Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-03-01
The Sturp Teller.
MY RIVAL.

NA n III Il 0Ae
wish Madge Merrington had not been SO
provokingly pretty, a perfect gossamer, fal-
ry, weaving her webs on all sides, and en-
snaring with equal facility the wary and
the incautiOuS.
She was seven years old when l first knew
her. was eight-and-twenty, and, as mat
ter of course, I took her on my knee, pet
ted and caressed her.
But years passed on-lucklessly for some,
happily for one who steps from childhood to
the fuller fairness of maturity. When
Madge was fourteen it grew to be a question
of nicely when my friendly admiration
should cease, or rather how far it should 60.
If had not seen her so constantly the
matter would have been less embarrassing.
1 should have left her at one date charm
ing child, and found her after due interval
a graceful girl. But was on the most in
innate terms at her home. Mr.. and Mrs.
Merrington were my oldest friends, and as
lived on the same terrace with them in
select suburb of the Irish metropolis, they
extended their hospitality to me with the
warmth and impulsiveness of the genuine
Hibernian heart. Now on what precise day
or at what precise hour was first to cease
coaxing attentions and bestOw my last kiss,
was point which troubled me considerably.
Wherefore should 1 be unchecked in my
demonstration one day, restrained the next?
What reason should l, or any one, assign
for ali abrupt change from freedom to re-
serve? The difficulty, however, was resolv-
ed for me in q manner which / had least ex-
pected.
One afternoon, in the month Of May,
had returned early from my Office, and had
made my way direct to Merrington Villa,
with bouquet in my hand and parcel
under my arm. Madge had reached the
mature age of fifteen on this memorable
day, and this was an event could not for
get.
I found her alone in the drawing room,
which looked on lovely little flOwer-ground
at the back She was in white muslin, with
pale pink bows, and large roSettes of the
same hue Z; high heeled shoes-rather ju-
venile costume for the hour &; but she was
to have an early party of young friends and
was already dressed for their arrival. l
presented my gifts, and l don't think any
one can blame me if accepted her thanks;
but at the instant the door opened, and Mrs.
MerringtOn appeared.
do not wish to be eVaSive, but l really
cannot distinctly recall in what attitude
Madge was at the crisis. / have faint re-
collection of the touch of some dear little
fingers at the tips of my whiskers. Anoth-
er shock, however, Overpowers the memory
of even this electric thrill. 1t was that
caused by the tone of Mrs. MerringtoE.
''Madge come down this moment, Miss !
You are too great girl to be on Mr.. Hart
Wells knee"
started but the young lady was more
self-pOSSeSsed.
''Dear old fellow :" she exclaimed. "Why
shouldn't thank him? Of course he must
have kiss for the big book and boquet he
has brought me on my birthday"
And then with sweet roguish look she
was gone. A quick knock at the hall
door had brought new excitement to her
thoughts, and l and the reprOof were alike
forgotten.
''Madge is very wild and wilful," said
Mrs. Merrington, drawing near to me, and
fixing her hazel eyes full on mine. "She
forgets that she is not child any longer"
''She does not wish to forget friends, at
all events" said quietly.
''Nor |, either, Mr.. Hartwell. But you
see-you feel yourself-that she has grown
up quickly; in fact, she is tall and old for
her age, though her manners are so unform-
ed. must not let her turn into romp."
II shall not encourage the propensity,
Mrs Merrington," was all l could say, for
somehow a blow seemed struck at me as she
spoke the gates of a too happy paradise
were closed swiftly by an infiexible hand.
with a smile. "If Madge needs a hint
again, / know you will not"
After this day 1 visited only occasionally
at the MerrngtOns'. Yet whenever l saw
my young friend felt that she could never
be tutored into worldliness, and that the
warm heart of the child was being preserv-
ed true and guileless through the more diff
ticult stage of girlhOod.
Three years passed; Madge was eighteen
and brighter being never dropped the
garb of girlhood for that of lovely woman
hood, and rose, fresh as fairy in some daz-
Zling transformation scene, before the en-
rapt gaze. She was petite; but her figure
was perfect with the slightness which de:
velopes into roundness; her hands small
and white, with that rapidity and defines
in their grasp which marks a brisk and de-
cided character. Nothing betrays more
weakness of temperament, more helpless
indecision, than the limp touch which is
given by some fingers. They seem to fol
low the slow motion of the brain, and to be
unable to catch quickly or surely at any
object upon earth. Madge had large haze
eyes, like her mothers, with short but
dark fringe Of lashes, and their gaze was
clear and open, more penetrating than pen
sive. Her hair was wavy, brown in its
tint, and she wore it brushed in curly rip
pies on the whitest of temples. OF hel
charming rosy mouth will not speak. II
was the feature of all others which spoke
for itself, and which smiled too straight
into the heart to leave actual impression
upon the memory.
Mr.. and Mrs. Merrington did not see
much company, and thus it came to pas,
that an invitation to the young lady tt
spend a month with friend at northern
Watering place was met by her with a joy
GUS response. The consent of her parent:
had been gained, and she set out radientlS
on her trip. The month was July, the
weather propitious; Madge was to have
sea-bathing, boating. riding and dancing
what might not be expected from such ex