Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-03-06

| QuTeu Ou lily dCCOuut, Sttlu t1tll lou, VIII
provoking tranquility, "but don't feel at
all responsible for either. Don't make Sc
rious matter out of a little fun, Mr.. Des.
mond, for you know it has been all fun--''
"Fun!" almost groaned the young gen
tleman. Heavens! what an expression. 1T
may have been fun to you but to me it will
| be" t...
"Not death, hope" gaily interrupted
Marion, who seemed resolved to treat the
matter lightly.
"Who knows ?" was Desmond's solemn
rejoinder. "Did I not tell you that in a
short time, perhaps a few weeks, or even
days, our regiment may be ordered into
active service" .
"And how glad you must be ~ cried Ma
rion vivaciously. 81 have often thought
how dull and tiresomeyo poor home-guards
must find it, forced to remain inactive,
without chance Of winning laurels, enjoy
ing the excitement and glnrsr 'f 49,. ''s'.s
flofd-oh, how I wish were man, ana
could 90 into active service ~ .
"Iseeyou are in the mood for jesting, said
Desmond rather bitterly "It is of no use
now to talk to you in serious vein. Per-
haps at another time you will listen to me
more kindly. / am to blame, no doubt, for
choosing an inopportune moment"
81 find it getting chilly out here" said
Marion drawing up her pretty shoulders.
'Mr. Desmond, will you please get me my
shawl"
"Where is it, Miss Marion?" asked the
young man in melancholy Tone.
''On the sofa in the little parlor., You
see, am rather afraid of taking cold, or l
wouldn't trouble you"
Desmond departed with a respondent air
on his errand, and Marion, leaning on the
rail of the verandah, looked up at the stars,
and laughed gently to herself and then
sighed. =.
7'It is so stupid of him to care about me-"
she murmured. 81 wOnder-1 wonder II
Carroll is thinking of me now"
This last idea thrust itself suddenly, for
the first time that evening, into her mind.
Something like little electric shiver pass
ed through her. At that instant a dark
form, like shadow, emerged from the
shrubbery and appeared at the end of the
lawn. Her heart beat fast, almost with
fear-she saw that the figure wore the uni
form of Confederate soldier; but why
that mysterious, sudden appearance-that
hesitating approach?
at is Carroll ~ she cried with sudden
conviction; and rushing down the steps
she fastened to meet him.
sCarroln' she exclaimed, half fearing she
might have been mistaken, as she drew
near and still he made no advance.
"Yes, it is l." replied Carroll in sub
dued tone. "I have been waiting out here
for an hour"
"Waiting without coming in-Witho
letting us, knowm Astonishment and re-
proach filled her voice.
81 could not go in. See how disreputable
I look" He was holding her hand now,
and drew her back towards the trees. Don't
let us stand here in full view of the house.
Well, Marion, suppose you are very much
surprised to see me-"
"Of course / am-they will all be. But
Carroll, don't tunderstand-why didn'tyou
go in? One of the servants could have at
tended to you-yOu could have sent a mes
sage. don't think you have behaved at all
we'll. What was there to make you keep
away"
cling, and all. You see l expected differ
ent sort of coming home. And even now,
you seem to have no welcome for me!' he
added, looking reproachfully in her face.
"I have interrupted you. [ should have
waited longer, until your company were all
gone"
9 Marion threw rarmsimpulsivelya around
him, and lifted her face to be kissed. lie
drew her close to him, and kissed her pas
sionately, trying to atone for his own words.
N>t>N"
on his cheek.
"Forgive me, darling! was unreasona.
bly, hurt. I ought not to blame you. OF
course you could not know was here. But
1 had yearned so to see you, and it was as il
wet blanket had been thrown over my
hopes. So you areglad to see me, after all:''
"Glad? You know am," rejoined Ma
ron, withdrawing herself with deep blush
from his embrace, and halfashamed of her
own demonstrativeness. GLOW could you
doubt it??"
"I don't doubt it-now. But what is this
party you are having? Isn't it unusual
gayety, for war-times ?"
HRather unusual but is no grand affair
only a few people for Jessie's birthday.
Uncle proposed it he thought we were all
so dull. You don't think us very heartless,
hope?'
"Not heartless-no. But I have come
from such different scenes-the contrast
seemed to jar on me Il little. Scenes, my
love, that YOU in your quiet home here can
not even dream of-that it is painful for me
to recollect I don't want to think of them
now. am with you, and am happy"
He had led her into the summer house,
and seated himself at her side. Marion
mentally wondered what had become OF
Paul Desmond and her shawl.
SA
goes ?" she asked little miSchievously.
81 desire nothing better" replied Carroll.
"However," he rather reluctantly added,
81 suppose it would be hardly fair on you.
At any rate, you won't mind sparing me
little of your time ~
"NOt all all, if you will promise to come
in with me afterwards"
"Well, I will, if can make myself pre-
sentable before appearing in the parlor.
But now I want little quiet talk with
you-my own Marion how / have longed
to see YOU to feel your dear little hand in
mine again Tell me, have you thought
much about me since l went away?'
"Ever 50 much," answered Marion, not
quite as enthusiastically as he might have
wished. To tell the truth, she was slightly
dismayed at the tone he had assumed, i'm
plying sort of right of possession in her.
She had of course known that he was espe-
cially fond of her, but there had not been
anything likean engagement between them,
nor was she at all sure that she desired such
a compact to be established at present. She
wished she had not thrown her arms around
him but she had been prompted to do 50
by her anxiety to convince him that she
was glad of his return.
II hoped you would. | thought of you,
day and night l saw you in my dreams
YOU hovered about me in danger, like a
guardian angel-at least your image did,
DO you remember this ?"
He drew little volume from his breast
! it was small Prayer-bOok she had given
him when he went away.
go yes" said Marion. Haven't you lost
it yet?"
"Lost it! | wear tnext my heart. III am
! ever shot. it will be found there when | am