Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-01-19
gu 0rigiual Stprg.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
THE HOUSE ON THE HILL.
BY HERBERT JOHNSON.
CHAPTER l.

HNS>~~
ant summer morning, pair OF lovers were
slowly pacing up and down. That they were
lovers. was a fact patent to the dullest compre'
hension for his arm was about her slender
waist. his head bent low as he murmured certain
words in her ear which brought smiles and
bushes to her cheek, and the shy glances she
occasionally stole at him, from beneath her
long, brown lashes, were surely only such as
lovers words would have elected. They were,
in truth, recently betrothed; so recently, that
no one in the wide world knew their tender
little secret but just themselves-and this,
perhaps, made the secret all the more precious.
Harry Fielding and Sophy May had been COM
panions, play-fellows, devoted friends, from
childhood. Circumstances had thrown them
very much together. Their dwellings were
separated only by garden; each was an only
child, with no other comrade at hand and 1t
was natural, under these circumstances, that
most of their play-hours should be passed in
each others society. 1t was equally natural
that, as they grew up, (both being amiable and
attractive young people, their childish friend
ship should deepen gradually into warmer
feeling; though whether this result was for
tunate one or not, remains yet to be proved.
The first delightful and somewhat confusing
exhilaration and excitement, attendant upon
the newly formed relation between them, hav-
ing softened down into a more sober sense OF
the realities of the situation, little talk about
their prospects, and the steps expedient for
them to take next, ensued.
"You see, Sophy, " Harry was saying, Though
I hate the idea of having to wait so long, am
almost sure your father and mother would
object to the idea of our being married before
my first voyage is over and so for the pres
ent, if can only win their consent, I suppose
must be contented."
''Of course Harry! Why, they wouldn't
dream of-of anything else yet," answered
Sophy, with the prettiest blush imaginable.
SIN fact we don't even know whether"
''Whether they will ratify our engagement" :"
said Harry, finishing the sentence for her, as
she paused. "Was that what you were going
to say, darling? "Well, don't anticipate
any difficulty They have always been very
good to me, and don't see why they should
turn against me now"
''Nor l." said Sophy, softly pressing his
VI.
she loved you almost as well as if you were
her son.
ssAnd of course they must have known
that this would happen; and if they had OBJ
jected, why, they could have given us warn
ing, couldn't they %
sWhen will you speak to them Harry ?"
''Just as soon as I can make my mind to go
into the house. 1t is too pleasant out here
for me to leave you yet"
II wish," said Sophy, shadow stealing
over her bright face, ''that you were not 60
ing on that dreadful voyage. I wish you
would give up all thought of the sea-"
my darling when have been brought up
for that and that only? What other profess
sion would be fit for?''
''But d sailors life is so hard-so full of
peril" said the young girl, thoughtfully. CAL
most anything else is better"
''It is glorious life," said Harry, with en-
thusiasm. ''You yourself, Sophy, have always
encouraged me in the idea. Don't you re-
member, ever since we were little children,
and used to listen to my uncle's stories by the
fire of an evening, how we would talk togeth-
er of the day when should start on my first
VOYAGE, and of all the wonders I would see,
and the curiosities was to bring home?"
'sAh yes but it was far off then," said So
ply, with smile and sigh. "Things look
ed at in the dim future, seem quite different
when they are brought near.''
''The parting seems formidable, I must al
low," said Harry. 81 dread the thought of
leaving you but then remember, my first trip
will not be a very long one ; and when come
back, how happy we shall be You must not
make me wait then, Sophy. We shall be mar
ried directly, and our next voyage will be made
together, perhaps. You will not be afraid to
60 with me, will you 20
''Afraid No, indeed. would far rather
60 than stay at home thinking of you, and be-
ing frightened whenever the wind blew hard.
1 should always be dreaming of your being
shipwrecked, Harry. would have no COM
fort at all until you came home.''
'You will nave to pluck up courage, Sophy,
DEAR A sailors wife ought to have brave
heart. Though you talk of me changing my
profession, am sure you wouldn't care to
have me tame, spiritless land-lubber, hang
ing around the house or field all day-for what
fancy for study. would never be fit lawyer,
or preacher, or doctor whereas if follow old
Ocean that 1 love, I shall find both fame and
fortune one of these days.
They were so earnest in their talk, that they
did not perceive the approach Of a newcomer
on the scene. This was an elderly gentleman
in shaggy blue coat, with pair OF spectacles
on his Roman nose, brown wig set somewhat
awry on his head, and nautical-lOoking cap
set jauntily on top of the wig. He shuffled
along at a leisurely pace, (his feet were equity
and encased in slippers, with his arms crossed
behind his back, and peered curiously at our
lovers as he drew near.
''Ho, no !" he exclaimed, as soon as he was
within speaking distance. "What have we
here A pair of cooling doves %
The pair turned quickly at the sound of his
voice. Sophy would have drawn away from
Harry's arm, but he held her fast.
''Don't mind Uncle, Sophy he knows pref
ty well all I can tell him, suspect. Uncle,
this young lady has promised to marry me,
that's ALL"
''That's all, is it ? Come here, my dear.
Let her 90, sir, will you ?" said the old gen.
tleman, in a bluff, hearty, good-tempered tone.
Sophy obediently approached him. He took
her two hands in his own, and scanned hel
rosy face, having previously pushed his specta'
cles up on his forehead that he might obtain a
more comfortable view.
''Is it true that that young lubber has had