Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-11-22
six. Well, of course he couldn't be expect

six. Well, of course he couldn't be expect
ed to think of my feelings"
"Oh Marcia, tell me, were you ever in
love and what is it like? ?" said Ida, auda.
ciously, sitting down at Marcia's feet, and
crossing hands upon the old WOman'S knee
"It is the dreadfulest condition." began
Marcia, and then she bit her silence off al
it's beginning.
it," said Ida, quickly. "And why is it you
never married? 1t seems SO right for you
to be unmarried, | never thought to ask
BEFORE"
81 suppose there are many men in this
world, some one of whom | might have
loved anG married." Marcia returned, find
ing comfort in generalizing thus: "but
providence never threw us into circum.
stances which compelled love and marriage
1t is all happening, anyhow. you know
The man chance had in view for me mar
ried some other woman, | suppose, without
waiting to see me; and the man | might
have loved did the same"
go Marcia! how cold blOOded!" cried
Ida. 81 believe it all destiny-all meant
to be, and just as sure to come round right
as the sun is. wouldn't think otherwise
for the world"
"That's very natural" said Marcia.
"Well," exclaimed Ida, after a pause, iii
here isn't Herman coming back again ~
Then she fluttered like bird about to take
wing, and oscillated from one side to the
other of her perch on the step. "Yes;
think I'd better 60 in,' she said hastily,
after watching him amoment. Don't you
come Marcia maybe he's come back feeling
that he couldn't wait to tell you" Then
she ran away.
every well, ;" Marcia thought calmly, che
couldn't wait, as Ida says, and he's come
back to ask my consent. l shall give it in
as few words as possible, and | hope he
began to tremble when he sat down beside
her.
The afternoon was falling to its close now,
but Herman was either very warm or else
somewhat agitated.
81 will wait for him to begin in the way
he pleaseS. OF course he can't expect me to
begin," Marcia said, silently.
81 have been here before, this afternoon,
Marcia" he did begin presently, but he
stopped there somewhat uncertainty.
Eyes, saw you sitting here with Ida,"
she said, with a sudden resolve to help him
out, and have it over.
'Ida is a pleasant little girl-pretty, too,
don't you think so:" he ,.,ked.
The interview was painful to Marcia, un-
dert the circumstances naturallyvery painful,
and it could not fail to be distressing when
he praised Ida so openly. So she answered
BILE motion he was coming closer to her, and
in less than minute he sat almost next to
her. She raised her eyes to his face and OBJ
served him with clear gaze. Then he put
out his hand and clasped her fingers. His
touch was very grateful to her and feeling
Of pleasant warmth passed up her arm to
the shoulder, but she rigidly repressed it.
"He thinks of me as a sort of mother.in-
law, and he is seeking to propitiate me by
taking my hand. l have heard that men
try every means to win over their mothers
in-law," thought Marcia, bitterly. "His
mother-in-law ~
"You need not go on, Herman. l give
you my yconsent without you asking for it,
God bless you !"
"Afy dearest Marcia! Youdo! How good
of you to anticipate me !" he exclaimed, and
Immediately put his disengaged arm around
her.
She drew back somewhat alarmed at this
"Ida wouldn't like to have you hug me that
way" She felt that it was hard that he
should, afterall, think she was 50 old it was
no harm to hug her.
He laughed delightedly. "Why should
Ida know?" he asked. "You wouldn't tell
her would you, dear?" and he laughedagain
''Of course l shall tell her !" she cried, in
dignantly; "and you are beside yourself
Herman, when you Say dearand dearest, sir,
to meW
81 will speak to my wife as tenderly as
like" he said, firmly.
A light broke like broad bar of sunshine
within her. A fragrance eNhaled from all
the roses at once, and something very beau.
tiful touched her mouth. Herman had
kissed her. Suddenly she felt the years
dropping away from her like leaves, and
she knew that dewy, girlish glow had
dropped, loaded with bashfulnesS, and hel
fingers toyed with the tassel that hung by
its cord from her waist, as youthfully as Ida
had tOEed with her rose. She was in d
whirl, she could not think, and yet she re.
membered that once she had fretted and
called herself old. Old? Oh! she had new
er been so young.
'But | am thirty-six, you know, Her.
man," she said, doubtfully and dreading tt
remind him.
"No," he answered, holding her at arms
length. "You are but twenty. If neither
spirit or body ages, what account should We
take of time? | do not wish you a day
younger; you are perfect as you are.'
"Nevertheless," she replied, half sorrow
fully, 81 shall never forgive myself for hav'
ing been two years old when you were born.'
"It is sin too small to be forgiven" he
said, gently.
81 am afraid Ida would have been BETTER
she suggested. 81 thought in the first place
it was Ida, you know, and that you had
a Sl,p1 NV consent tn marry hpr ~
He was highly amused. "In spirit and
experience | am at least sixty years DID," he
answered, still in his dreaming, gentle way
"If had my rights should be bald-headed
and afflicted with rheumatism. Fancy
then, my marrying Ida! She is the very
newest of new milk; while with you, Mar
cia, or at thirty-siX, the cream just begins tc
rise"
81 do not feel old-not now" She smiled
contentedly.
\ girlish voice wound errily in between
their own.
"Do you think it is destiny, Marcia, OF
circumstance" it said; and when they
turned, in some confusion, Ida was standing
man had confded in YOU" she continued
mischievously.
LII II AN NSOllIfCllONS.- lllt Uuo
crops the receipts from taxes at the State
treasury, SO far, are sl11 900 more than the
receipts for the corresponding period las
year.
This is favorable and cheering fact. Il
shows that the people are willing to pay the
taxes though they have had serious losse:
this year, and it shows, too, that there i:
more money in the State than was supposed
The farmers must have been in Il tOlerablS
strong position when the year opened, ant
account for their ability to withstand tho