Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-01-29
Au Original Stnrg,
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
THE THREAD OF FATE.
BY VICTOR VERNON.
CHAPTER VII.

oASSHS
into which he fell toward morning, recalled
the conversation of the previous night. He
was inclined to think himself the most miser-
able of human beings, as we are usually prone
to consider ourselves, when any unforeseen
misfortune has occurred. In the first shock
of such an event, it seems impossible to real
ize that the earth can contain greater suffer
er than ourselves, or that we can ever find
panacea for our woe. .-.
He arose, feeling dizzy and shaky, with his
head aching from sleeplessness and confusion
of thought, and his first impulse was to throw
himself back on his pillow, and give full vent
to his dependency but the recollection OF
Charity's malicious glances, and the thought
of the pleasure it would probably afford her
to witness his trouble, if he allowed it thus to
overcome him; nervei him to exertion. He
bathed his aching head and heavy eyes plen-
tifully with fresh cold water, and having
dressed himself, went out to his usual duties
on the farm. The GOODNESS of the early NOR
ming air was grateful and reviving to him.
Insensibly he felt his perturbed spirit soothed
and tranquilized by the peaceful atmosphere,
and the familiar sights and sounds of the farm.
yard, which, in recalling him to the practical
business of life, seemed to make his trouble
more distant and unreal. By the time the
breakfast bell rang, he was more fully re-
stored to his usual self than he would have
believed, on first waking up, could possibly
have been the case in so short time and
was able to take bis accustomed seat at the
table, with nothing in his aspect to indicate
the recent tempest of agitation, through which
he had passed. If he was little graver and
more silent than was his wont, no one appear.
ed to notice it. Jennie was eager in the dis.
cussion of strawberry feast, which was to
come off shortly, in the neighborhood, and in
which, of course, she was to take part.
at has been fixed for Thursday, cousin
Martha and it's so warm now, have been
thinking had better wear white, don't you ?"
eyes, dear; white always looks we'll on fresh
rosy-cheeked young girls"
''And which will look incest, my pink sash
or my blue?" ...
"I'm sure, dear, it's hard for me to say
ones as pretty as the other, to my mind"
"Then I'll make Edward choose for me.
Say, Edward which shall it be?"
II beg your pardon ?" said Edward, with a
little start He had not been listening to the
discussion.
d do believe you've been in brown study
all this time. We've been talking about my
sash at the strawberry feast. Shall it be blue
or pink ?"
"Whichever you fancy most, l suppose;
you look we'll in anything, you know"
"Thank you, sir but want your advice,
not your Aattery. Now see, have on pink
bow" and she laid her little hand on her
Al ,,,t seh
air slightly on one side, and fixing her eyes
seriously upon his face. docs it not look
well on me, or rather do look we'll with it
on? Or does this, catching up blue dam
ask napkin that lay near her, and holding
it near her cheek" become my complexion
most :"
Edward smiled, in spite of himself, at the
way in which she made the appeal; but
something seemed to rise in his throat and
make his answer indistinct. Her fresh, dainty
prettiness, the innocent gayety of her air, and
above all, her utter unconsciousness OF any
thing unusual or wrong, all combined, in some
inexplicable manner, to remind him how wide
gulf lay between them; how far removed
must his aims, his pursuits, his whole future
be from hers. Perhaps it was at that mo
young girl, with whom he had held brotherly
intercourse so long, was sown in his heart.
Certain it was that her sweetness of look and
tone had never before thrilled 80 strongly
upon him, and that pang, keen, swift, sharp
as two edged sword, shot through him with
the thought that she could never be anything
nearer to him than she was now-that no
matter how sweet and winning and charm.
ing she might be, he must look at her only
from distance henceforth.
He scarcely knew what reply he gave her;
but answered at random, "pink," and then
made some pretext for leaving his seat, to at
tend to business out of doors. It was not
possible for him to sit any longer opposite to
her, just then, and maintain his composure.
"He is always so desperately busy" said
Jennie, in a half injured tone, there's no
getting him to talk about triAes at all. Any
how, it doesn't matter; you and |, cousin
Martha, are the best judges, am sure"
In spite of this assertion, however, she de.
cided upon pink. To her great disappoint-
ment, Edward expressed his intention Of not
going to the strawberry party. He had some
thing to attend to, he said, at home.
II am sure, my dear boy, you can afford
yourself time for little relaxation now and
then," said Mrs. Thorndale, when she heard
this decision. "It does you good to 60 out
and enjoy yourself"
II should not enjoy myself, I am sure"
was his reply. And neither Mrs. Thorndale's
arguments, nor Jennie's, had any effect in
changing his resolve. Jennie pleaded, coax
ed. insisted, and finally came as near being
angry as her placid temper would allow.
She thought it lawfully mean." lawfully
unkind," in Edward to disappoint her so,
when she had been looking forward all along
to having him go!
81 don't see why you should care anything
about it, Jennie. My presence is not neces.
sary to your enjoyment"
"Isn't it? Well, no, of course it. isn't.
But then, you see, told everybody you'd be
sure and be there"
"If that is your only reason for trying to
make me 60, don't think you need worry
yourself any farther about it"
Il did not say it was my only reason, did
I? "Of course it is pleasant to have you
with me; and then, really, l felt glad that
you would have some chance of amusement.
There'll be plenty of people there, and lit.
tie fun would be the best thing for you.
You have seemed so blue and mopy of late.
Fun is good for everybody now and then,
particularly for people who work so hard.
Butt shan't say another word about it. If
you choose to be obstinate, you must just
take your own way"
So! it's just for my own sake after all that
she wanted me to 60, thought Edward, as the