Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-04-24

"Daisy," said her mother, looking earnestly
at her, "are you quite we'll, dear? Does
nothing all you? Tell me, truly and sincerely,
how you feel" ....... ... d. ..a- J.,
81 don't know, myself, exactly how feel"
was the low reply. IT don't care much about
anything; that is all. I am not really ILL., L
suppose" LF ..... 49,. :,
The upshot of it was that Mrs. Courtaine
wrote at once to her husband, telling him ex-
actly. what Daisy said, and adding that she
felt rather uneasy about her ; she seemed to
be losing strength.
Mr.. Courtaine, OH the receipt of this letter,
hesitated not moment. His keenest anxiety
was awakened by it. 1t was revelation to
him of state of affairs of which he had not
suspected the existence until now Wilfred
chanced to be in his Office when he read it.
He was not often there now, but had called
to consult him on some business, and seeing
the foreign letter, madesal pretext to linger-
he was always yearning, hungering tor news
from abroad The old lawyers involuntary
exclamation of dismay made him start.
"No bad news, hope, sir?' he asked, turn
ing pale. ... ....
"Bad news! The worst-my Daisy, my
darling is i'll. I know she is, from the way
her mother writes. Good God! Why didn't
she tell me before: Illstart for Europe right
off-on the next steamer. She wants to come
home. I'll leave everything in your hands,
Wilfred. can trust you to attend to my
business until I return. Ill just make brief
inventory of my papers; you know all about
my locks and keys. You'll take the office in
charge. Is that this mornings paper at your
elbow? Do run your eye over it and see
when the next steamer sails" .....- Z.
Trembling, oppressed by dread to which
he could not give utterance, Wilfred obeyed;
but mist in his eyes made the closely printed
columns before him seem blurred and indis-
tinct. It was hard to find what he wanted.
Half impatiently, Mr.. Courtaine came and
took the paper out of his hands. ...
"Can't you find it? Isn't it there? Here,
don't you see-City Of Paris, April 10th. at
noon. That's tomorrow. III 60 on her; it
gives me plenty of time. Why on earth, did
my wife not write before? Pining for home
poor child-poor little love. Of course she
shall come, if she wants to- 49, ..
Wilfred's throat felt dry and parched. At
last he managed to utter question-"Was
Miss Courtaine very i'll ?" ...
"I'm sure I don't know-women write so
unsatisfactory. Bless my SOUL" exclaimed
Mr.. Courtaine, with sudden recollection of
the Importance which his news doubtless pos
sessed for his hearer-a circumstance which
had, in his first moments of alarm and anxiety,
escaped his memory. "Bless my soul how
pale you look-here, drink little wine, it
will do you good. Perhaps am unnecessari-
ly frightened; it may be nothing serious after
ALL"
Wilfred put aside the wine with shaking
hand.
81 do not require it, thank you, sir. Pray
command me in any way that you like l
am at your service for the rest of the day, and
as much longer as you please"
Mr.. Courtaine looked kindly at the young
nan. He pitied him from his heart. From
his heart, too, he admired him for the way in
which he had borne his trial. Many, he knew,
would have plunged into reckless dissipation.
Others would have thrown up work, and gone
elsewhere to escape from prying eyes and gos-
siping tongues. But he had stayed at his post
and kept on in the path of duty, conquering
difficulties above all, conquering himself
Whatever his secret suAerings had been, they
were patent to no man. Neither had be grown
morbid or morose Serious he was, and often
silent, but gentlemanly, courteous and OBJ
liging as ever. Mr.. Courtaine had often
sighed over the fate which had denied him so
exemplary son-in-law but beyond this his
thoughts did not 60. Itnever occurred to him
that it was possible for him to revoke the hard
decree. Now, however, for the FIRST time, an
idea of this sort flashed through his mind.
What if, after all, he should give his consent
to his marrying Daisy? Might it not be bet
ter for them both? Might not Daisy's failing
health be owing, in some measure, to vain re-
grets, secret pining, which she had never 9TH
erwise betrayed? But he checked the bud
ding inspiration with a "Preposterous-what
would her mother say ?"-for to his wife's
opinion hehad ever bowed. He was especial
ly kind to Wilfred during the remainder Of
the time that they were together. And until
the steamer sailed they were seldom apart, for
there we're many Instructions to be given and
received. At the last, as he bid him good
bye, Wilfred could not refrain from one part
ing request
"Will you write to me, sir-just line-to
tell me how she is p
"Yes-my boy-yes. Goodbye, and God
bless you, till we meet again"
And then came the silence, the necessary
suspense, which Wilfred was doomed to bear,
and which were far more of trial than the
hardest work he could have been called upon
to perform.
As to Mr.. Courtaine, the good steamer
which bore him across the broad Atlantic,
swiftly though she moved, seemed to plough
the water with wheels of lead. It's throb-
bing pulses beat all too slow to satisfy his
impatient longing to clasp his sick girl once
more in his arms. At last, however, the
voyage was made The rest Of his journey
was soon accomplished, and early on pleas
ant morning Of May he stopped in front of
the Palazzn di=. having walked there from