Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-03-26

gestion, and forebore to press it. By mu-
tual consent, they took as hopeful view
of their situation as possible, even making
it a subject of merriment sometimes when
they found themselves in any unusual
strait.
II am afraid" said Harry one day, "that
I shall have to borrow little money from
Harvey; he has been been urging it upon
me-"
"Don't, if you can possibly avoidi it," was
Elizabeth's reply. 81 have great dread
$50 have {; but you see, darling. we must
live"
"How much money have we left, Harry?"
"EXactly ten dollars and fifty cents"
ooh, dear!-well, something may hap
pen, perhaps. Didn't Mr.. Harvey say that
next week"
"My dearest child," interrupted Harry,
please don't refer to anything Harvey may
have said. He has the best heart in the
world, but don't rely on him. No, must
rely now on myself alone. Tomorrow am
going to fight my luck-conquer fate if pos
sible; at any rate 1 shall make desperate
struggle-arm myself with every weapon
at my command, and sally forth prepared
for victory or DEATH"
mot death, hope," laughed Elizabeth,
but the tears stood in her eyes. She clasped
her soft arms around him and pressed him
to her, hiding her face against his breast.
my poor Harry it is very hard on you,"
she whispered. sit would have been so
much better if"
"F what?-Take care, Elizabeth!''
eff l hadn't come in your way, to give
you trouble"
Of course one may imagine what answer
the bridegroom of a month made to this
speech. Her love was far more precious to
him, he assured her, than any other posses
SION That was the one thing he could not
afford to lose.
For the first time, Elizabeth, when left
alone on the following day, gave way to
utter dependency. How hard they-or at
least Harry-had tried how far off success
still seemed. The future really looked dark;
Not for an instant did she regret her mar
riage; but she felt strongly the contrast be-
tween her present embarrassed condition
and the tranquil restfulness and carelessness
of her former life-the life of her girlhood,
that already seemed so far off; and thinking
over this, and over the troubles Harry was
trying so bravely to meet, she burst into
tears.
These tears were still flowing, when there
came knock at the door of her bedroom
and hastily drying her eyes, she went to
answer it.
"Oh, Miss Spinkw she exclaimed, as she
perceived who her visitor was. wont
you come in?"
Miss Sphinx was maiden lady who board
ed in the house where Harry had taken
ROOM She had met the young couple occa-
sionally on the stairs or in the entry, in
their transit from one part Of the house to
another; but as the latter, for economy's
sake went out for their meals, their inter-
course with the bOarders was necessarily
limited, and it was only by chance that
Elizabeth had been introduced to Miss
Sphinx.
In obedience to the invitation given her,
this lady, who was noted for the remarka-
BILE interest she always took in the affairs Of
her neighbors, entered in a mysterious man.
ner, on tiptoe, casting glances about her as
she did SO; and when seated, regarded
Elizabeth with a melancholy ard sympa-
thizing expression of countenance.
'sMy dear" she said in a solemn under
tone, 81 grieve to see this. 1 do, indeed"
''To see what, ma'am ?" asked Elizabeth,
surprised. .
of sorrow on your young face. l have
watched YOU" said Miss Sphinx, impressive
l always feel in the griefs of the innocent
and youthful; the grief which yOu are en-
during I would fain alleviate if [ could"
"Oh," said Elizabeth, smiling with in
voluntary amusement, "it is true was
childish enough just now to indulge in tit
of crying, but really, have no such heavy
grief to endure as you seem to suppose. L
must thank you, however, for your sympa-
thy"
'You cannot deceive me, my poor child"
rejoined Miss Sphinx, fixing her small gray
eyes, with a penetrating look on her face.
"Others, like yourself, have fought against
such sorrow-have tried, with pardonable
reluctance to hide it from the public gaze,
not shrink from unfolding your heart to me ;
in me you will find true friend. You must
be very lonely here"
81 am lonely when my husband is absent"
said the young wife; "but when he is with
me do not feel the want of any other COM
panionship."
''He is seldom with you, fear?'
"Hei is necessarily obliged to be absent the
greater part of each day." said Elizabeth,
with insensibly gathering reserve.
"He is in business, then ~
'Not at present, ma'am."
"Ah! not in business, and yet so constant
ly absent from your side, where he ought to
find his truest joy. My dear, you have, l
believe, been recently initiated into the eX-
perience of married life. Trust me, your
lifelong welfare, and that of your husband,
will depend on a judicious watchfulness, on
your part, over your own interests-over
your own rights. For you hare your rights,
though you are only woman; and 1t IS
your duty to enforce them. If you will be
counseled by me -
"Excuse me-" interrupted Elizabeth,
whose cheeks were now crimson, II am
neither entitled to, nor desirous of, accepting
counsel from one who is stranger to both
my husband and myself-one who seems SO
entirely to misunderstood our position. If
it is any satisfaction to you to know the
reason of Mr.. Monteith's frequent absences,
| am willing to confess to you that he is try
ing to obtain work; not that think it ne
cessary to explain this, only that you seem
to be troubled with some strange misappre-
hension concerning very simple matter.
Please let us drop all farther discussion of
our private affairs"
81 am sure" said Miss Sphinx with half
offended air, 81 had no intention of dis
pleasing you-my only wish was to do yon
kindness. thought you were lonely, and
would like little company"
"For that, l thank you," said Elizabeth
more gently; l hope l shall always be
grateful to any one who tries to befrlend
me-"
"And Pm sure 1 want to befriend you.
child YOU are great deal younger than |
am, and seem quite inexperienced, and |
thought it no harm to offer you a little adj
vice. | presume, however, that have been
misinformed in regard to your husband
and Pm sure Pm glad to find that he
doesn't appear so deserving Of blame as