Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-01-11


thought her plain. 'I often come here-l
like to watch the sea-"
The slender hand drew her dress away slight
ly from the other end of the rock on which
she sat, and Reginald, emboldened by the
smile, gallantly asked permission to seat him.
self beside her.
It was astonishing how quickly they became
acquainted, Miss Maverick, on the sands
alone, and all to himself, was very different
from Miss Maverick in company and Regl-
nald soon found himself talking and laughing
with her freely, as though they were quite old
friends.
Not until the slanting beams of the sun
warned them of the flight of time did they
think of returning homeward, and then, as
Miss Maverick, drawing her shawl around
her, rose to 60, he said, with boyish direct
ness, ,''I like you a great deal better than l
thought did. hope shall have chance
to talk with you again. =
"Thanks for the wish,' she answered,
laughing softly, and then they separated, she
going slowly toward the house and he waiting
behind on the beach to indulge in a cigar, and,
for wonder, thinking.
'sBy Jove, she's splendid girl That
little stupid Dots nothing beside her. must
cultivate my friendship with Miss Maverick.
What shame that she should be teacher
III DOL'S SCuOOl. Oue'S q luo 1ouy. IL 0foA
there was one."
After that they met often; by accident, as
it seemed to Katherine. Sometimes on the
beach, or in the shady garden, or in one or
other of the quiet rooms of the pretty little
house-for this was only Mr.. Lanster's sea-
side residence.
"Regy seems to be very studious all on a
sudden" observed Mr.. Lanster one day. "He
doesn't care to 90 out with us at all he IS
always strolling out in solitude with book. "
Alas for Regis SOLITARY studiesH" The
book which accompanied him was generally
used as a hasssock for Miss Mavericks trim
ly booted feet, and Regy himself was study
ing quite another volume. Mrs. Lanster dl'
not often invite the teacher to accompany
herself and her daughter on these visits; the
little open carriage held but two besides the
coachman, and Regy was sure to find her on the
beach or among the rocks. Then perhaps they
had little study together, that of some seduc-
tive book of poetry.
This was all very nice and pleasant; still
it was dangerous. Regy knew it; perhaps
Miss Maverick knew it. Regy knew perfectly
well that if the real state of affairs was dis
covered he would be sent home to his mother
in disgrace, and that there would be, as he
expressed it, "a devil of row all round" !"
and Miss Maverick suspected that her stay
with Mrs. Lanster might be of extreme
ly short duration, should the full extent OF
her intimacy with the young heir become
known.
Both knew this, and yet perhaps this know
ledge was partly that which made the situa-
tion so pleasant--a spice of danger is always
fascinating; and so, as the days passed, Regy
found himself doing precisely the thing which
he ought not to have done-talling tremul0uS-
~ in love with this fine girl, fathoms deeper
than he had ever gone before.
And Katherine Maverick! She laughed
at him, petted him, scolded him, and called
him a ''fooliSh boy,'' unconscious that she
daily made the net stronger. She was not
scheming woman, not hard-hearted woman,
but she was poor and sick to death of hard
life, and perhaps this rendered her less scrupu-
lous than she would have been. Besides,
why did they think her not good enough to
pay visits with them that stung her; why
did they leave her alone to Regis society !
If Reginald I.anSter some fine day asked her
to marry him-ah what a prospect it would
be! She should say eyes ~ 1t seemed to be
her one chance of lifting herself out OF her
undesirable life. One consideration would be
drawback to it, and that was Dot.
The child was so honestly fond OF her, she
confided all the secrets of her innocent heart to
her. and the chiefeSt of these was about her
cousin Regy. Katherine felt little conscience
stricken as the girl talked to her on this sub
ject. 'I love him SO dearlY,n Dot said one
day Il wouldn't tell any one else i'll the world
but YOU, you seem like sister now, and l
know you can be trusted" And thus with
her curly head on her friends shoulder, she
would talk of Regy and herself and of the
''Some day. which was coming IN the near
future
One Saturday afternoon, when Mr.. Lanster
returned from town, he brought with him a
friend, Mr.. Sarmiento. Dora observed that
she supposed it must be Greek name, as Mr..
Sarmiento was a Greek merchant; very rich
and and powerful. lie lived in beautiful
house near town, and had one little girl, but
no wife, for she was dead. A tall line man
of some six and thirty years, sensible, well
informed, with a pleasant voice and manner:
lie sat next to Katherine at dinner, and
seemed greatly pleased with her, and was with
her afterwards during good part OF the even
ing ,o..,
''That'S a very nice young woman you have
with you, Lanster," he remarked to his host
when they went out together with their cigars
for short stroll, the last thing.
cay; 50 Think" warmly replied Mr.. Ian
ster. ''You remember Maverick, who was IN
the Colonial trade seven or eight years ago: y
"And made that fiascO in it before he died
Yes" =,
''Not his fault, though. John Maverick
was as honest aS the day."
ellis misfortune, then, dare say it was so
Well, what of him -
''Ths is his daughter -
"Non' exclaimed Mr. SarmientO, in sur
prise. ellis daughter-and teaching IN
school!"
"What would you?" quietly returned the
host 'Maverick's means died with hlm-ant
his wife died of grief soon afterward. The
poor child had nothing left to live upon, SO sht
remained III the school where she was being
educated as music mistress, and fancy-a'
general drudge.'
s.Poor girl, indeed? She seems to me tt
deserve happier fate," concluded Mr.. Sar
miento.
1t was Thursday, the sixth day of Mr.. Sar
mento's stay. Other visitors also had beel
coming and going. Most of the leisure tim
of that gentleman seemed to be devoted tt
Miss Maverick, when he was obliged by cour
tesy to devote it to others. lie certainly en-
joyed talking with her, their conversation
often turning on her late father and the year
gone by. If she went on the beach, he woult
oin her there; if she sat by the shady nook:
of the garden, he would be sure to find her
At night she sang the songs he liked ant
asked for, and she sang very sweetly. Kegl
nald Lanster felt that he should like to drOWl
MI Sarmiento.
Reginald had fallen deeply in love with Mis-
Katherine, but never he thought as much Il
earnest as now lie wandered about i'll
torment of mind inconceivable partly causes
by jealousy, partly by indecision-fOr he coul'
not quite decide whether to brave his mothe
. and all the Lanster family and offer katherin