Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-05-14
The Starg Teller.
THAT DAY in HIS BOAT.

THAT DAY In HIS BOAT.
It was wild night. The wind blew, the
rain drove, the waves roared in the near
distance. ... ...:
It bad been fateful day to me. Grand
father Delmar, with whom Ihad lived ever
since could remember, had been carried
TO his final home that afternoon, and now l
was the last representative of our name.
The wide acres of the Delmar plantation,
originally one of the largest estates on the
eastern shore Of Maryland, had come down
to me as sole heiress. To me also had de.
scended the Delmar diamonds, which had
blazed on the persons of the Delmar ladles: @
I saw descended, but am hardly correct, TOR
these broad lands and these priceless jewels
were mine only under the will of my grand
father, and that will contained proviso
which / had Just learned for the first time.
/ was to marry Randolph Heath, the ward
and adopted son of my grandfather, or else
the entire property was to go TO this SELL
same Randolph. s1"~
The will had just been read. The funera!
guests, or at least, the most important OF
them. had listened to it in the great draw
inp-room below, the walls of which were
hung with portraits of my Delmar ances-
tors. handsome men and lovely, golden
"Charlotte," said my aunt, when, the
reading of the will was ended-"Charlotte,
my dear, you must invite our friends for
the night. You are mistress now"
II shall never be mistress of Delmar
Hall, Aunt Mordaunt," | said, firmly. .,
She clutched my arm, her eyes wide with
wonder. s..... ......
"And why not, pray ?" ..
uRecause of the proyiso. I will never
wed Randolph Heath" So.
Her face whitened to the hue of death.
She was lone widow, and l was her ldol
and she coveted all those jewels and rich
acres for my heritage. For moment we
stood breathless. =. -,
sBut Randolph Heath's in Australia"
suggested friend, "and you are mistress at
least until he returns" -,
Poor aunty caught at this last hope with
ESQ you are, my DEAR" she put in; "we'll
leave all these disagreeable things to be
settled in future. Tonight friends, we Will
shut the doors against the storms ana oe
comfortable" . .H..
= She swept off toward the glowing parlor,
followed by her guests, while fled away to
my own chamber.
The afternoon, as have said, had turned
into rain and the waves thundered on the
cry, like human heart in pain. l paced
my room restlessly. could not marry this
Randolph Heath, whose face Ihad not look
ed upon since the days ofmy early childhood.
could not do. it, for another face arose be-
fore me, in the face of the man l loved. A
poor man, landless and unknown, yet who
had grown so dear to me in the few brief
months of our summer acquaintance that 10
give him up was worse than death. YET
l was Delmar, and it was sore trial 10
lose my heritage-to lose the Delmar jewels.
All the Delmar women before me had worn
these matchless old diamonds; and must l,
alone of them, be disinherited and dover
less?
eyes, cheerfully," said, ''since to keep
them I must give up the choice of my heart.
Dear, dear summer daysw
:. For it had been during visit to a school
friend, who lived in one Of the loveiest
counties of Pennsylvania, that I had met,
the preceding June, Herbert Stanley. For
a perfectly congenial soul. We liked the
same poetry, preferred the same music, ad-
mired the same scenery. All! what deli
cious days those were. Werode, we sailed,
we walked, we read together. Our acquain-
tance soon passed into intimacy, and from
thatripened into love.
Never could forget the day, the blissful
day, when my hopes became a certainty.
Herbert had asked me the evening before If
Iwould go with him in his boat. No knight
of old could have handed me into the little
vessel more reverentially than he did. How
manly he looked How strong and self
contained! My heart beat fast, for some
thing in his manner told me what was COM
ing, but was inexpressibly happy, never
theiess. He rowed for about half an hour
then stopping, he lay upon his oars, and
looking me in the face like brave heart as
he was, told his tale, though with many
hesitating word, and many a look OF anx-
iety.
Should I give such one up? Never !!
Yet the temper of my thoughts was such
that / could not stay in doors! l left the
house and ran down to the shore of the bay,
having first thrown shawl over my head.
The storm and darkness was terrific, and the
tide was coming in with hoarse, sullen cry.
The salt mist drenched my hair, the winds
tore and shrieked around me, and overhead
hung the pitch black sky.
Suddenly heard step and, looking up,
saw Herbert himself. started with sur
prise. -,
81 have been lowering about all day." he
said. II had given up hope of seeing you.
But still could not tear myself away"
'You did not doubt me?' I cried. "Oh!
Herbert"
MY look, my TONE, even Hlo[e tiiau lily
words, treasured him.
''Thank God!' he said, drawing deep
breath. ''Thank God 1t is not true, then,
what l hear. You are not going to betray
me?"
"Betray you?"
81 was told you were to be disinherited
unless you married Randolph Heath, and
that the temptation has been too great for
you. 1 did not believe it. And yet, and
yet--forgive me, darling, l see / was
wrcng-I was fearfully afraid"
"Be afraid no longer" l whispered, nest.
ling to his broad breast. "What are broad
acres and cleaning jewels to your dear
love? am yours and yours only"
He bent and kissed me. After while he
said, II do not fear for your fidelity, but
do fear for the persecution you may suffer.
It is but short walk to the little church. [
know the rector; he was, find, one of my
old schoolmates Be mine tonight and |
will 60 away content. Not till you permit
it shall the marriage be made public"
II am yours" l said, "but let it be to-
morrow evening. will tell my aunt in
day or two afterward. Poor aunt, it will
need that time to prepare her."
1t was arranged, therefore, that should
meet my lover at the same hour next even
ing, and with parting embrace hurried
r L<,,