Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-01-26

All through the forenoon, trips were made to
and from the ship, until finally she went down,
and nothing more could be brought from on
board. The crew, of course, were all saved,
and so were some valuables, among these, a
trunk. containing Mr.. Erskine's possessions; !;
but unfortunately, the only boats at command
were not large enough to bring away any con-
siderable portion of the merchandise with
which the vessel was loaded. Mr.. Erskine had
been the only passenger on board. The care
of the Doctor and his family restored him be-
fore long to nearly his usual condition, though
he continued weak and dizzy for some hours,
and was glad to remain on couch, which was
wheeled into the sitting room for his accom-
modation. He spoke gratefully of the service
Harry had rendered him, and with much feel
ing of the peril from which he had escaped.
He appeared to be sensible, serious-minded
man. and his manner and conversation were
intelligent, polished and refined.
81 wish he would remain here" Mrs. May
remarked to her husband when they were
alone; che would be such an acquisition to
the neighborhood; such an agreeable compan-
ion for you l fancy he must be very nearly
your age"
81 fancy not, my DEAR" said the Doctor.
s'The man is sick, and has been half-drowned
besides. AL that is enough to add good
many years, outwardly, at least, to his true
age. AS to his settling down here, don't
think such a dull neighborhood can offer him
many attractions I think it would be advisa-
BILE, however, to invite him to remain with us
as long as he may be detained here. lie will
probably embrace the first opportunity to leave.
Perhaps he may 60 on the same vessel with
Harry
Mrs. May agreed with her husband that it
would be quite the right thing to do; and ac-
cordingly the invitation was rendered to him
that very evening. He expressed himself as
greatly obliged for their hospitality, and
agreed to remain with them at least for day
or two, while he made up his mind what he
should do next.
'sIt is al i'll wind that blows nobody good"
he remarked, smilingly, "and the rough gale,
that used our poor ship so hardly, has bene-
fitted me by waiting me into this charming
haven, which I should probably have never
otherwise discovered. AS far as my own in
clination is concerned, I feel in no hurry to
depart
'"Why don't you get house somewhere
near us, Mr.. Erskine 20 suggested Mrs May,
thinking it a favorable moment for the propo-
sition, ''there's pretty place, going to ruin,
Just at the foot of the hill, which believe the
owner would be glad to SELL"
Mr.. Erskine made some indefinite reply, and
the subject was changed. day or two pass
ed without any special event occurring. In
deed, the excitement through which they all
had passed seemed to be quite enough for some
time to come. But one evening Harry came
in looking flushed and eager, and Sophy saw
at once that he had news to tell her. Her
heart sank, for it foreboded, only too truly,
what his tidings would be.
ssMy ships coming" he exclaimed. "She'n
be in here tomorrow, probably; and Pm to
sail within week"
Sophy's color came and went. She strug-
gled with herself for a minute, then made
some pretext to get up and leave the room.
Mr. Erskine followed her with kindly, SYM
pathizng glance.
$50 you are quite happy, suppose" said
the Doctor.
II don't know about that, sir" replied
Harry II fancy shall be better pleased at
getting back again, than at getting away"
s'You were little too sudden in your an
nouncement, my dear boy" said Mrs May,
gently.
''It was very stupid of me-" said Harry,
penitently. ''May I go after Sophy, Mrs.
May %
She made an affirmative sign, and he quick
ly profted by the permission thus given.
DR.. May turned to their guest ''Those
two," he remarked, "are the most perfect
children ever saw. The idea of their being
engaged to lie married seems preposterous. l
can't accommodate myself to it, somehow"
ssIt is an engagement of long standing, how
ever, is it net ?" asked Mr.. Erskine.
ooh no; it's quite of recent date"
ssIs that 500 I understood, from something
MIR. Fielding said, that they had been attach
ed from childhood"
$50 they have" said Mrs May; ''at least,
Harry has been fond of Sophy, he tells me,
all his life, and has always looked forward to
making her his wife. 1t is natural result OF
the close intimacy which has always existed
between them"
ssBut the idea of my little Sophy being any
body's wife seems absurd" continued the
Doctor. ''It was but yesterday that l danced
her as a baby on my knee"
GA long yesterday" said Mrs. May. Il be-
came yo,lr wife when was two years younger
than Sophy is now"
'sBut l, at all events, was of a respectable
age,'' he rejoined. "That boy is not yet
twenty-one.'
'Isuppose, however, as Mr.. Fielding is going
to sea, it will be sometime before they are
married." said Mr.. Erskine.
''Oh yes! they won't he married for years, "
was the Doctors reply.
Mrs. May laughed. 81 don't know what
Harry would say if he could hear you," she
remarked. II know that he looks forward
confidently to being married on his return
from his first voyage"
'Absurd" said the Doctor. 81 hope, my
dear, you have not encouraged the idea. l
can't give up Sophy for at least five years to
come.'
Mrs. May thought it would be unwise to
press the subject farther just then. She knew
very We'll that her husband would relent when
the time came. Mr.. Erskine presently OBJ
served that he thought people did not very
often carry out a first attachment, but that
such marriages, when they did occur, were
apt to be particularly happy ones. cat
least, J." he added, ''my own experience goes
to prove the fact