Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-06-12
There was the walnut tree which he and

Jack used to CLIMB, ana tnere Ine clear,
laughing brook in which he had taught her
to steer the little boat which he had made
for her, laden with grain, down to Jacks
famous watermill, at the roots Of that old
willow. Further up was the real "grist and
saw mill" which Jack had always been so
desirous of owning, and which every body
said would be such good investment for
one who could manage it properly,
And then Marion seated on the bench in
the rustic arbor, turned and looked long and
yearningly at the old farm house peeping
from the great beeches across the orchard.
No other place on earth could ever be home
to her. And her mother! on, it would be
harder still for her, whose whole life OF
fifty wears had been spent under that roof.
A sudden sound aroused MariOn--a sharp
whistle as of some one calling a dog, and she
saw through tear-dimmed eyes the figure OF
man hurrying along the pathway in the
meadow. She drew back behind the screen
of honeysuckle.
The path led past the arbor, but at the
foot of the steep bank, and she would not be
discovered in her retreat. So she thought !;
but a moment or two after there was sound
of footsteps ascending the bank, a rustic of
the honeysuckle branches, and Marion saw
standing in the entrance of the arbCr the fig
ure of tall young man, who looked almost
as much startled as herself.
For an instant they gazed at each other
Marion pale, and the stranger with flush
rising to his handsome face. Then he said,
as he held out his hand
"Marion, don'tyou know me ?'
She gave him her hand in silence. 1t
was Walter. And suddenly, with the sight
of him came the full bitterness of her sor-
her forever. She was nothing to him now,
p1 10 po,1ct ha nothiOO tn her
"I am glad to have so Unexpectedly found
you here in this dear old spot" he said. g!
arrived at home only an hour ago, and could
not rest until had seen YOU"
She met his eyes, bent upon her with a
strange earnestness, and her pale cheek
family flushed, but she could not have spo-
ken word.
"Marion," he said, suddenly, shave you
no welcome for me? Is it possible that you
cannot forgive me ?"
"Forgive you ?"
pride and folly. I have never had happy
moment since parted from you, Marion,
and have come back at last to ask your
which I forfeited, but which I cannot live
without"
'I do not understand you, Walter. I do
not know why you should speak thus to
me, when-when you are going to be mar
ried."
"Who told you that of me, Marion ?"
"It came from Agnes, your sister,"
He smiled.
"Aggie knowsmy wishes. It was she who
encouraged me to come back. She thought
you would forgive me. Will you, Marion
darling?"
She had averted her face to hide her tear
full eyes, but he now took both her hands,
and as he drew her toward him great tide of
unspeakable joy rushed over her, and she
could only family murmur,-
"Oh, Walterw
When they were both calmer she told of
the heavy grief that had fallen upon them.
They must leave their dear old home, which
had passed into the hands of strangers.
"Of strangers, Marion? Do you call me
stranger?"
"You, Walter?"
He looked surprised in his turn.
"Did you not know that it is who have
purchased the dear old farm? Did you not
receive Jacks letter."
"Oh, Walter, it cannot, cannot be- true!"
He took from pOcketboOk a paper which
he opened and placed before her. 1t was
the mortgage which her father had given
to Mr.. Harris.
"And the place is really yours now ?' she
said, looking up radiantly through sudden
tears.
"Not mine, but ours, darling"
She was too happy to speak word In
answer.
"You see, DEAR" Walter said, "Jack and
I talked it over the other day, and we
agreed, as he was so anxious to purchase
the mill and had not means sufficient for
hot hot oh fob hn 70 nd
him at liberty to invest in the mill proper
ty. It is the very best thing for Jack and
for his mother as explained to her if only
she had received his letter. Jack is not
fitted for farmer, and could never have
made much of the farm, as he will certainly
do with the mill. He came up with me in
order to attend to the matter. Forgive me
that / neglected to inform you, but left
him behind in the maple field talking with
Aggie."
Marion started up with glad cry. Com
ing down the opposite declivity Of the
meadow was somebody joyously waving
sobbing in her brothers arms -sobbing from
fullness of JOY such as she had never in
her life before known.
They fastened to the house, all three ca
ger to gladden. the heart of the mother.
Jack sprang up the steps and took her in
his arms, while Walter lifted Myra, who
had run to meet them in frantic delight.
AS Marion crossed the threshold, the old
clock rang out welcome chime.
"Seven oclockw said the girl, softly.
Her heart was full, and she turned away
and went quietly up to her own room. AS
she passed the clock, she looked up at it
with an expression almost Of awe.
"What a lifetime of misery and happi-
ness in one hour''