently about him to look in
Miss Courtaiue's face, he decided within him.
self that it was the sweetest and most attrac'
tive face he had ever seen. Not strictly reg
ular in feature, perhaps, though the features
were all good but such eyes, such dimple,
such pearly teeth with complexion like a
wild rose, glowing yet exquisitely soft, and
waves of chestnut hair ripping over a broad.
white brow. Her dress was of the simplest
pure white, with no adornment Of jewelry but
turquoise brooch, clasping spray of gera-
mum amid the ruffles of lace at her throat.
She was rather tall, and slender in form, and
did not look more than sixteen. Perhaps she
was year or two older. Her manner was
frank and unstudied, equally free from at
fectation and reserve AS she fitted from
flower to flower, cutting blossom here,
a bud there, she ran on with little stream
of talk in which she did not make it neces.
sary for Wilfred to join; perhaps she saw the
diffidence and pittied it.
'I never think room looks complete with
out quantities of flowers everywhere" she
said. 81 gave such particular directions con-
corning the vases in the library, and just dis,
covered few minutes ago that they had
been forgotten. I suppose our man thought
l.. IL hn