Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-02-20

have proved it. Now, if Mildred returns
your afection-which, if she doesn't deny it,,
am going to suppose to be the case-just for
a matter of form, you know-supposing this,
L say, to be the case, would, nevertheless,
counsel you both to be patient and not enter
rashly into the matrimonial contract without
looking somewhat ahead. Are you, Mr..
Coventry, in condition to support wifeY'
"Really, SIR" said Frank, more and more
provoked, IL cannot comprehend"
"Jannot comprehend what right I have to
pry into your affairs, ehf Well, I'm Mil
dred's distant relation, you know; that gives
me sort of right to look after her interests" !"
81 shall apply to Miss Rathborn's rightful
guardian, sir, for any ratification l may de-
sire of her expressed wishes on this or any
other subject" said Frank holtly. II must
beg to decline" .....
$50 you have an irritable temper, 1 see.
Well, perhaps am not justi6sble in inter-
fering Of course you must settle your own
affairs, and 1 don't pretend to control this
young lady's action. Only remember, she
hasn't penny in her own right-not pen
ny; and if you haven't got enough for both,
it will be bad lookout" -....t..
So saying, he hobbled out of the room.
"What detestable old creature" murmur-
ed Frank Then drawing nearer to Mildred,
who seemed on the point of following Sir Rox-
wells example and making her escape, he
took her hand, emboldened, as it would seem,
by the little episode which had just occurred.
"You heard what he said," he whispered,
"about supposing it to be the case that you
that I have not been hoping in vain. May l
suppose so, Mildred =? You are not afraid Of
comparative poverty with me, dearest ?"
II am not afraid of anything-with you"
was the scarcely audible reply.
Surely, Sir Roxwell's intrusion was cir
cumstance not to be regretted after all, since
it hadiso simpli6ed this important matter! l
am inclined to think that both the lovers
forgave him. At any rate, they were too hap
py to allow any disagreeable thoughts to
annoy them. I might I'll many pages with
record of the conversation which followed; but
as lovers talk is seldom interesting to any
body but themselves, it will be sufficient to
say that all the conclusions arrived at were
of the most harmonious sort.
Another great dsnoument was to take place
on that same evening, though one might not
unreasonably suppose that enough exciting
events had happened for one day, at least.
While Frank and Mildred had been engaged
in their confidential tste-a-tste in the library,
another of different sort had been going on
in Sir Roxwell's private room between him
self and Clarissa, scarcely less important in
its way than the first A proud and happy
woman was Joshua's sister when she drew
from the recesses Of her work-box the papers
SO long and carefully guarded, and displayed
them to the baronet's surprised gaze.
my good soul, how did you ever manage
to obtain and keep in possession of these ?"
he asked. "They are of infinite importance,
as establishing, beyond question, my young
relatives right to the property am about
to make over to her, and satisfying any scru-
pie which could exist in any ones mind on
the subject. Not that T deemed them as
proofs but in taking a step of this sort, it
it is well to leave no chance for envy to pick
a single flaw. Here you see, in Mrs. Rath-
borne's reply to her mothers letter, conclu.
sive evidence of the old ladys Intentions
poor soul poor soul it was we'll she did not
know how they were to be frustrated-and
in these certificates of Mildred's identity, the
requisite forms required by law, in transfer.
ring the property. You have acted we'll and
nobly, Miss Clarrissa Carey, and congratu'
late you upon the share to which you may
lay claim to in the establishment Of Mildred's
welfare and prosperity"
When everybody was gathered in the
drawing. room after tea, Sir Roxwell arose
from his easy chair, and approaching Mil
dred, was observed to whisper very earnest
ly to her for a minute or two, while she
made answer in the same tone. Then leading
her by the hand to the centre of the room,
he said, with an old.fashioned bow to the
assembled guests:
Ladies and gentlemen Taking it for
granted that you are all warm friends Of this
young lady, who, after more perils than COM
monty fall to the lot of one in her rank in
life, has at length been restored to liberty and
her rightful privileges, I feel infinite pleasure
in making to you the announcement, that
intend forthwith placing her in full and en-
tire possession of this estate, now held in my
name, which consider lawfully hers. Allow
me, therefore, to present her to you in her
proper character-that of mistress of Ather-
ton Park, with all the belongings appertaining
thereto"
There was universal stir at this unlocked
for announcement. Col. Mansfield and his
son clapped their hands and cried "bravo"
Frank was infinitely surprised. But nothing
could add to the satisfaction he already felt,
except, indeed, the thought that all his diff
culties in the way of opposition at home were
now quite swept away. He was to marry an
heiress, after all. But Mildred, the heiress
was no dearer to him than Mildred, Ito use
the cunning old baronet's expression,) with
out penny in her own right" How thank
full he felt that he had won her promise be-
fore he had known or dreamed of her coming
good fortune!
Mildred, who of course, had been prepared,
by what she had learned from Clarissa, for