Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-04-03
81 hope so. It's the only way to get on

prone to let the attractions of musty law
books outweigh those of pretty girl, such as
I have heard Miss Courtaine described to be.
How were you pleased with her, by the way?"
"she is very pretty" said Wilfred, calmly,
"and quite agreeable. Not at all dashing.
On the whole, I should say she was nice girl.
By the way, curious thing happened, which
am inclined to think may lead to farther
developments" And he went on to tell her
of his meeting with Ralph Barstow.
"And what farther developments do you
look for?" asked Madame when she had lis
tened to his account and agreed with him
that the coincidence was an odd one.
"Why, don't you think it likely that there
may actually be relationship between these
Virginia Barstows and myself? 1t seems to
me highly probable. Not that I feel any ur-
gent desire to claim kinship with this fellow,
whom 1 didn't fancy, to tell the truth, very
particularly. He had a stiff, saucy look
about him, as if he thought himself little
too good for everybody else in the world
81 have heard of those Barstows," said
Madame. thoughtfully. "They are a good
family; but there was something, think, a
little disreputable about them-1 am not
quite sure what. Perhaps, however, there
may be more than one branch"
"Oh! if there is anything disreputable
about them, I am sure I don't want to hunt
them up" said Wilfred, carelessly. "1n fact,
1 should not do that under any circumstances.
1t only interested me little to fancy that l
might not after all, be entirely without rela-
tions in this part of the world-not that it
would do me any particular good to fall in
with them."
"I am selfish enough not to wish you to
make any such discoveries" said Madame,
half jestingly, "for it might make difference
in your feelings toward me-"
"That is not very likely" said Wilfred,
confidently. "You are almost the same as
my mother now, you know" And he kissed
the slender, fair old hand, which she extend
ed to him as he spoke. swell, it's getting on
to my sleepy time, and those old fellows are
still waiting for me upstairs. l believe I'll
say goodnight, and discuss my evenings dis
sipation more fully with you tomorrow"
He went up to his room, lit his study-lamp,
and prepared for his usual hour of reading !;
but somehow he found it very difficult to
concentrate his thoughts, as usual, on the SUBJ
iect before him. Visions of a fair face, with
a provoking dimple and pair OF soft, dark
ewes, would intrude itself continually among
the letters on the open page, and the recollec-
ton of scraps of gay talk, interspersed with
musical laughter, and the refrain of Ger
man song, got mixed up with the sense ofthe
words he tried to understand, and effectually
destroyed their meaning
"It's no use," he said aloud at last, in a re-
signed manner, as he closed the book. II
don't know what's the matter with me to.
night. suppose am sleepy, or confused by
the nonsense I have been listening to. I'll
give it up and 60 to bed; it can'G signify for
once"
And go to bed he did, and dreamt all night
of Daisy Courtalne
As to the party he had left, he had be-
come, not unnaturally, the subject of dis
cussion among them rs soon as he had taken
his departure. The ladies--most Of them
were quite enthusiastic in his praise. He was
so handsome, so refined, 60 polished, with
Just enough of foreign air about him to
make him charming. Miss Lamotte was es'
pecially enthusiastic. She said he was 'quite
love-" and appealed to Ralph for con-
frmation of his opinion.
81 am 20 Judge in such case," he replied.
"Tbis is the second time you have made
that remark to me this evening. Do you
pretend to be incapable Of judging in any
matterY she Aippantly continued.
II don't pretend to Judge of matter that
don't understand. Mr.. Barstow may be
very loveable, but it takes the penetration Of
discriminating young lady like yourself to
discover it," he answered, with scarcely con-
cealed scorn.
81 am not alone in my opinion, however"
said the young lady laughing. "Mamma and
Mrs. Courtaine have already agreed with me,
and Daisy does, 1 am sure, also; though she
says nothing. Come, Daisy, isn't Mr.. Bar
stow perfect loveY Mr.. Wilfred Barstow,
I mean
"No one would suspect your meaning me-
Miss Lamotte," said Ralph.
Daisy laughed, and said she thought Will
fred was very nice. "He plays so we'll" she
added demurely, as if that were his chief
charm.
"That is doubtless an important recon-.
mendation," said Ralph. "It is highly desi-
rahle to be good musician and most tor:
eigners are"
"He is not foreigner" said Miss Lamotte.
"He is, certainly; has been born and edu'
Gated abroad, and never even visited Ameri-
ca until within the last few months. What
else would you call foreigner
"His family are, or were, Southern people !;
his parents only went to live abroad. Would
you call yourself Frenchman, ifyou had
happened to be born in France?" asked
Miss Lamotte. Mr.. Courtaine remarked that
education and habit had as much to do with q
persons individuality as the place of birth.
Ones ideas of course were formed by the sur
rounding amid which one lived but, foreign
er or not Wilfred Barstow appeared to him
to be very gentlemanly, upright young
man. He had passed considerable time in
daily intercourse with him, and had seen