Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-03-02

vote any attention to him must surely wound
him deeply. She sat in silent perplexity until
it was time to 90. Then as she rose to bid
him goodbye, she summoned up her courage
by desperate effort, and blushing painfully
said
ssMr. Erskine, must return to mamma
now, for at this hour she needs me; but II you
will let me come over sometimes l shall be
very glad to read or talk to you, while you are
still unable to 60 out"
"Your presence will be always most well
Gomez he returned, gently "but do not put
yourself to any Inconvenience on my account "
Nothing could be more friendly, and at the
same time more quietly respectful than his
manner. 1t seemed to say to her, 'Be quite
easy; I do not intend to annoy you any more
with my unwelcome attentions. In future
am your staid, fatherly friend, and nothing
more.'' He pressed her hand kindly as he
bade her goodbye, and left him feeling partly
relieved partly troubled, for she could not
quite overcome the idea that she had not be-
haved precisely as she ought.
q However, the next day she came over again,
bringing some fresh flowers which she had
gathered in her own garden for him. He
begged her to arrange them in vase on his
toilet-table, and watched her with evident
pleasure and satisfaction as she did so. When
she had finished, he took up newspaper that
Law at his elbow, and asked if she would read
one or two of the items aloud to him, as he
found such close print still trying to his eyes.
She did so. From reading, they fell into con-
versation, and she soon found that she had
nothing to fear. Her friends manner was
as composed, his voice and eye rs calm, as
though nothing remarkable had ever transpired
in their intercourse. She was almost inclined
to believe that she had conquered his unfortu-
nate fancy, and that his sentiments now to-
wards her were exactly of the sort she wished
them to be. At all events, it was pleasant to
her to think So It was especially pleasant to
find herself restored to her old easy footing
with him, on which alone she could enjoy his
society as of yore.
"And is your mother really so much bet
ter ?" he asked her in the course OF their in
terview. 81 have heard very favorable ac-
counts of her lately from the Captain"
II think she is really much better. She has
been taking daily exercise for week past,
and does not seem near so nervous as before. "
"That is great blessing. But your hands
must be very full, STILL Does your painting
keep you as busy as ever ?'
"Why, no. I am afraid shall not be busy
with that, any more," she replied, a shadow
falling upon her face.
''How sop
s'Mr. Schaffer-my employer, you know-is
going to remove all the way to Michigan, and
says he can't send work to me from such
distance"
s'When did you hear from him ?"
"Last week, some time-Friday, think it
was. 1t is pity, isn't it? Itwas such pleas
ant work, and it isn't likely shall be able to
get any more of the same SORT"
"Oh, well-we shall see," said Mr.. Erskine.
ssIt won't do you any harm to take a little
rest. Have you had any trouble in getting
tho things sent back and forth since have
been i'll %
"No, they have been sent regularly as usual. t"
81 have been thinking" said Mr.. Erskine,
slowly at length, ''of a little plan. The doctor
said to me yesterday that a change of air would
benefit me as soon as 1 should be sufficiently
strong to travel. Now if I make up my mind
to 20 on this little jaunt, shall want some
one to keep me company. Do you think your
mother could be persuaded to 60 at the same
time? Of course you would be of the party
also, and the Captain, if can persuade him.
l should not wonder if it would do your moth
er good, as we'll as me-"
''I don't know, I am sure" said Sophy,
doubtfully. cit might do mamma good
but
"But you think she may raise objections :?
1t is not unlikely "Still, may be able to
overcome them. You know it is absolutely
impossible that T should 60 alone; and Mrs.
Perry, though an excellent woman, is singu-
lary uncompanionable. I would take her
along, however, as nurse. think we might
really get up pleasant little party"
To Sophy's utter amazement, her mother
offered no objection to the scheme when it
was proposed to her. The truth was, Mrs.
May had begun to feel some solicitude on ac-
count of her daughters health. She had OBJ
served her looking very thin and pale, and
though herself averset to the exertiOn of moving,
she was willing to make it, knowing that
through this means alone, Sophy could OBJ
tain little recreation and change. So
she accepted Mr. Erskine's invitation-so
delicately worded. as to put her acceptance in
the light of personal benefit to himself-and
everything was arranged for the jaunt, which
was not to occupy more than a week, or ten
days at farthest.
The Captain had at first refused to leave
home, but Mr.. Erskine and also Sophy, plead
ed so earnestly that he should make one of the
party, that finally he agreed to accompany
them.
Their destination was quiet spot in the in
terror, noted for the beneficial qualities of it's
mineral waters, to which invalids were accus-
toned to resort. At this season. most of its
visitors had left, though the weather was still
quite warm enough to make the climate en-
joyable, and the comparative solitude made it
all the pleasanter for them.
Mr.. Erskine was now almost well. His re-
covery had proved less tedious than Captain
Russell had predicted, and the change of air
seemed to act upon him like charm. TO
Sophy, too, it did world of good her cheeks
began to regain something of their former
rosy hue, and her listless, dropping air to give
place to a degree of animation which she had
not displayed for very long time previously.
AS to Mrs. May, she had evidently taken
turn for the better, and it seemed likely to be
permanent one. And this fact alone was
sufficient to awaken her daughters warmest
gratitude, and remove much of her depression.
Mr.. Erskine had been recommended to take