Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-10-29


of his mouth twitch.
"Oh, no, l don't understand them;
don't understand any creature in petit
coats; but my daughters are good girls
and their mother assures me that they are
remarkably gifted. What do want to un
derstand them for?"
"It might be an advantage under some
circumstances" Mr.. Leigh remarked.
"What is the matter! What girl do you
think it might be an advantage to under
stand? 2"
"My ward," answered Mr.. Leigh. "She
is an orphan, far-aWay cousin OF my wife
and she has lived with US for the past five
wears. She has nice little fortune; she is
pretty; she is wellbred-"
"That goes without saying" muttered
the parson, stroking his long beard.
"But she hasn't a grain of common
sense" Mr.. Leigh rose, took up position
on the rug, slippled his lett hand under the
short tails of his cut-away coat, and gestic'
ulated with his right as he warmed to his
story. "Last summer" he began, "she
was twenty-one, and just out of school.
She went to Cape May with the Phippards,
people in whom placed the utmost conf
dence. I thought she was safe with them
but 10 and behold! she must make the &C:
quaintance of young gentleman who held
the responsible position of book-keeper IN
one of our large hardware shops, retail
concern, and he has sold many a paper Of
tacks over the counter. I was in Europe
so this interesting tack-seller ran down to
Cape May every Sunday, and staid until
Monday. Then he had clerks two weeks
vacation, and he spent that at Cape May.
l came back in October, and before 1 had
been home twenty-four hours who should
call at the house but this young man? He
wanted to see me, and l saw him, and
was informed by him that he had Wooed
and won my ward. asked if he proposed
to take her to live over the shop"
Mr.. Leigh's thin lips curled downward
he glanced at the parson for sympathy, but
he encountered a steady, somewhat criti'
cal look.
"Why shouldn't they live over the
shop p" DR.. Melton said.
"Oh, you don't understand" Mr.. Leigh
exclaimed, fretfully. "She has been brought
up in luxury, and she ought to have some
idea of what is proper and fitting. There
has been a terrible time. Why, I assure
you I have had the sympathy of all Phila.
delphia. This hardware man had the eff.
frontery to say that he had money enough
to take care of a wife, just as though he had
never thought of my wards little fortune,
He begged me to 60 and see his employers
people / never heard of-and 1 told him
that did not want their recommendations
I did not propose to hire boOk-keeper'
He was insolent, and [ ordered him out.
Then she blazed away at me, the weak, in
fatuated girl. | tried to reason with her
my wife talked to her; my son-Well, you
see, my son wanted to marry her, too, and
he would have made just the husband for
her, but she told him if he spoke to her she
oo1r lo. lo. II To nnr
Think of it AS though Morton would in
suit her-the best hammered man that ever
lived"
"And Morton is very fond of her." he
continued-''so fond of her, in fact, that he
waited like hero for this to blow over.
think the farce is nearly ended, for the
hardware man became partner the other
day in nail factory or something of that
sort, and week ago he sailed for Europe.
He will have to stay a year, travelling Tor
his firm, and when he comes back" Mr..
Leigh broke off to smile astutely and to drop
the lid over his left eye.
81 dont't exactly understand your objec-
tions to him." said DR.. Melton slowly.
"Does he drink or keep low company %
"No," answered Mr.. Leigh; "but-"
81 beg your pardon" said the doctor, in
terrupting him, "but I want to speak in his
fool, and prospering, or he would not have
Jumped into this new position. / confess l
don't think you have made out a clear case.
OF course you want to see your son happy ;
but if she does not love your son that ends
the matter. And if she does love this other
man, and he is honest and upright, why
should he not have her?"
"He is not her equal" said Mr.. Leigh.
"YOu know in Philadelphia"
The parson rose up with stif1ed exclama-
tion.
"It is warm in here" he said. II want a
little fresh air; am not used to furnace
heated house. Poor girl! The city has not
yet claimed me for its own, and l miss the
fire. place in my old study. Poor fellow ~
He threw up the window, and looked out
on wide expanse of tiny high-fenced
back yards; but overhead was the clear sea
ofsky, where the moon rode at anchor amid
the fleet of stars. He stood there, drawing
in the crisp December air, until a tapsound-
ed on the door, "Come in," he cried, and
one of his daughters entered-a tall, slim
girl with her fathers blue eyes.
Papa" she said, pressing close to him,
and smiling mysteriously, there are some
people in the parlor."
"Drawing-room, my DEAR" said the doc
tor. "We are in Philadelphia"
1--WE are not, but no matter" she return
ed. 81 tell you there are some people in
the parlor, and think it is our first town
wedding. She is very pretty, and she has
on the loveliest little bonnet you ever saw.
Go marry 'em quick, and let me be wit
ness, only they have two witnesses with
them"
He passed his arm about her and kissed
her, she did not know why then led her to
his guest.
"Mollie, this is classmate of mine. My
daughter, Mr.. Leigh-Mr Harvey Leigh,
of Philadelphia. You must excuse me for
few minutes"
He went into adjoining parlor. Yes, it
was wedding-party, no doubt, but the
would-be bride and groom did not look like
the brides and groOms that seek out par
son in such fashion. The man was gen
tleman, with fine face and dignified bear
ing. The girl was pretty, but more than
that, she had an air of courage, of selt-rell-
ance she was not q weak piece of pink and
white flesh. An older couple was with
them, somewhat frightened middle,,aged
man and very nervous mlddle-aged Wo-
man, evidently his wife, for she clung to
his arm heIplessly.
II am William Dunbar" said the young
man. The parson shook hands with him.
"And this" he added, turning to the young
lady, sis Miss Kate Perry. We are both OF
age-in fact, am thirty-three-and hope
you will be good enough to marry u.s."
Mr.. Dunbar was very much in earnest,
but he smiled little. sour marriage is
sudden" he added, "because l must sail for
Europe tomorrow, and l want to take my
wife with me-"
"The parson looked at him, then at the
girl. Her eyes met his steadily, though a
faint flush stole into her cheeks
"Where is your home?" he asked.