Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-05-15

;, MAY Is, 1879.
"Now or at any time" said Rachel, em'
phatically. She hesitated a moment, then
with great effort added, my heart is no
longer my own to give away"
The minister started, and looked keenly at
her. Was she telling him the truth, or was
she only using this means as last expedient
TO free herself from his importantly.
"You love another, then2" he asked.
"Ido," she answered, family.
care you engaged :"
II don't think you have any right to ques-
tion me in this Manner said Rachel.
"No, have no right. But, Rachel, I
can't help it. I want you so much that feel
As though owe it to myself to leave no stone
unturned to get what want And I beg
you just to tell me whether you are really
bound by any tie which cannot be broken, or
whether, having perhaps cherished some fan
cy which after time may pass away, there
is not some hope that day may yet come
when your fancy would turn toward meS'
"No, that day could never come. I am
bound by tie which cannot be broken" she
rejoined, "and tie which I would not wish
or strive to break"
Harry Wade started up and walked about
the room. He was both panied and angered,
and his usually tranquil nature was rufied by
her refusal almost beyond endurance. he
had never really wished for anything in bis
life which he had not obtained, and he could
not be reconciled to fate which denied him
the most important wish Of his whole life
now.
"You said in your letter." he exclaimed
presently, stopping before her, and speaking
with sort of passionate remonstrance in his
tone, "that you only desired to continue in
your present mode Of life. That does not
look as though you contemplated forming
any new tie. Or did you wish me to believe
one thing then, and another thing now ?"
"Isaid only what was true, " replied Rachel.
"I do not tell you now that I contemplate
forming any new tie. On the contrary, it
is impossible that I should do SO. I only
want to be at peace. I only want to be left
to myself, and not driven to the wall in this
way-you ARE not kind, you are not gener-
ous, to press me so," she continued, 1eproach.
fully. at is not my fault if you have chos-
en- to give your love where it cannot be re-
turned"
"No, it is not your fault-and dare say I
am an unreasonable man. But Rachel, it is
difficult to be reasonable when one loves"
said Harry Wade, impetuously. A metamor-
phosis had come over the man; this one
strong feeling had taken such forcible posses
sion of him that his wonted good sense and
clear discernment were clouded by it, and
the saniusti6ableness Of his own behavior was
not for the moment apparent to him. And
somehow, Notwithstanding all hef asssss::tiieeggs
be could not rid himself of the fancy that this
strong obstacle of which she had spoken
existed less in reality than in her imagination,
and that by resolution and perseve erance it
might be swept away. If she loved some one
else, or had really formed tie which she
could not break, what would hsHe been
more simple than for her to tell hi4 so at
first?
However, he could not stay there forever
and argue the point. When considerable
time had elapsed, and fretful cries and peev.
ish voice calling for "Miss Ray" we're heard,
much to Racheps relief, he took his depart
ure, still without admitting that he accepted
her decision as final. Full of his grievance,
he FASTENED home to his counsellor and SYM
pathizer, Kate, and poured into her ear the
story of his disappointment What bless
ing it was to have one as wise and patient as
herself to listen to him! She soothed him,
argued with him, and finally persuaded him
that he was not as deeply wronged as he i'm
agined himself to be. But in, her heart she
wished that Rachel was thousand miles
away, or that her brother had never been ap-
pointed minister of Drowsieville. For thir.
ty-three years he had led calm, unrufaed
life, devoted to his church and to the joys Of
home, unvexed by anxiety or care; and now
here was all this coil, just because he had
been absurd enough to fall in love with girl
who could not appreciate, and who was,
therefore, (according to Kittys feminine log
'ic) unworthy Of the boon.
"If it had only been Ilanie," she could not
forbear saying, with gentle sigh, II am sure
it would have been different"
"Very likely it would" rejoined the minis.
ter. "But, begging your pardon, Kate, l
would not have that estimable young woman,
if she were to ask me" ...
Two days later, in walking out, he met
Mrs. Stanton, who stopped him with counte.
nance full Of perplexity and alarm.
"Oh! MI. Wade," she cried, putting her
lemon-colored gloves on his arm, II was just
coming to your house. Can you give me any
tidings Of Miss Ray?"
"Tidingsr said the minister, surprised.
"Isn't she with you stillf"
"Why, haven't you heard Of her disappear
ance?"
"Good heavensw exclaimed Harry Wade,
turning pale. "Do you really mean that she
has gone away? :"
"Gone away-gone somewhere, how or
when nobody knows. She was at tea with us
yesterday evening, and since then has not been
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