Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-02-08
CHE Stnrv Tellet.
A MISTAKE.
CHAPTER I.
BY VIRGINIA FRAZEE.

CHAPTER 1.
The western-bound train, which had been
laundering over the rails at breakneck speed
for many an hour, slackened its pace and
gave forth, through its iron throat, shrek
which announced many an anxiously await
editor arrival to the slumbering town which
lay Just ahead and, moment later, the
hoarse voice of the conductor confirmed the
announcement OF the iron monster by the
sudden and alarming utterance of sound,
which, with the combined information OF
the timetable and the sign-boards of the
usual dram-shops which lined the front
street, the weary travellers knew to be
'Fairview :" although what he really said
nobody knew. Instantly there was gen
eral commotion. Fairview, besides being
the county seat, was also the seat of Homer
academy. And, as this was opening week
of the latter, each train brought in a num-
her of students, and there was a goodly
number on this particular one; and, as they
were in especially high spirits, they had
succeeded in making night hideous to the
more sober minded and sober aged of their
fellow-travelers : and there was visible
tightening up of countenances at the evil
dences of their exit.
And such timeas these young ladies and
their escorts had in taking their departure.
The number of eXclamations, thickly inter
spersed with astounding and unfamiliar ad-
jectives, was enough to make ones hair
stand on end, especially if one was inclined
to regard words as having any reference to
meaning. One blue-eyed girl of some six
teen summers cried: ooh, Gussie, darling,
1 do hope Mariah'l4be here this year. She
does lisp too awfully beautiful. Oh, Jim,
you horrid thing! you're letting those love-
ly caramels spill all out. on, gracious,
where's my cloak ?'' Then another voice !:
"There's that strap off my books again, and
nv astronomy isn't here-there it is, way
up on that rack. Oh, Charley, do just run
and tell the conductor to wait till get my
astronomy. o mercy! excuse me, sir; |
didn't know the horrid thing was going to
drop on your head" And Lily whispered
to Zadie in very audible tone: II know it
nearly killed him to death poor, old gen
teman, there amt speck of hair on his
head" Which whisper caused the old gen
tleman to quickly throw ahandkerchiefOver
his head, and scowl in the direction of the
innocent speaker; and several ladies, to
whom sleep had been rendered impossible
by reason of the old gentleman's persistent
snoring, smile smile of fully satisfied re-
venge. This group had the attention of ev-
cry one in the car, with the exception of
one passenger, who, since the whistle had
sounded, had sat with gaze riveted on the
town as if to fathom its very secret of eXis-
tence, and, as with a jerk, the train stopped,
she quietly arose, and picking up satchel
and cloak, stepped out after her more noisy
fellow-travelers. The latter seemed to know
everybody, and the quantity and quality of
their exciamations increased as they eX-
changed greetings with those they knew
amongst the crowd. Especially cordial were
they with one man, who seemed to know
and be known by everybody. He shook
hands, smiled, and bowed in all directions
at once, it seemed, but all the time his sharp
blue eyes were scanning the crowd; and
while answering fifty questions, as, eyes,
my dear, Katie came last week - "NO
Prof. Abbott takes Latin this year," and
the like; not one moment stopped nor
stayed he, but steadily passing on through
the crowd he finally reached the quiet pas
senger, a dainty looking little lady, who
had patiently awaited his approach. She
put out hand and smiled.
"Ah, Miss Percy, is it feared you had
not come. You believe in taking thelowest
place, see"
eyes" answered she. "'He that hum.
bleth himself shall be exalted you know
and don't see why it shouldn't apply tC
his low, peculiar laugh and Grace Percy
liked the only individual she had met il
Fairview, which was to be her home for one
year. And as they walked through the
town, to her boarding house, she fully ell
jOyed the large green yards and laughed al
the many country sounds which are unfa
miliar to the ears of one born and educated
in the city, and when they reached pre-
tentiOus white frame house, with yard a:
large as that belonging to any two dozel
houses at her city home, with summer
house at one side and little red and white
calf to be seen frolicking, on the grass, she
said: ooh DIR. Northcote, know shal
be perfectly happy here"
''My dear young lady," answered th'
learned man, ito be perfectly happy falls t,
the lot of very few ; that you may be one o
the few is my earnest wish; but here w
are"
Mrs. Willard was at the door to NEE
them. She was person of whom we viii
make some mention. In stature, UNUSUAL,
large, but of such graceful proportions a
not appear ungaininly; decidedly of tn
blonde type. Voice-at the first meeting
very low and slightly llsplng; in manne
graceful. A parsonage Of vast impOrtanc
in the estimation of everybody, including
herself; person to whom all paid hom
age, but whom none loved or regarded witt
any feeling akin to love. Her world wa
husband, children and self. These she wor
shipped; to these she was faithful; beyon'
these she knew little and cared less. If sh
was ambitious, it was to please rto advanc
them. To her face, all bowed the head G
worshipful respect and Difference; to he
back, was pointed the finger of ridicule
Yet, even those who knew and despise
her real character, paid the homage she eS
acted of all. How could they do dootherwise
The rector's wife knew she was every whi
as good as Mrs. Willard, and her patronag
nearly drove her distracted, 6m Judge VII
lard sent three children to the academy
and Mrs. Wizards voice in the choi
brought many to church. The Willard
paid the largest pew rent.
And when Mrs. Prang, the doctors wife
whose ambition was to be the best dresse
woman in Fairview, and whose only an
successful rival was Mrs. Willard, discover