Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-02-26

ing enough to discover tnat, IN many cases,
the rigid exterior, and set phrases Of hu-
mility which were in common use, served
but as cloak to the real character, which
was probably as worldly and selfish as that
of those who did not make such pretensiOnS
to excessive piety. The style of language of
the Friends seemed to her to be affected and
ridiculous, and she gradually laid it aside,
somewhat to her fathers displeasure; but
he laid no commands on her in regard to the
matter, and as she still, in conversing with
him, sometimes used his own phraseOlogy
in order to crafty him, and was in all other
respects most docile and careful to please, he
was willing to condone this one particular
offence. Her mother, as she had easily dis
covered, was not really strict in her views ;
and having in her, as it were, sort Of 81
lent auxiliary, she found it the less difficult
to loosen some of her shackles, and gain a
little more liberty of movement than would
have been otherwise permitted her.
"a concert, indeed 20 said Reuben gruffly,
when the weighty question was mooted to
him. "Does thee think, Prudence, that
special indulgence is what our Lisbeth needs,
as encouragement to her to persist in her
obstinate conduct" 2"
'Does thee not think, Reuben" his wife
ventured to reply, "that little indulgence
may truly have better effect upon her
than severity? Will she not be the more
likely to feel an anxiety to please US, if we
are willing to crafty her in a matter OF
this sort? And after ALL Reuben, it cannot
harm her, surely, to listen to the melody OF
united voices, and the tones Of dulcet instru-
ments of music, especially when used in
lofty and religious strains, such as am told
this piece called Messiah abounds in.
81 know nothing of the piece" said Reu-
han ttool faor mo fhof Whn take
part in such performances are as unwor-
thy to utter the holy words written there
in. Besides, it seems to me that there is
nothing to be commended in the contin-
ual vain repetition of words and sentences,
the sentiment of which is lost in the quirks
and turns of the music to which they are
set. However, if the girl has set her heart
upon this thing, let her go-but see that she
goes in simple attire, and also that proper
arrangements are made for her to return
home quietly and decorously when the per-
formance is at an end"
Overjoyed at this unexpected indulgence
on Reuben's part, Prudence hastened with
the news to Elizabeth, whom she found in
her own little room, moodily gazing out
of the window.
"Dear child, have been successful" she
exclaimed with q tender, motherly kiss,
anu ALL 81 Slae loi VHce, H!y hiSDetii
And now thee sees how good and kind faith
er is and thee will try and please him and
do all that he wishes in future"
"Mother," said Elizabeth with pentrat-
ing glance, "you do not mean, hope, that
father gives me this permission as bribe?"
"a bribe, my dear?" repeated her moher.
"Yes-to persuade me to give in about
Mr.. Simpson. Mother, do you think it's
wicked in me to take my own way in such
a thing as that? Wouldn't it be wrong for
me to marry person that 1 could not pos
si6ly care for? You know it would"
Father would not want thee to do any
thing wrong, my dear. And besides he
made no condition of that sCrt-thee must
not have unworthy ideas Of father, Lisbeth.
He said nothing about Friend Simpson or
marriage. So thee may be quite happy,
and 90 at once and tell Helen that thee ac-
cepts her kind invitation. But how will
thee come home"
"In the Vanes' carriage, of course. Thank
you ever so much, mother-my own dear
mummy! I aoish you were going tool"
Elizabeth's spirits rose to their usual level
as she walked rapidly through the bracing,
frosty afternoon air towards the house of her
friends parents The Vanes were wealthy
people, owning large and handsome estab-
lishment, where they lived stylishly, though
without ostentation, and saw a good deal of
such companyas as the quiettown of n af-
forded."
Elizabeth, though tolerably at home in
the family, never entered without feeling
of timidity household where the atmos-
phere was so entirely differentto that of her
own. Finding, on her entrance, that there
was company in the parlor, she drew back
shyly at the door, and would have waited
to give her message in the hall, had not
Helen come forward and insisted upon lead
ing her in.
The visitors were q gentleman and his
wife, friends of Mr.. and Mrs. Vane, and a
young man, college chum of Helen's
brother Robert, who was spending the va
cation with his family. The latter was pre-
sented to Elizabeth as Mr.. Harry Monteith.
Elizabeth's walk had given her beauti-
full color, and this was now heightened by her
diffidence in thus finding herself suddenly
among strangers. This same feeling lent a
certain reserve to her usually frank manner,
which was neither awkward nor repellant,
but altogether charming in its effect. 1t
was no wonder, therefore, that Mr.. Mon
teith regarded her with admiration, and
privately asked his friend, Bob Vane, where
Miss Helen had picked up that little beau
ty, who seemed so different to the other
girls Of his acquaintance.
"She picked her up at school, and they
are most desperate friends" answered Bob.
"But she is Il Puritan, and Quakeress be-
sides, so you need not tiatter yourself that
any advances of yours will meet with fa-
v0rable reception in that quarter"
Il am not thinking of making any ad-
vances," was Harry's rejoinder. 'But what
do YOU talk of the Puritans-there are no
such people as Puritans nowadays"
"Never mind-the old man comes Of the
stock, and it's in his blood and bones. They
are Quakers, anyhow, and regular strict
ones too; at least the old folks-the girl in
clines considerably to the vanities of the
world. She is a pretty little thing, but l
don't fancy her very much myself. She's
too prim to suit me-"
"She struck me as being bashful, rather
than prin," said young Monteith.
Robert. "You are too susceptible altogether,
Hal, but I warn you, you will find no favor
in the old mans eyes. He'd look upon a
fashionable worldling like you as one Of the
DEVILS own"
"Then why does he let his daughter go
with fashionable worldings like your peo-
pie ." asked Harry. "Does he not consider
it dangerous"
"She and Nelly together have got round
him in some way; you know how persever-
ing my sister is"
The two young men were surprised to
learn that the fair Quakeress was to accom-
pany the Nanc party to the concert that
evening; and the discovery afforded Harry
at least as much pleasure as surprise, as it
happened that he also was to make one Of
the party. If Reuben had been aware Of
the male element thus thrown in, he cer-
tainly would have revoked his decision !;
not that he knew anything against this par
ticular young man, but that he considered