Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-02-06

Armstrong;" retorted Claire, disdainfully.
"Neither would consider my property at all
valuable from having been kissed by any
masculine lips. This handkerchief has quite
a romantic history, and it came into my pos
session in very singular way All, see it
c;el, how fortunate how happy l ann she
cried with true French vivacity, as she espied
the missing article clinging to the lower
branch of a tree, and sprang forward to re-
claim it.
1t was an ordinary lady's handkerchief, of
fine cambric, with monogram worked in
one corner. The letters were IN. r" as
she showed Armstrong. They were fancifully
interviewer, and surmounted by howery
spray of leaves and vines.
"Those are not your initials" he remarked,
as he glanced at it.
81 know that. They are those of its origi-
nal owner, whose fate was melancholy one
"Who was it ?" asked Armstrong. ~
"I cannot tell you her name, for l know
nothing more of her than one brief episode
in her life, connected with the circumstances
which led to the losing of this handkerchief
But it is really thrilling little tale, if it be
true"
"Why not relate it for my benefit and that
of my friend ?" asked Armstrong, partly inter-
ested, partly incredulous He did not put
much faith in Claire's sentiment. .--- -..
eff you and he really care to hear it, will"
replied the young lady, with an inquiring
glance at Frank. The latter, of course, second
ed the proposal, as he was bound in politeness
to do. In fact he rather liked the idea of any
thing which would prove an interruption to the
ceaseless badinage exchanged between his
companions, which he was beginning to get
tired Of
"Let us sit on this grassy knoll and rest
awhile; am weary of walking" said Claire,
as she sank down with an air of graceful Ian.
guor on an inviting little mound. And the
two gentlemen having followed her example,
she proceeded with her tale, emphasizing it
with sundry expressive gestures, as she went
on.
"It was last March, mes anais, and l was at
London for visit You may remember, Mr..
Armstrong, when I went to stay with my
cousin, Mrs. Bertrand, there?"
Armstrong nodded lazy affirmative, as he
lay on the grass with his hat tilted over his
eyes. .....
"Well, there was favorite family servant
who was sick and Mrs. Bertrand proposed
one afternoon that I should 60 with her to
Marianne's room, to inquire how she felt So
we went. and found her sitting up in bed, a
good deal better, and quite inclined to con-
verse. Of course it is not important that l
should remember what she talked about. 1t
was chiefly about different ailments and their
remedies, think, which did not entertain me
much, and I was looking about the room at
some odd pictures and things, and wishing
very heartily that my cousin would propose
going when suddenly, on the table, espied a
handkerchief. handkerchief the
embroidery in the corner took my fancy.
"'How pretty this is, Marianne remarked,
as I took it in my hand. Did you work it
yourself?
"'No, Miss she answered, I can't do that
sort Of work. NJ brother gave me that hand
kerchief, which he found by accident in car.
riage. 1t has my initials on it, which seems
a queer circumstance, don't it? My name,
you know, is Rexford, so M. r. suits me ex-
actly." ." .. ". ..'~'''t =
"'Yes, indeed said I. How very nice that
it should have suited you so we'll; but how
did he find it?" ..4
$50 then she went on to give me the whole
history. Her brother, it seems, was coach.
man, and one night very mysterious thing
happened. A gentleman went to him and
told him he had good job for him if he was
willing to undertake it, and paid him FIVE
dollars right down before he entered into any
explanation, as sort of bribe, Of course, to
induce him to consent. The coachman was
poor, and the money seemed too good thing
to refuse, so he agreed to do whatever was
wanted of him. He thought in his own mind
that it was most likely an elopement, or
some affair of that sort on hand, and that it
was none of his business to have any scruples.
Then this gentleman went on tell him that he
wished to be driven to a certain house, where
lady lived with some people who did not
treat her we'll, and that he promised 10 bring
her away; that all the family we're out that
evening, but herself, and, therefore, it was the
best time to 60 for her. ..-".'
"He said he would give him five dollars
more, if he would do his part of the business
properly and say nothing about it to any
one. Of course the man thought it very
nice to be able to make ten dollars in sin
gle evening, and he promised him everything
he wanted. ,.- -....------,.-.- g.. Pa. .--.-- -....
swell, the gentleman got into the carriage,
and was driven first to his own house, where
he helped another person to get in, and then
they went off after the young lady.
There was a Large garden in. front of her
residence, and the carriage remained outside
the gate, while the gentleman went up to the
street door, and the other person stayed be-
hind. Once, while they were waiting there,
this person-whether it was woman or a
man don't recollect-made signal to the
driver as if wishing to speak to him; but
when he turned round to see what was the
matter, the person wouldn't say word, but
lust crouched back in the corner as if afraid. -
"Really, this is getting thrilling" said
Armstrong, with laugh.