Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-08-30


since then had been very ILL.,.
OyerWorked, the doctor said, but knew
better. l.,
10 INV own soul I could whisper the hu-
initiating truth, could pour out the cruel
confession, with sort of savage pleasure at
the self inflicted torture.
# was nv heart, not the body that suffer-
ed. the heart that had forever passed into
Hart Sidney's unconscious keeping -,
If I had never suspected it before, should
have known it by the new light in her
eyes, the new radiance OF her beauty, as IL
burst upon me on the day OF my return:
And what could be more patural than
that things should be as they We're?
Did not guardians nsalways love their wards,
and wards their guardians: :,
I have never read book which treated
of such relationship in which such was
not the sequel of the tale.
And yet-and yet did it make it easier
for me to bear?
/ turned my gaze away from that other
picture and lifted myself up from the depths
of the great chair in which l lay until L
could catch a glimpse of my face IN the
mirror opposite.
What contrast!
MY eyes, the only beauty ! possessed,
looked many time too large 1or tne INN
dark face and my hair was close cropped TO
my head.
They had cut it off as lay delirious with
fever, and crying that its weight hurt me.
sank back with grOan.
At that instant my sister, returning, en-
tered the room.
"Alinew she cried, "Aline, child, l am
so happy!" ,,-
down on her knees beside my chair.
The contrast was too great. never hao
seen her half so beautiful.
"DOn't tell me, don't" !" hastily eXclalm-
ed, and lifted up my hand as if to ward Oft
a blow. "I know" continued. II con-
gratulate you but don't say any more,
"You know, dear ?" she answered, look
of surprise sweeping over her face. "How
is chat possible ?" :,
"Don't ask me. Only, know, I"
But could say no more.
NY weakness conquered my strength, and
I burst out weeping. ;,
"Poor child! Dear little Aline, she whiS,
pered tenderly. "Do you love me so O., wen
that you hate to lose me? But you Will not
really lose me, dear When | am mar
ried-"
"Hush!" l interrupted. II won't hear
any more"
And sobbing bitterly, buried my face in
my hands.
Of course no heroine would have done
such thing, but l was no heroine:
was only foolish girl who had lived
but eighteen years, and who could only
look forward to long life of lonely misery
for 1 loved Hart Sidney.
He had not meant to make me love him
I knew that, but when I had come home
for my Christmas holidays, Alice had been
away on visit, and so I had seen him
every day.
We had ridden and driven, and walked
together, and, as / have said, this manner
held that unconscious and inherent tender
ness towards things weaker than himself
which had charmed my heart into reckless
ly pouring forth its unheeded treasures at
his feet.
setting the seal upon my misery, brought
it's own punishment.
For aweek life was again despaired OF.
Then, because I did not wish the blessing,
strength came slowly back.
At last, when I grew better the physl-
clans said 1 must have change, and SO they
sent me to the seaside, to visit an aunt who
had a cottage by the sea.
/ was glad to go.
Had stayed at home | should have gone
mad.
Alice and Mr.. Sydney went with me to
the train.
L Ildu Udlle llcI SOOu-OSCS ttillt eiiS .i'Lh
was Just about to start, when he put his
head in through the window.
s'You will let me come and see you ," he
said.
And only had time to answer-"No,
n0-you must not come ~
ONLY time for this, and to note the swift
look, so like pain, which swept over his
face, ere we moved away, and a glimpse
of them both standing side by side, as they
would henceforth stand through life. Not
withstanding my injunction to hecontrary,
he came had been in my new home a
fortnight, and some of the color was steal
ing back into my cheeks, when one after
noon, as 1 sat alone upon the piazza, dream
ing as dreamed all my idle hours away, a
step sounded on the walk, and looking up |
saw the face which moment before had
tloated in my fancy. For an instant l was
happy-supremely happy-and, sprlnglng
up, held out both hands with q rapturous
cryy of welcome, then l sank back, cold and
stern again. But that cry had brought him
close beside me, and my hands were so
tightly held in his strong clasp, while his
great brown eyes lookedinto the very depths
of mine, that 1 trembled and was still:
Merciful Heaven what was it that heard
there could it be that he loved me, and
that he had wooed and won Alice TOR her
gold? I should have said before that my
sister was an helreSS. ndu uO pOWel-uot
even that of beauty but Hart Sydney, l
would have sworn, was not man to be
bought or sold, to buy or to sell. L don't
know Just what came to me in that hour,
that moment, but though l realized, or
thought l realized his baseness, yet could
not Snatch from my lips the cup whose
sweetness slaked their thirst. We spoke nc
word of love, but every day found him by
nv side. I was no longer listless; | was
brilliant, even merry. l laughed and sang
as one might laugh and sing at the feast OF
death. These few days were all that were
given to me to satisfy the hunger of long,
dreary, empty life. Once he was about to
speak to me of Alice. But l stopped him.
Iwould not be reminded of the wrong was
doing her, for day by day and hour by hour
told me that, though she would share his
life and have his name, she would never
share his heart. That was mine! Another
fortnight passed, and still he fingered. But
his return was fixed for the morrow. On
the last evening we wandered down upon
the beach, silvered by the moonlight;
Standing in its rays, he turned and raced
me, clasping his hard over mine as 1t lay
upon his arm. ,,,
WAline.n he said, 81 love you, child