Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-03-01

undC f1drTy WAS awaiting ucI LII eIlS illuel
saloon, and asked if would not wish to be
introduced. Iacquiesced with the readiness
which is allied to curiosity and followed her
promptly. / could not but wonder to my
self, as we traversed the cOffee-room, at the
gentleman's tardiness in Fastening to meet
her. He could scarcely fail to have seen
the long car drive up to the door as it pass
ed the windows of the drawing-roOm, and
vet she was left to seek him out instead OF
accepting the first greetings and attentions
at his hands.
However, Madge seemed perfectly salts
fed and it was assuredly not my part to de-
sire more lOverlike alacrity.
The door of the saloon was closed, and as
Madge had her grasp on the handle she
said to me in a whisper
"Now, what do you expect? Tell me be-
forehand
can Adons, of course" was my reply.
"But am afraid not a very active one. lie
ought to have been earlier on the scene."
She laughed. "YOu are famous guesser.
Incidence is just the one fault have to
find !" and thereupon the door was thrown
open and she went iIhpulsively forward:
At this hour the room was deserted, and a
glance showed me that it contained but a
single occupant. l paused in ,perIP,leXlty,
and a strange sensation sent thrObbing to
my heart. N[adge had her arms around
some ones neck a warmth and impulsive-
ness which would have been too much for
me under other circumstances. AS it was, l
felt my color rise, and stepping closer, ut
tered her name in quick accents.
"NIadge, Madge! who is this?"
She was round in an instant, with her ha-
eel eyes full of their merriest light.
"My friend Hurie. WOn'tyou recognize
her? Allow me to introduce you in full
form. Mr.. Hartwell, Miss Henrietta De-
lancy."
Never, think, had greeted a stranger
with such impetuous delight before. l am
almost afraid that MY excessive eagerness
must have been taken for familiarity; for
Miss Henrietta, who was very handsome,
gave me scanning glance from her fine
eyes, and drew back with the slightest de-
gree of hauteur. Her expression was by no
means 50 sweet as Madge's, though she had
the advantage of herin height, and possibly
in what is termed style.
Madge evidently admired her immensely,
and clung about her in a delighted way,
which was very childlike and charming. l
had still, l found, a rival in "Harrie;" for
ter now, and was left pretty much to the
task of reflection till we were out on the
hill in the evening, for our usual promenade.
Miss Delaney had accepted then the escort
of an old acquaintance, whom she had met
unexpectedly at the table IL hOte, and Madge
was content perfOrce to fall back on my COM
panionship. She did it with SO good grace
that 1 had to forgive her everything
previous artifice and her recent neglect. |
could not but call her to some account, how
ever, as we found ourselves side by side.
"Why did you tell ME it was gentleman
friend was to eXpect" l questioned, with
a full glance beneath her hat. She met the
glance with wide open eyes.
II never said so; never, indeed, Mr.. Hart
we'll"
"Well, you allowed me to assume it,"
80, the mistake was too amusing one to
be set right. You spoke so touchingly of
Harry and looked forward so longingly to
his advent"
81 doubt about the latter part of that state
ment, Miss Madge. l should have been
quite satisfied never to see the expected
guest if you had been of the same mind"
"And why, pray, if you pictured him so
fascinating ?"
"Possibly for that very reason. Have
you ever heard of such a thing as jealousy"
The flush deepened on Madge's cheek !;
but then she indulged so often in this bewil-
dering loveliness 1 could not appropriate
anything special from the token.
Mrs. Merrington, also Miss Delaney and her
escort They were on the return walk, and
we were going onward towards the ex-
treme end of the promontory, where Madge
had promised to show me a nook amongst
the crags which was her favorite seat.
"COme, Madge, my child, you must turn
now" said her mother. "The evenings are
not what they were. You have no wrap
pings on, and may take cold"
80 mamma, just one round more" she
pleaded "We have not had half walk. L
want to bring Mr.. Hartwell to the point"
There was laugh from Miss Harrie:
sion, certainly. We must not interrupt SO
interesting a tete-0-tete :" and with playful
gesture she and her companion passed us.
Mr.. and Mrs. Merrington followed but
Madge knew me too well to feel embarrass-
ment, and she kept to her first intention.
"Madge," l said, as we went onward, 81
am in your hands now. Lead me to some
charmed spot"
"Do you want to be enchanted?"
"Scarcely that. The magic chains are too
fast already ; but would cast a spell over
you. In this delicious dreamy air it might
be possible" I.
me fair warning. 1 refuse to be deluded."
L .
reality"
stopped, for her gaze was turned on me,
and something in its questioning light for
babe Interrogation of mine.
"There is my nook ~ she exclaimed the
next instant. "Far down in the deepest
part of the cliff, where no passer by can pen
citrate. Seated there, looking straight sea-
wards, can forget the whole world"
"And you enjoy that? ?"
"When am selfish.
"You give it a right term. Whenever
you are thus hard upon others, be so upon
yourself"
We were watching the last glimpse OF
sunset as we spoke. The globe of fire,
which had floated, as it were, on the surface
of the water, vanished with strange sud.
denness from our eyes, and at the moment
a soft vapOry atmosphere replaced the. for
Madge turned landwards with one of her
swift motions.
ave must hasten now," she said; "my
mother will be lamenting the loss of my
cloud. I am to follow the sky, it seems
and when it wraps itself up L must do the
same"
"Well,, Vel you like to look high, I remem'
She only smiled, made no disclaimer
Yet the charge was forever refuted when
grew aspiring on my part; and to ques'
tion put to her at last no denial rose, either
to her lips, and she frankly and gaily told
me she never had another thought.
With this happiness my stay at the sea-
side ended. 1t was a farewell to the place
but not to what had passed in it. The
memories of the visit and its summer lights
were to live in a brightness which had nc
sunset