Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-12-09

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CRATE. "a pleasant prospect have in store
truly Forced to wed me against her will
hating me, as know she does, simply because
of being thus forced, shall not find much
comfort in my wife. Could we have remained
cousins, we might have continued friends; al
it is, see no chance Of anything but enmity
and discord between US. And no wonder she
dislikes memo wonder she finds her fate
hard," he continued, as he surveyed his re
Election in an opposite mirror. at is natural
enough that any girl should shrink from an
alliance with such an object She is beauti
ful-royally beautiful, and she knows it
With her queenly face and form she could
command the admiration of courts and to
waste such beauty upon me, hunchback No
wonder it seems monstrous to her! 0, why
was this hateful contract ever made? Why
could we not be let alone in our babyhood
like other babies, and have our future left to
decide itself?'
: Roland exaggerated his personal defects.
Though painfully apparent they were not Of
the repulsive kind that he made them out.
He was certainly dwarfed and misshapen, and
his face had the pale, unhealthy look common
to cripples; but its expression, though mel
ancholy, was far from unpleasing. On the
contrary, this expression was both intelligent
and sweet, and his large, deep.set gray eyes
were remarkably fine. His head, though out
of proportion to his size, was we'll formed, and
intellect was clearly marked upon his broad,
high brow around which his chestnut hair
clustered in soft, silky waves. All his fea-
lures were delicate and refined, and to an un-
prejudiced eye would have presented much
that was attractive, as we'll as touching, in
their ensemble. But he himself knew nothing
of this palliation to his own ugliness, as he
termed it. He believed his aspect to be who'll
ly revolving, and desired to conceal himself
forever from the gaze of the world.
He did not see his cousin again before his
departure. Lady Agnes informed him that
she was unwel, and preferred remaining in
her own apartment.
"She begs you will think no more of her
strange conduct, my dear Roland. In fact,
may safely say that she is now deeply sensi-
bic Of the improperly of which she has been
guilty" said the willy mother, who had de-
sired Miriam to avoid the young man during
the remainder of his stay, for fear she might
again be betrayed into a similar outbreak.
and who preferred acting as 60 between on
the occasion.
The wedding.day was fixed for about two
months beyond the present time; and this
being definitely settled, Roland bade Lady
Agnes adieu, and turned his face, for the first
time in eleven years, towards his own beauti-
full, but halfforgotten home. He arrived
there to find everything in the most perfect
order, and to receive warm welcome from
the trusty steward who had the place in
charge, and from his dependents, many of
whom had been servants on the estate during
the life time of the former lord. One Of these
in particular-old Priscilla-a wrinkled
dame who had nursed him in his infancy
and his father before him, gave way to lively
demonstrations of joy at beholding him
again.
"And it's yourself that's come to rule over
US at last, and be the master here, my bon
ny boy!" she cried, embracing him with the
familiarity to which her position in the house.
hold entitled her. "A joyful day it is for us
all that brings the Lord of Linton back to
his own estate. Sorrowful I've been during
your absence, and wearily I've pined to see
your blessed face again"
Touched by this heartfelt greeting, Roland
was glad to escape to his own apartments,
where he could hide his emotion from these
friendly eyes. Many and varied were the
feelings that agitated him on his return to
his childhood's home, where old associations,
clingiug to familiar objects, brought the past
vividly to his mind, and seemed almost to
bridge over the gulf of years which separa-
ted it from the present. Here, in these rooms,
he recalled his mothers presence, as she had
taught him at her knee, or heard him lisp
his childish prayers. Yonder was the very
chair in which she had sat, fair, frail figure,
too delicate for earthly surroundings He
could almost see her face, with its transpar.
ent coloring and deep dark eyes; could al
most fancy that he heard the gentle tones of
her voice as she spoke his name. Her por.
trait hung over the mantel. He gazed upon
it reverently, until tears obscured his vision,
and bowing his face upon his hands he suf-
fered them to flow freely, for his heart was
overcharged.
"And does the Lord of the Towers weep on
the day of his return ?" exclaimed old Prs.
ella, who had stolen, in after him upper
ceived. Laying her hand upon his shoulder
she continued, solemnls, "It's i'll luck to shed
tears upon your own hearthstone, the first
hour you set foot in front of it. Is it so sad
heart you brought home with you, my
jewel boy!"
"A jewel in an uncouth setting. Priscilla, y
evasively replied Roland, trying to smile; for
though somewhat vexed at being thus discov.
cred, his regard for her feelings forbade his
displaying any resentment at her intrusion.
"Eiel and who regards the outside form 2''