Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-01-09

"Now see here, little torment" said Frank,
"I'm not going to be cross-questioned, in this
style, any longer. told you already that
never asked her to marry me, did / not ?"
"Yes, but you might have given her to un-
derstand, without really coming to the point.
Please tell me if you did can't help you
unless 1 know everything"
"Help me! In what way ?"
"Oh! in great many ways, perhaps. I
can't tell yet. neither can you. The time
may come when I can be of use to you, or to
her. And if ever it does, you will see, then,
whether I have proved myself worthy Of your
confidence or not" E.#<# ;sE
believe you would do great deal for me,
if you could" said her brother, touched by
her earnestness. "Well, Lena, I have proved
my trust in you, by con6ding to you what /
never intended for mortal ears, at least, as my
prospects stand at present. I know you will
keep my secret, like an honest girl, until /
grant you permission to divulge it. This
much more I will tell you. I have faint,
very faint hope, that Mildred likes me- ~
"Likes-oh! what cold, hard word ?"
"Indeed! have not the presumption to
attribute to her sentiment as warm as that
which I feel for her. Ionly think she prefers
me, perhaps, to other men who admire her,
and may, in time, be to me what dare to
dream of, only in secret, now"
"At all events" said Lena, in subdued
tone, "she knows that you care for her, does
she notr' -f .'..
II think 80. hope 80"
"Why don't you write to her, Frank?"
"No," said Frank, shaking his head.
"That would not do. 1t may be long time,
my child, before can feel justified in making
any more definite advances to her than I
have already done.''
"That is the part I cannot understand"
exclaimed Lena. 81 am sure you are at lib
erty to marry when and whom you pleasep
$50 thought, until lately" replied Frank;
"but what will you say when I tell you that
my father has already arranged an alliance
for me, and thinks I am doing both him and
myself great wrong in not acceding to it?"
Gan alliance !-of what sort"
Between the houses of Coventry and
Houghton." .sF.s,.a 4n.g
mercy, Frank! You don't mean that
papa really wishes you to marry Emily"
"He does, indeed thinks it would be
most excellent match" ......
81 heard him saying something of the kind
to mamma, one day." said Lena, "but never
supposed he was in earnest. How can he
be fond of Emilyl"
II don't know that he is especially fond Of
her," rejoined Frank, "but be thinks her
fortune would be fine thing"
Lena's crimson lips curled in scorn. II
never knew that he was mercenary, before
she Indignantly exclaimed.
"That is hard term, Lena, and scarcely
deserved. Father has been telling me Of
some pecuniary trouble that he has got into,
which makes him very uneasy and it is
entirely for that reason that he ia anxious for
me to make wealthy marriage. I must do
him the justice to say that 1 feel sure his
chief solicitude is on my account" -.
"This trouble will affect you too, then ?"
"In measure-yes. Don't ask me any
more about it, dear, for am not at liberty to
enter into particulars. What he said to me
was in confidence" h.. ~.
"Does mamma know about it ?"
81 think not. Mr.. Comfy knows"
"Then that is the reason why he and papa
have been having such solemn conferences of
late. But Frank, you can tell me this much,
is it anything vsry bad ?"
"Not so bad, hope, as my father seems to
Think" said Frank, cheerfully. "Only while
there is any doubt or difficulty in the matter,
1 would not want to involve any one else
any one that ! cared very much about, you
KNOWN my troubles"
"Well," said Lena, "all can say is, that
if had lover, and he got into trouble, or
even got very, very poor, l should care for
him ten times as much as ever l had done
in prosperity, and do ten times as much
to show it, Now know that noble girl
like Mildred would feel exactly chat way too."
"Perbaps so," rejoined Frank, "and if we
were engaged, should be tempted to rely
upon her affection for me to stem the passage
through the adverse tide; but you see, my
dear little enthusiast, as I did not take ad-
vantage of more favorable season to assure
myself of her regard, couldn't have the as
surance to attempt to do so now. At least, l
must wait and see how things turn out"
"What in the world made you so slow !"
exclaimed Lena. "That is one thing, Frank,
that 1 am provoked with you about"
at was my modesty, I suppose" said
Frank, smiling 81 am selfish enough to wish,
now, that 1 had been bolder but perhaps it
is better as it is.
II feel years older than did, since you
have told me all this," said Lena, after they
had ridden on little way in silence.
81 am very sorry that you should" replied
her brother, seriously. 81 was wrong to say
a word to you about my fathers affairs"
"Oh 1 don't mean that. Indeed, am
only too proud to have you talk to me-too
glad to find that you rely on mel" cried Le-
ma, in quite a glow of enthusiasm. "But
what mean is, that I seem to be really a
woman, Frank, since you think me worthy to
be told of such things. And mean to show
you that am worthy, too. I'll not only keep
your secret faithfully, faithfully, but try and