Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-11-26
The Sturw Teller,
TEMPTATION.

'That is all that you wished to say to
me, aunt?"
"That is all that I wished to say to you,"
the elder lady repeated with slight sarcasm,
and Edwina felt herself Herewith dismiss
ed. She went out of the room and down
the long staircase, feeling strangely weak
and helpless.
Some one came dancing in off the pi-
azZa, for this was their summer home at
Broomfield. Edwina knew it must be Kit
ty; but Edwina could hardly see. Her
eyes were still blinded by the weakness
that had settled upon her while her aunt
was speaking. She did not call to her cous-
in, as she might have done an hour before;
she did not look at her. She did not wish
to seq anyone just now-Kitty least of all.
But Kitty, halting, saluted her with blithe
"Neddie, my love, STOP bit; L want to tell
you something funny"
There was little similarity in their ap-
pearance. They were both fair but Edwina
was out and out Clay, tall, slender, pale
and reserved, while Miss Carmichael had
few if any of the characteristics of the moth
er's family. Plump and sandy was Kitty,
a trifle freckled, with beWitching dimples,
a saucy mouth and divine Irish gray eyes.
By nature she was as rollicking and impetu-
Gus as her late father, Col. Carmichael,
whom her grandfather had never forgiven
for running away with his youngest daugh-
ter. Kitty's paternal inheritance of good
looks and good nature had been greatly to
her advantage, in worldly sense. She
had this, and this only, to blame for the
manner in which her grandfather had treat
ed her in his will. The old gentleman had
died something over year previous, leav-
ing the bulk of his large fortune to Edwina,
"only child of his late son Edwin" while
to Kitty he had left only miserable little
stipend, barely enough to support her.
Grandfather Clay had never been recon-
ciled to Charlotte, his youngest daughter.
Kitty had borne her ill luck with philo-
sophical good humor, and continued to re-
side, as previously, with her maiden aunt
and cousin, for both girls were orphaned
these MANY wears. Edwina was generous
and had thought the will unjust.
'Never, mind, Kitty" she had said,
''you shall have dowry when you marry !;
meanwhile want to arrange you little
extra pin-money."
"Dowry is all right" said Kitty, "but
never mind the pin-money." And it was
with difficulty that Miss Clay could prevail
on the proud little creature to accept what
was by right only her own. But Miss Car
michael's thoughts were far enough from
the subject of unjust wills as she hailed her
the remaining steps, looking paler than
usual.
"What is it 2" she asked, slowly. But
Kitty's sharp eyes noted something amiss.
"Neddie," she cried, "what is up?"
"Nothing," said Edwina, family. 'I-I
don't feel quite we'll. Aunt Josephine has
been talking to me; 1 think 1 will lie down
awhile"
HIN! If aunt has been talking to you [
should suppose you'd need to lie down and
rest" said Miss Carmichael drily. "I'll see
YOU again by and by, Ned" And she turn
ed like young squirrel and whisked her.
self out again into the open air.
Edwina entered the draWing-room and
threw herself upon the sofa. 1t was dark
and quiet and no one would interrupt her
there! She would have a chance to think
over what her aunt had been saying. Sup
pose it were authentic, the will that her
aunt had discovered that very morning in
its strange hiding place, the old clock? And
her aunt seemed to think it authentic. u
thought it best to tell you at once, Edwina:," +"
she had said. "I will not show you the
will; 1 have reasons. But it is certainly
your grandtather's handwriting, witnessed
by the Bateses, father and son, who called
here week before father died, and sailed
a day or two later for Europe. They have
been abroad ever since, you remember.
There is another thing Your grandfather,
Just before he died, spoke Kitty's name and
then the clock!' We thought he meant
only the clock should be hers. l cannot
tell why 1 should have been impelled to
open that clock this morning. Edwina, If
this should be-if this calamity should fall
upon you, and cannot help regarding 1t as
calamity, do not consider myself want
ing in affection for my sisters daughter, as
we'll as my brothers., but Kitty is so differ
ent, so little a Clay-if this calamity should
fall you shall share all that l possess, OF
course. But meanwhile your wedding is
set for October; this is the last of August.
I do not for moment suppose that your
loss of fortune would affect your betrothed
himself, but his family. They are very
proud, and very ambitious; they may be
even mercenary. Edwina, have replaced
the paper in the clock, and spoken to no
until after your wedding. You need not
decide at once; think about itawhile. This,
however, is my advice"
Edwina went carefully over her aunt's
communication. Suppose it were true ?
Suppose her Grandfather Clay, in some
strange, sudden remorse, had done this
thing? She remembered the last week of
his life. He had been speechless nearly
all that week, and taken little notice of
anything or any one. 1t was quite possible
that he had turned about and written the
few words necessary to revoke all former
wills and leave everything to Kitty Car
michael. Yet why should he have turned
from one injustice to another? She asked
. bitterly why he could not have divided his
: fortune fairly, providing for both grand
daughters alike.
EdWina was far from avaricious. Had she
been quite her own mistress there not
been Aunt Josephine to disapprove, as we'll
as other complications-she would long since
of her own free will, have made over half
her inheritance to her cousin. But now, to
have everything swept away 1t was a
crushing, humiliating prospect. With Fred
erck Montgomery, her affianced husband,
it would probably make no difference; but
with his family? Her aunt's suggestion
was forcible, appalling! With all her faith
years and over and escaped knowledge that
a mans family may clutch and control him
with ten times the ease with which they
could control daughter or sister. Edwina
was strongly conscious that her father would
never have been guilty of runaway match,
as had been her Aunt Charlotte, the mother
of Kitty. In all such love matters women
are infinitely stronger, tenderer and more
faithful than are men, and Edwina knowing
this, could not measure her lover by her
own heart.
Edwina lay there for an hour or more
Consider the matter as she might, there
seemed no relief, no solution. She sat up at
length with her head throbbing and her face
on fire. The afternoon was slipping away.
She heard the clock strike five. She arose
and went out upon the piazza. Kitty was
reading in a hammock on the lawn. She
dascended nd came toward the house.