Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-01-23
it. Besides, should be much happier with
you all, in the dear old home, whenever am
not abroad and Tdon't think Mr. Churchill

Mr. Churchlll being one OF tne quletest
and most inofensiye Of men, Sir Francis had
no apprehension of finding him in the way;
and as he was more relieved and grati6ed by
his daughters offer than he cared to show, he
made no farther hesitation in accepting it.
So he kissed and thanked her afectionately,
said she was dutiful child, and, as soon as
she had left him, wrote at once to Mr.. Comfy,
to come over and draw up the necessary pa
pers to place him in control of the property,
which was to be offered Immediately for sale.
Frank, too, was overjoyed when he heard
of the arrangement. He knew that if Dutton
brought:a good price, half the burden would
be lifted from his fathers shoulders and his
own. So the household was frightened by
the prospect of less anxious days, and the
preparations for the wedding were carried on
more cheerfully than they could otherwise
have been, since the tightening Of the pecu-
mary pressure compensated, in some degree,
for the anticipated trouble Of losing Eleanor,
who had always been her mothers stay and
right hand. . d. ..,Ig....r, .}.a.f.<... ,..t
Frank" said Lena, as soon as she could
find an opportunity for confidential chat,
"nosO will you set off, at once on your search,
as you wanted to do before? Papa can spare
you, he seems so much stronger and better
than he has BEEN" 4.gr,f.3o -
Frank shook his head and sighed 81
don't know, yet, what to do, or how to set
about il" he replied. II had an idea of first
hunting up the Croftons, and talking to Mr..
Crofton He might be able to make it easier
for me. And yet-sometimes I think, Lena,
that the undertaking would be folly; that it
has been folly in me to hope" XII ,:a -,
"Oh! Frank" cried Lena. .g..a-g s.!
eyes, do. Still, I suppose it would be
satisfaction to hear what Mr.. Crofton has to
say. But begin to fear that he is no wiser
than am, and that the treasure lost can never
more be regained." 1~t
eff she is anywhere, you will find her
won't you, Frank p III ..s ~
eff she is anywhere but in her grave, l
will-please God," was the reply. And he
meant what he said, for if ever there had
been a fixed purpose in his heart, that purpose
was there now. But, as he had told Lena,
he had no settled plan of action yet, for it was
hard to know what to do And, moreover, it
was impossible ior him to leave home on this
vague expedition, just on the eveof Eleanor's
wedding, and while business affairs were in
sort of transition state. So he laid in a fresh
stock of patience and endurance, and bent his
will to the duties of helping and counseling
and working for the good of everybody
around him, and found, as people always do,
reward in the knowledge that he was useful,
and that his usefulness was appreciated.
1t was the first wedding in the family, and
it was decided TO make it rather a grand af.
fair. A godmother of Eleanor's came for
ward and insisted on presenting her with her
wedding dress and entire outfit, which arrived
in due time from Paris. So the responsible.
ty of that important question, the trousseau,
being lifted from the feminine mind, there re-
manned only the minor arrangements concern
ing the ceremony and reception, important,
no doubt, in their way, but less onerous than
the settlement Of the respective merits of
silks, cashmeres and laces, and, still more,
the fashion in which the garments should be
made. Sir Francis presented his daughter
with settlement as liberal as he could afford
under the circumstances, and, in addition,
gave her valuable heirloom of diamonds,
which, in his dependency, he had, at one
time contemplated disposing Of but which he
felt much greater satisfaction in putting to
its present use. Eleanor thought herself rich
in jewelry, for Mr.. Churchill gave her two
elegant sets-one Of sapphire and the other Of
pearl-and with the trousseau, there had
come to her, from the godmother in Paris, a
diamond cross, so big and resplendent, that
Lena declared she would outshine the Princess
of Wales, when she had it on. And Eleanor,
whose tastes were quiet, almost felt as though
she would be afraid to wear it, even at the re-
ceptions of the Princess di Cont, which Mr..
Churchill assured her were the most brilliant
ever given in Florence. Her sisters exercised
their ingenuity and skill in all sorts of devices
of use and beauty for her benefit, especially
Grace, who felt, very keenly, the coming part
ing between her favorite companion and her.
self. Lady Coventry gave her family Bible
and watch, and Frank miniature likeness
of his mother SET in pearls. This last gift, in
view of the apr coaching separation, was per-
haps the mcst acceptable Of all. The family
had always been so bound together by home
interests, that the severance Of this link in the
household circle wasa matter of greater import
than it would have been, had they been &C
customed to find their pleasures abroad and
apart from one another. Eleanor stood it
very well, trying to give the rest good ex-
ample, and perhaps, in the excitement Of the
prospect of an entire change, really feeling
the breaking up less than they did. She did
give way at the last, when everything was
over, and the moment came for the utSering Of
those most melancholy of all words, "Good-
bye;" realizing, for the first time, that her
girlhood's life was at an end, with all its Sim
pie, happy aims and associations, and all the
surroundings that had made it dear. When
the carriage had driven off, Grace fled to her
room and locked the door, and mourned there
like dove robbed of its mate. Indeed. they
were all very doleful for while, missing the
departed one sadly; but when letters began
to come from her, assuring them of her hap
piness. and giving pleasant descriptions of