Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-03-16
CHAPTER XV.
BY HERBERT JOHNSON.

seemed to be no reason why 1t should not take
place at an early day. The preparations which
Sophy would have to make were but few and
simple. They could not take long, and Mr..
Erskine was naturally anxious to hasten the
time when he should have right to do for his
newly-won treasure all that his fond heart die
tated. He behaved beautifully, however ; re-
Trained from urging her into unwelcome haste,
and left all arrangements to her decision. On
the other hand, she left them to the decision Of
her mother, who was quite on Mr.. Erskine's
side. She had fully made up her mind that she
would, in all things, endeavor to please him.
If she could not give him the affection he de-
served, she could at least crafty him by show
ing her anxiety to yield in all other respects to
his will. So the wedding was fixed for the
thirtieth day of October, which would be just
a month after the anniversary of poor Harry's
birthday.
This birthday she had hitherto kept religious
ly, since Harry's departure from home-the
first year, with some tears over Mis- absence,
and visits to all their favorite haunts, where
they had spent many happy hours together,
and where it seemed to her she could recall
his presence with peculiar yividness. The
next year, she had passed the day in bitter
mourning and weeping, shutting herself in her
own chamber, reading over all of his letters,
and lingering over the few dear mementoes he
had left her; his picture, the lockof hair, and
some other trifles, which, though the sight of
them filled her with such exquisite pain were
the greatest treasures she possessed. But on
this anniversary she told herself that it was
her duty to act differently. She must try and
put aside these fond memories, these links that
bound her all too firmly to the cherished past.
She could not destroy his letters, or single
relic that served as reminder of his love-
Once she had almost made up her mind to do
so !; but her heart rebelled at the suggestion
1t seemed as though it would be needless cru
city to herself to insist upon the sacrifice per-
haps at some future day she would find strength
to accomplish it. She put them all together,
however, without lingering to examine them,
secured them in package, and locked them
up in little chest, which she seldom had Oc-
casion to open. ''It is no crime to keep them
there" she thought "even Mr.. Erskine would
not mind it, I am sure he is so good and kind. ="
The days speedily. Already October was far
advanced. Mr.. Erskine, in quiet way, had
made many little preparations for his bride, in
the home which was to be hers, which she was
ignorant of. Dainty appointments, of furni-
ture, and pictures, and some rare china, to say
nothing Of a magnificent silver set to adorn
their breakfast table. AS to the rooms ap-
pointed for her especial use, it would be hard to
describe the flutter of tender joy with which
he superintended their arrangement, looking
forward to the time when her presence would
adorn them, and striving with thoughtful care,
to omit no trifing detail which could ensure
sitting-room, adjoining her chamber, was a
miracle of beauty, with it's Persian rug, it's
curtains of azure silk and delicate lace it's
dainty work-stand, it's writing-table of rose
wood, it's one exquisite painting of Raphaels
Madonna della Seda'' over the mantelpece,
and the little library stocked with choice books,
of the sort she loved best. Here, surrounded
by so many evidences of his carefulness to pro-
vide for her qualification, she would be remind
ed of the love which had suggested them, and
perhaps, by degrees, learn to think more ten
derly of him, Her gratitude he did not want.
That only gave him pain !; but he hungered-
o, how intensely for her love. Would that
blessing ever be his? He could not tell He
could only wait, and hope, and pray.
He had earnestly begged Mrs. May to make
her home in future beneath his roof but while
thanking him gratefully for the invitation, she
postponed it's acceptance, preferring for the
present to remain where she was. The dis
tance between the two houses was so short
that she knew she could see Sophy every day.
Not only would the latter pay her frequent
visits, but she herself, being much stronger
than formerly, could now find pleasure in the
little walk to Mr.. ErskineS, as the hill was by
no means steep. The truth was, she was toe
greatly attached to her own home to be able to
make up her mind to leave it though, to
soothe Sophy's disappointment, she promised
to stay with them during part of the winter
when the cold and rainy weather might other
wise prove al interruption totheir intercourse
About the twenty-frst of the month, Cap
tain Russell found himself, most unexpectedly
obliged to leave home on some business which
required his immediate presence in New Y York
He did not expect to be absent longer than
week at farthest, and so would return in
time for the wedding
During these days of preparation, Sophy was
calm, even cheerful in her demeanor. She bus
led herself in every conceivable way, so that
her mind should not, for any lack of occnpa
tion, fix itself upon dangerous subjects. She
smiled upon Mr.. Erskine when he spoke t(
her though he felt, sorrowfully, that il