Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-05-08

: residence, he went to call on her. She was
of course, alone, when his arrival was an
nounced by worthy Mrs. Canning, who was
all in futter of excitement and delight, TAX
ing the visit equally to herself But as soon
as the latter, prompted by hospitable instincts
had hustled away to cut freshly-made LOAF
of seed cake, he candidly told Rachel that il
was her for whom his visit was intended, since
he had felt a special desire to make her &C
quaintance, and to find olt why it was thai
they had never met before.
"You are very good" said Rachel, a faint
color creeping into her pale face. 81 never
20 out; it is not strange that we have moi
, met
"You go to church always, perceive" he
rejoined.
Eyes, 60 to church."
"And nowhere else?'
"Nowhere else unless now and then on an
errand, or to take short walk, which Miss
Melton-of course you know her-persuades
me is necessary for my health"
"Miss Melton is quite right" said the min
lister. "She is charmingly sensible little
girl, and think you would do we'll as gen
eral rule, to follow her advice. Would it be
impertinent curiosity in me to ask if you
have any special motive in thus secluding
yourself"
? She was half angry at the question, but hiE
kind, friendly glance disarmed her.
"My motive is, suppose, that I like to be
alone" she rejoined, after a moments hesita
ton. .s
"But it isn't healthy to be too much alone,
he persisted. Unless one shakes off this habit
of solitude, one cannot get upon a right basis
in the world"
"What is a right basis? 2" asked Rachel.
Socially speaking, it is that ground upon
which one meets and mingles with others in
free, kindly and unreserved intercourse
Morally speaking, it is the large sympathy,
charity and toleration for ones fellow.beings
which can only by such intercourse be at
tained. .
~ am of SO little Importance to any OF my
fellow-beings, that it cannot affect them to
know my views" said Rachel.
"But it affects yourself You grow misan.
thropic, or at least melancholy. Your mind
becomes narrowed your natural affections
finding no vent outwardly, centre in your own
being, your own welfare, or else perish for
lack of sustenance. That will be your case,
for know you are not selfish, as the world
accepts the term. But it is species of sci.
fshness, is it not, to check the Unborn craving
after human sympathy, which is Gods uni.
versal gift" r
He stopped, for change came over her
face which startled him. A sort Of spasm or
contraction, followed by a deadly pallor, even
to her lips. She got up from her chair,
walked unsteadily, in blind sort Of way, to
a window at the opposite end of the room,
stood there moment gazing out, then re-
turned to her seat, with burning light in her
eyes as she confronted him.
"You do not know" she said, in husky
tone. "But how could you? 1t does not
matter"
"Forgive me, Miss Ray" he said, with pro.
found earnestness 81 have touched too rude
" upon some sacred chord. But it was igno-
rance, not intention; or rather, through an
intention of doing you, if possible, some good
I am great blunderer, sometimes
Rachel forced smile.
81 think you have done me some good
she said, more naturally. "But you cannot
understand-.you, who are everybody's friend
the position of one so isolated as am"
"This much, understand-that you are
not quite happy" he gently replied. "And
1 would fain be your friend, too, if you will lei
me-" .........
She was spared the necessity Of reply by
the return of Widow Canning to the parlor
bearing tray with the seed.cake and some
buttermilk, homely beverage for which she
modestly made excuse.
~ delight in buttermilk on warm after
noon," said the minister, genially. Besides
it is fattening, and as am Of spare figure
perhaps ii will improve my proportions"
"Lor, sir you don't need no fattening,'
said Mrs. Canning, grati6ed. 81 amt par
tial to stout gentlemen, myself We had
minister once, friend of Mr.. Lullem's, poor
soul, preaching one Sabbath to Meeting, and
he was so bulky that when he went up the
ulpit steps you could hear 'em creaking, one
by one, all over the place. I thought they
would have broken down with him, sir, 1 dc
assure you"
"Oh! am not desirous of attaining such
unwieldy proportions as those" said Harry
Wade, particularly as the pulpit steps are
still rather shaky. have been talking to
Mr.. Towzleham about having some repairs
} put on the church-speaking Of shaky steps
and I believe he means to have the matter
attended to-
"And good thing it'll be" said Mrs. Can
ming. "The old Westinghouse needs repairs,
if anything does; but Mr.. Towzleham and
} others as has the management of the money
never spends it unless it can't be helped"
This little dialogue gave Rachel chance
to recover her composure, and when the min
ister turned to her again with some triaine
remark, she was able to answer him with al
much selfpossession as usual.
"I may come again, may not?" ne asked
as he shook hands on bidding her goodbye
"Of course" she answered simply, rather