Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-02-02
C11APTER VI.

Mr. ErSkine fulfilled his promise OF gong TO
town, and finding out all that he could about
the dsacreeable matter which Mr.. John Skin
ner had brought to his notice and also ac-
uuainting himself with the true state OF Dr.
Nays affairs He found these left in consid-
erable confusion. The Doctor had been care
less in his business relations, and there seemed
to he no one in particular who was accounta-
BILE for their management or mismanagement,
or empowered to make a proper settlement
of them after his death. Mr.. Erskne was dis
mayed to find that the entire value of his
property, including his house, did not exceed
few hundred dollars above and beyond the
amount of Mr.. Skinner's claim, so that if
that were settled his wife and daughter would
be left almost without maintenance.
Upon investigation it was proved that this
claim was "a Just one. There was no doubt
about the genuineness of the note, and as a
matter of course it would have to be paid.
Mr. Erskine paid it in full. without touch
ing cent of DR.. Mays money; and then
made up his mind, for the first time in his
life, to tell an untruth, provided he should be
driven to the wall.
The act was generous one, and he would
have been prompted, in any case, to perform
it, for it was his pleasure to relieve distress in
every form but there was that in his heart
which made it an especial delight for him to
take this burden off the shoulders of the Doc
tors's bereaved family. lie would have count
ed nothing a sacrifice, by which he could save
Sophy single pang for his heart was bound
up in her. He loved her better than he had
ever loved any human being-better, because
in different, higher degree, than the lost
girl-wife of his youth. And knowing that
this love was hopeless-knowing, as he did,
that he could never even dare to give it utter
ance-he nevertheless had not the power to
put it aside. Strong in everything else, he
was weak in this; but his weakness wrought
harm only to himself, for it was too unselfisll
too pure, to seek to cost it's object single re-
gretful thought.
Little did Sophy dream of the relation in
1 which she stood to him. TO her mind there
seemed great gulf of years between them
She looked upon him in a half-paternal light.
and from this very feeling arose the confidence
she placed in him. The sense of his protect
ing kindness, the knowledge that he was ready
and willing to shield her from difficulty, tc
give her his aid, were very pleasant and CRATE
full to her She leaned OH his superior judg
ment, feeling it a good thing to have so eff
cent a friend at hand, to whom she coult
appeal for counsel and sympathy, who seemed
to be able to settle difficulties for her, an(
tighten her troubles, more easily than any
one else. Even Captain Russell, long ant
intimately as she had known him, could no
help her as this comparative stranger did
With the former she was more familiar, more
affectonate, taking the place of daughter
and dividing her time rs equally as possible
between her mother and himself, for Mrs
Nav liked to have her do so but in any per
plexity, any new doubt, her first thought, al
most insensibly, reverted to her later friend
And to this friend it was a keen delight
mingled, it might be, with an almost keene
pain-to have her thus contde in him, ant
Law her innocent heart open to his gaze; TO
while he joyed to know how much he was t.
her. he sighed to think how much more h
fain would, but could not be. To cast himsel
at her feet-to bid her share his home, hi
fortune, to fling care to the winds and let hin
treasure and protect her always-the YER
thought of this would make him thrl
and quiver with inexpressible longing, tn
yearning after a blessing which could neve
! be his If only Fate had drifted him earle