Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-02-23

posure, at least to some extent, before he coul'
venture to speak again. He felt her reproacl
keenly; dagger thrust could hardly hav
wounded him more deeply. And yet he hat
not been unprepared for all answer of this sort
In his calmer moods, he had sometimes fig
ured to himself almost her identical manne
of receiving his proposal.
Some moments passed she continued tt
weep at first violently, but by degrees with
softer emotion. Her heart smote her for hav
ing uttered word of reproach to this kind
generous friend for rejecting so harshly hi
offered love.
''Mr Erskine," she said TREMENDOUSLY at last
He turned towards her directly, but without
eagerness. He had no hope Of her relenting
and had already crushed his own stormy ex
citement down into the deepest recesses of his
bosom, and bid it keep sternly within its
bounds.
II beg your pardon" she continued, broken
ly, as he came again to her side II did not
mean what said just now. Itwas not true y
ut was true, very likely" he rejoined. II
was mad, foolish to allow an impulse to over
master me so entirely. God knows, I ought
to have learned self-control ere this"
"You could not say or do cruel thing.
You have the best and kindest heart know.
And it distresses me beyond expression to have
to refuse you anything. But the idea of love,
or of marriage, is past for me now. IT you
will pardon my hasty words, and continue to
be what you have been all along, shall be
grateful to YOU"
"You ask hard thing" he said with a
touch, slight but irrepressible, of bitterness in
his tone ''Not my pardon-that would be
easily accorded, if had anything to pardon.
But to expect me to continue to act the hard,
dry role which have played hitherto feeling
all the time that my weakness is known to
you, and that have lost the only hope that
made it excusable-oh child do you think that
love like mine can be so lightly overcome, so
easily thrust aside? Why it has grown into
my very life-its strong fibres are entwned
among my heartstrings uproot one, and the
other perishes with it.'
s'I never knew never dreamed OF this, !"
said Sophy, fresh tears gathering in her eyes.
I thought you looked upon me as so much
younger than yourself. There seemed to be
difference between us, in every respect"
eyes, I know. You regard me as your
elder by so many years. You never supposed
that December would be so foolish as to think
of mating with June. But tell me, Sophy-
though 1 have, it is true, no right to ask the
question-were your heart your own, to be-
stow it ON any wooer, would you still regard
my claims as utterly unreasOnably and alb
surd %
''How can tell ?" she answered. "It is a
question cannot think about at ALL"
ssWell, let it rest, he said, with an attempt
at lightness in his tone. There was long
pause At last Sophy, rising, and feeling
anxious to terminate so embarrassing an inter-
view, said that her mother would be missing
her, and she must 60 in.
''Must you % His tone was kind and gentle
as ever; all the involuntary bitterness had
vanished. 81 will come with you, just to the
door,
They walked together to the front of the
house. The sun, glinting through the tree
tops, shed slanting rays upon the sloping lawn,
and it's distant beams quivered with depart
ing glory upon the white sails of a vessel slowly
gliding down the bay. The air was cool and
soft A mild odor stole up from the flower
beds where roses and heliotrope were waiting
for their night-baptism of refreshing dew.
The sky was cloudless, but for few tiny
fecks, glowing with amber and sapphire hues,
that fingered near its western edge, and SEEM
ed to stoop towards the calm, blue bosom of
the water, like birds about to dip their doWny
wings. Below, the little village lay tranquil
in the mellow evening light; one or two bare
footed children ran along the beach, and their
voices rang out faint but clear as they laughed
and shouted at their play. For few mo-
ments Sophy and her companion stood quietly
looking out at the water. The scene was so
peaceful, so tranquil, it insensible soothed the
emotion of each.
''I must 60 to mamma, now," she said by
and by, for the second time. 1T is growing
late.''
'sAnd I ought not to detain you. Good
night, my child, goodnight l trust your
mother will have quiet, restful night.'
And with these words of parting he turned
away.