Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-03-06
gu Original Stnrgg,
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
AFTER EIGHTEEN YEARS.
CHAPTER I.

AFTER EIGHTEEN YEARS..
CHAPTER l.
There was sound of revelry by night.
Itwas q brilliant night of June, 1862. The
day had been oppressively warm, but with
the setting of the sun a cool and refreshing
breeze had sprung up, to chase away the
languor and general od-for-nothlngnesso OF
feeling attendant upon the sultrlness OF the
mast twelve hours It ruff1ed the blue bosom
of u little river that wound, with many a
picturesque curve, around the base of a
wooded eminence, and gently swayed the
branches of oak and elm, through which
might be seen, glimmering, the lights OF
Judge Warmers hOSpitable Southern home.
From the open windows of this large, old
fashioned mansiOn-ene 0f the finest IN the
up-country of South Carolina, and justly re-
noWned as the abode Of refinement, domes-
tic happiness, and large-hearted liberality-
issued, at intervals, strains OF sweet and gay
music, mingled with careless laughter, and
the sound of dancing feet. Strange sounds,
perchance, to fall upon the ears OF one re-
Gently from a ttle-feld-ears to which the
boom of cannon and the groans of wounded
naen had become familiar. So thought Car
roll Gray, as he paused in his approach to
the large gates that stood invitingly open,
and listened, with a painful sense of incon-
pruity. to these signals of hilarity and mirth.
Sa"Mustthey frolic and dance forever % ne
Smuttered in an impatient under-tOne, that
denoted his vexation. II did not expect to
find this commotion going on! Iwonder il
Marion can take pleasure in such doings, at
this time-with me absent-my fate from
day to day uncertain, like the fate of dozens
of Others in whom she ought to feel some
INTEREST," gave her credit for deeper feel
ings But one can't depend onanything. or
anybody Its queer world; A nice
appearance l should make in my dusty uni
form among that crowd. 1t must be a reg
ular blow-up they are having, Judging from
the noise. I shan't 60 in until tits all over. y
He passed through the gates, and instead
of proceeding farther towards the house,
turned aside and entered thick shrubbery
that skirted the lower portion of the lawn.
Here, safe from discovery, he might, rest,
fs-zls had tra uolnd fAs tl.--t l1sS' ->A.d ,H--A
very weary. He found his way easily 10 a
little summer-house, overgrown with fioW-
ering vines, where in days of peace he had
passed many idle and happy hours in the
society Of his cousins, Judge Warmers
daughters and nieces who formed large
household. For one of these-Marlon
Vane-he had, in the past few years, grad
ually acquired a warmer and deeper aftec-
ton than cousinly or even brotherly regard ;
and to Marion's welcome, on this his first
visit home since the commencement OF the
war, he had looked forward during hisjour
ney with the fondest anticipation. But it
seemed that he must wait for this, as he did
not choose to seek it under the present cir.
cumstances; and it was with decidedly dis.
agreeable sensation of disappointment and
chagrin that he threw himself down on rus
tic bench, to while away in solitary ret1ec-
tion the time that must intervene before
the eagerly desired welcome could be given
him. IS :.,#.....:. IL.
In the mean time, the revelry within
doors seemed to wax more joyous, and the
sounds of merriment to rise higher. Carroll
as he listened, fancied he could distinguish
voices-among others, the voice of his cousin
Marion; but probably this was only fancy
for he was not near enough to hear any
thing distinctly. The house was so shad.
owed by trees that he could not even catch
a glimpse of the figures which he pictured
to himself, in festive attire, moving to and
fro, though he strained his eyes jealOusly tC
obtain such glimpse. He felt it to be a
sort of outrage that he, the returned soldier
weary with travel and still bearing the dust
of the battlefield about him, should be
lurking Outside there in the dusk of the
lonely shrubbery, waiting for admission tC
the house where his nearest and dearest
should be on the watch to meet him with
open arms after his long absence, while al
that heartless merriment was going on with
in. There was nobody exactly to blame
for he had not written them of his expected
furlough, and Of course they could not know
that he was coming-still, he had not looked
forward to finding them thus employed
the situation was altogether a trying one
and the more he pondered it the more ILL
humored and ill-used he felt.
Marion Nane was, at that particular time
it must be confessed, not thinking of hel
cousin Carroll; but it did not follow thai
she had not bestowed on him very many
thoughts during his absence, and those O
a tender nature, mingled with sincere
desire to see him again. 1t would have
added materially to her present enjoyment
to have had him there to share. the feStlVl
ties of the evening; but as she believed
him to be far away, it did not occur to hel
to reflect on the possibility of such case
and she gave herself up to the pleasing
attentions of sundry other admirers with
the natural ight-heartedness of nineteer
years. The war, so far, had brought nc
serious results home to her. She felt it, O
course, to be public calamity, and had hel
fits of enthusiasm over the cause, and kni1
a good many pairs of socks to be sent to the
soldiers; Du6 no dldrlIl Vi Ddtlle Hdu redcilet
her ears; a great deal that was transpirine
seemed far off and unreal, and her life as ye
had experienced no change, except in the
absence of some familiar faces, and to thi:
she had perforce grown accustomed. Things
were for the most part dull and quiet. A
little entertainment like the present one
had become rarity, and she saw no reason
why she should not enjoy it to the utmost
So the evening passed on, and she danced
and talked, and fiirted-yes, even hirted
though in very innocent way-as happily
as though there were no war, and as though
Carroll Gray, sulky, indignant, and dread
fully tired of waiting, were not sitting ir
the dark summer-house, fifty feet from th'
broad verandah where she walked, leaning
on Paul Desmond's arm, while she resteC
from the dance.
"And have you no better answer for me
to the question I asked you a little while
ago." murmured young Desmond, in :
tone of unmistakable significance, as HI
pressed the little hand that rested in hi
arm.
Marion stood still-her eyes flashed :
glance of laughing reproach. ...
"Mr. Desmond-has one warning no
been sufficient for you? Did 1 not say tina
unless you were willing to drop that subjec
I should neither walk nor dance with yol
again tonight.