Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-02-19
CHAPTER XII.

American gentleman, who had lived many
wears abroad. He was now elderly, in frail
health, of reserved, and rather melancholy
habit, which gave the impression of bis hav
ing some private trouble of which he did not
care to speak. He had several pretty and en-.
gagiug daughters, only the two elder Of whom
we're at present with him. He was widow
er, his wife having long been dead, and his
younger girls were left at an English boarding.
school, while Louise and Helen accompanied
him on his tour.
Mrs. Stanley had grown fond Of these girls
when they had been previously thrown to-
gether at Baden, where they had spent sever.
al weeks under the same roof. They had
now developed into full grown young lady.
hood, and we're both exceedingly attractive
in appearance and manner. Louise, especial
ly, was universally admired, more particularly
by the gentlemen. She was brilliant and witty,
vet kind hearted and amiable. Hers was not
the wit that shines at the expense of good
feeling and friendship. She was glowing
brunette, with dark eyes and magnificent
black hair, and teeth of dazzling regularity
and whiteness. In figure, she was tall and
commanding, with stately carriage that
would have become an empress. She was
fond of dress, and dressed becomingly and
we'll. She did not believe in the truth of the
adage which pronounces
"Beauty, when unadorned, adorned the most"
Her fathers lberalty enabled her to crafty
her taste in this, as in almost every other par
ticular. He was both proud and fond of his
daughters, and was ready to bestow upon them
every indulgence which he could afford.
Helen was less handsome, but equally at
tractive in different way. Like her sister,
she had dark hair and eyes but her COM
plexion was paler, and her features less stri-
kingly regular. She was her fathers con-
stant companion, and devoted herself to him
with constant assiduity, now that he was con-
fined to his room from the effects of the acci-
dent he had met with. Jennie liked her ex-
tremely. They were about the same age, and
would probably have found much pleasure in
each others society had Helen's time not
been otherwise occupied. As it was, she was
thrown more with the elder sister. They
walked and rode together, and Eugene &C.
companied them in their rambles and their
rides
When young people are thus situated, their
intercourse soon assumes degree Of easy IA
miliarity, which. under different circumstan-
ces, it would fail to acquire in the course Of
years. Nothing develops intimacy and un.
reserve, and ripens acquaintance into friend
ship, so rapidly as few days or weeks spent
together in country house. Thus it was,
that the footing on which Eugene and his two
fair companions stood soon became a most
friendly one; and so pleasantly passed the
time in each others company, that none of
them contemplated, without regret, the pros
pect of separation, which must occur at no
very distant day.
Mr.. Eustace's recovery was more tedious
than had at first been expected. He had, in
being thrown from the carriage, received some
internal bruise and for some time he expert
enced little or no relief from the remedies
employed by old DR.. Gervais, the physician
from the nearest town, whom Eugene had at
once summoned to attend him. Mrs. STAN
ley, Notwithstanding her friendship for the
family, soon began to get little tired OF
having them in the house; but to her credit
be it said, that it was not from any lack of
sympathetic feeling that she experienced this
lUpdtleuCe. ~ leIl tue IiutH, oh0 ulu uoI Inv
to see Eugene so necessarily in the company
of the handsome Louise, even though Jennie
nearly always made third person in the
party.
One evening the latter had a slight head
ache and preferred to remain at home. 1t
happened that Eugene had chosen longer
route than usual for their ride. Louise had
gone up stairs to take off her habit, and Mrs.
Stanley finding herself alone with Eugene,
said to him half playfully, balfin earnest
"You must have found your companion
very entertaining this afternoon, my dear
Eugene"
'Miss Louise? So she always is, Madame.
But why do you make that remark?"
81 merely judge from the length of time
you spent in her society"
"Our ride was little longer than usual, l
believe"
"Tell me-" continued Mrs Stanley, rather
abruptly, do you admire this young lady
very much %
Il do, certainly; she is most handsome,
most accomplished, most agreeable"
"What a list of superlatives p
"And she is kind enough to admire every
thing about my little place, and enjoys riding
so thoroughly"
"With you for her escort-no doubt"
"Madame," said Eugene, smiling with per-
feet good nature, "if you suppose that any
sentiment beyond that of mere friendship ex-
lists in the mutual relation of Miss Eustace
and myself, please let me disabuse you at once