Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-12-23

of her house, went back with him to rejoir
her friend.
II think it is time for me to 60, Lady Hun
gerford," said Miriam, rising at their entrance
"Will you please order my carriage?"
go! Why, my dear, it's very early,
assure you. Don't you want to play game
of cards' Oh I forgot you don't play cards
and I suppose Mr.. Hope does not either
But I can find something else to amuse
you, dare say"
"It is not for lack for amusement that
must leave you now," replied Miriam. 81
have had very pleasant evening; but l as
sure you it is not early, and you know l have
quite distance to go.'
"And so have l." said Cyril, consulting
his watch. II have to thank you also, Lady
Hungerford, for delightful evening"
"What, you are both resolved not to stay
longer? That is too bad; but since you
will 60, I think, Lady Hepburn, you had
better give Mr.. Hope seat in your carriage.
It will save him part of very lionel y
walk"
81 will save him the whole Of it, if he
will allow me-" rejoined Miriam. "Mr. Hope,
pray let me put you down at the Rectory. |
assure you it is quite in my way"
Cyril accepted the offer with scarcely dis
guised eagerness. Not that he minded the
walk, but be found the prospect of tele dtete
with Lady Hepburn too tempting to resist
The luxurious carriage was brought to the
door, and presently he found himself rolling
easily along through fields and woods silvery
with moonlight, listening to the calm tones Of
his companion as she talked, and thinking
what pleasant fate ii must be to have ones
lines cast amid such places as he was begin
ming now to get glimpse Of Not that lux
ury and wealth had much charm for him in
themselves but associated with this beauti-
full Lady Hepburn, they seemed so natural
and fitting that it was almost strange to think
of doing without them. For instance, he
could not imagine her, with her regal beauty,
her sorrowful stateliness, set down in mar
row home like his own, where his mother and
sisters always seemed so contented And
yet, with all that she possessed, he could see
that she was certainly not happy. He longed
to catch glimpse Of her inner life; to read
the heart.secrets shrouded beneath the sable
folds of her widows dress. Was her grief
for the dead so sacred, so profound, as to shun
contact with the world, to shun even its SYM
pathy, after the lapse of ten long years? He
felt feverish desire to win her confidence, to
be admitted to the privilege of her friend
ship, to gain an insight into her true feelings,
and, perhaps, pour the balm of consolation on
her wounds-ah, that would be happiness in
deed His heart throbbed and glowed at the
very idea and yet, what an absurdity it was
that he should indulge in such dreams
These thoughts, mingling with conversation
that was only of commonplace sort, came
to an end as the carriage stopped at the gate
of the Rectory grounds. 81 am so much
obliged to you, Lady Hepburn" he said,
standing with his hand on the carriage door
after he had alighted; "you have been very
kind in fetching me home"
"Not at all it had given her pleasure"
Miriam told him. Then she added, courte-
ously, that she would be happy to see him at
Linton Towers if he would CALL
"Ishall he delighted" Cyril replied. There
was nothing more to be said, and he reluct-
antly bade her good night, and stepped back
as the spirited horses, impatient of delay,
started off. She had not shaken hands with
him-had merely bowed, and he wished that
her manner had been trife less cold. But
how could he expect the acquaintance of one
brief evening to ripen into friendship, with
out anything further to develop it? He
wished for impossibilities longed for, he
knew not what. He was excited, pleased,
disturbed, all at once. Glimpses of new,
unknown, untried world seemed to have
dawned upon him. In some way he had been
brought to the threshold of this mysterious
region, and stood looking in, seeing only
shadowy forms moving in mist of unreality
and doubt. Was he to enter? And if so,
what would he find beyond
He was young, and had an ardent fancy.
He had had his dreams of love, but had never
sought the reality. Was this reality coming
to him now?
He went in and found letter from his
mother, which had been brought in with the
evenings mail. Loving and kind, full Of
practical suggestions and pictures Of the tran
quill home life, it proved good antidote to
his restless and uneasy thoughts.
[To BE CONTINUED.
DIscIPL1NE.-It cannot be too often re.
peated that it is not the so.called blessing of