Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-10-30
unon har-but If would be all right nOW

BaSCOIn Oocllueu uOlOl VI ts
family whose members deemed her unWor-
thy to do so, and that she resigned all claim
on their son and brother in favor of Miss
Andrews, who, she did not doubt was a
very worthy person.
Mrs. Lawrence ground her teeth when she
read the note, and said that she would have
nothing more to do with the affair, and that
Ralph might disgrace the family if he chose.
If Miss Bascom expected them to 60 down
on their knees to her, she was doomed to
disappointment. Aud so matters remained
for awhile, as far as the mother and sister
were concerned.
But Tom had his own thoughts and ideas.
His brother he began to look at with rather
have treated the whole affair with silent
contempt, had it not been for Miss Bas-
com. She loved Ralph, and he, Tom,
had said he would be her friend. But what
could he do? And there was Miss Andrews.
He'd be glad enough to have her for a Sis
ter, for if she was "only hired nurse" she
was every inch lady, and one of the love-
liest he had ever seen. But he had said he
would be Miss Bascom's friend, and he
would keep his word.
He was thinking of Miss Bascom as he
sat in Maud's room one evening very OBJ
livious of his surroundings. Mrs. Lawrence
was out, as usual, and they had been quiet
party, Miss Andrews, and Tom, until Maud
had fallen asleep, and then Miss Andrews
had gone to TOMS side, and laying her hand
gently on his arm and said:
"Tom, something troubles you. do not
brood over it, but talk it to some one. Is it
anything you would mind speaking of to
your brother? I am sure he would be glad
to help you if he could"
Tom looked up quickly as she spoke, and
when she st ped, took her hand in his in
strong, firm arasp, as he said:
II wish I could talk to you about it,"
"Well, said his companion, drawing a
chair to his side and seating herself in it,
"Why can't you?"
because because" said Tom, thought
fully, "It don't seem" rather slowly
"But, Miss Andrews, if you'd said you
would be friend to some one and you didn't
of it, and you saw the man she loved liking
some one else better, and you didn't want
her to be hurt, and you didn't know -"
sStop moment, Tom, till I get straight.
This person whose friend you are loves a
man who loves some one else. That's right
to begin with, isn't it?''
''Not exactly; I don't know positively if
he loves her enough to marry her, but Pm
afraid he will"
"Afraid, Tom? Why hasn't man a
right to love any woman he chooses?"
"Yes, but don't you see he loved the other
one first and asked her to be his wife,"
asked the one whose friend you are to mar
ry him and he loves the one whose friend
you are not"
80, Miss Andrews" said Tom, in distress,
"Please don't tsay that; am her friend, in
deed, indeed, am, you know l am"
"I," said Miss Andrews in astonishment.
elbow should / know?" -.
''Because-I might have known I would
make mess Of it, but don't you see it's
Ralph 1 have been talking about. He was
engaged to Miss Bascom and would have
married her if the family hadn It kicked up
a row, and now don't you see he likes you
and"
"And you would rather he would marry
Miss Bascom than me?" asked his compan-
ion, little anXiously.
"No, not quite" said Tom, 81 don'tmind
telling you that I'd rather have you for a
sister than any one in the world, but then
I've promised to be Miss Bascom's friend"
"Tom," said Miss Andrews, "do you real
ly mean it when you say you'd like to have
me for sister,"
''Every word of it. But then there's Miss
Bascom."
"You think your brother ought to marry
her?"
eyes. 1 think I'd despise him if he mar
ried any one else"
"But you say the family have acted so as
to prevent that"
'sYes, but it's only the Lawrence part of
it. Mother would be all right if it wasn't
for them, and Pm sure even then, she would
never treat Ralph's wife any way but kind
ly, after he was really married. And as for
the Lawrences-well, / know things about
them that Ralph doesn't and I'd just give
them hint that would keep them on their
good behavior towards Mrs. Ralph. think
if she knew them as we'll as do, she'd for
give and forget for Ralph's sake"
"Ah! There's the trouble. How can
people Judge correctly of those they have
never seen? AS I understand it then, you
want to help bring things right, or in other
words"
"But, Miss Andrews, don't you see
Ralph"
"You think am in the way, Tom; don't
be afraid SAY 50. know that is what you
mean, and will try to helpy But listen,
Tom, if you had not spoken as you did this
evening, I might-yes, l might actually
have allowed things to 60 on until your
brother married the "hired nurse" | don't
know quite, but might have done it, and
then you would have been disappointed and
sorry for Miss Bascom, but you have told
me you would like to have me for a sister,
and you have also told me that you were
Miss Bascom's friend, and for all that, will
make YOU q promise that if your brother
marries either of us, it shall be Miss Bascom
and not Miss Andrews. Tom, will you be
sorry to have me go aWay?"
"Go away? Where? What for?" said
Tom, looking up, with troubled counten-
anCe.
"If Miss Bascom is to be your brothers
wife, l must leave here. Willyou be sorry,
Tom?"
But Toms looks were sufficient answer
without any words, and before he could
speak, Maud called Miss Andrews to her
side, and Tom quietly left the room:
Miss Andrews "Notice" that she was
going to leave caused as much CONSERVATION
among the other members of the family as
had been felt by Tom, but from very diff
ferent reason. She had made herself in
valuable in the sick room, and what was to
be done without her no one knew. And
then there was Ralph. They all believed he
would follow her up and "disgrace the fam
lily" as Mrs. Lawrence said.
''I am not so sure of its being disgrace" !"
said his mother. "She is a lady and has
moved in good society it is very evident and
1 will say that am very sorry for her."
"Mother!" said the elegant Mrs. Law
renee, with a Mortified look, and Mrs. Graf
ton was silent, but she was busy with her
thoughts, so busy that when she heard
Ralph, in reply to Il remark his sisters,
say:
"Well, you may take your choice, either
Miss Bascom or Miss Andrews and l in
tend to make my preparations to be married
next month";" she looked up and said Sc
riOuSly: