Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-07-07

heart of him without opening her heart to
me-"
"What does Jenny do in her bedroom all
these hours?" said he "These mopings have
come upon her since her return from Syden-
ham. Did she leave her heart behind her
there's"
@Now, how you talk! Were that so, would
not Rachel have writtenF
aJane, Jane, I do not like thy habit Of flee
irg. It is an old taint Of sauciness"
apll 20 and call Jenny, and she shall argue
with thee herself" said Mrs Strangfeld,
quite unrufled by her husbands reprimand.
She put down her knitting, and leisurely
rising, with pretty waddle left the room.
Up the staircase, wide enough for a big
house. she went, and, with smart turn OF
the door handle, entered bedroom. Here
all was dark, until few moments gazing
exposed Jenny's figure seated at the window,
with the windy moonlight streaming upon
her and the summer gale tossing her hair.
aJenny, Jenny" exclaimed Mrs. Strang-
field, advancing quickly, "what sickness art
thou courting at that open window, foolish
childs-letting the cold wind fill your bones!
Come away from the draught, and shut the
window. Father wants thee down stairs"
at is past nine, mother. What does father
wants I like this cool wind, and the stars
are pretty to watch, running among the
clouds"
aFather does not understand your moping.
Here have you been sitting for above an
hour. We have been talking about thee, and
he has some questions to ask"
"What ouestions?" exclaimed the girl,
Quickly. "Let me stay here, mother. 1t will
be time for bed soon. What questions has
father to ask"
aWhy, you speak as if you were scaredl
Jenny, if you would fly in the face of the
Lord, the way to do it is to flout thy mother.
What ails youl A dozen times have asked,
and you say nothing ails you Are you not
well! Is there some secret to trouble you!
Are you weary of home! Come down, come
down, and open your heart to your parents !"
And saying this she took Jenny's hand, but
finding it cold as stone, cried out, "See, now,
if this wind will not put thee in sick bed!"
And in a little passion of anxiety and annoy
ance, she closed the window sharply.
The sweet and faithful heart, hidden to
watch for her husbands coming, felt the
closing of the window to be the true ending
of her hopes and fears for that night. It
was reprieve that left deep yearning and
faint heartedness and sorrowful wonder.
Never had he failed her before. 1t could not
be fear that made him shirk the interview he
had himself planned; neither fear Of her
father, nor want of passionate love for her.
With ears straining to catch at every sound,
she gazed through the closed window at the
wisdom Of dancing lights without, and the
fare of the moon sweeping beyond the
clouds and silvering the tossing tops OF the
bay trees
aWhat questions has father to ask,
mothers"
"Why, what these mopes signify. He
doubts if you brought your heart back with
you from Sydenham. But / say it was
your spirits you left there"
Mother, let me be here. I am low in
spirits tonight. Father would easily make
me cry, and what would he think to see ME
in tears"
Jenny. just tell me this, then, that may
an. wer him when I 60 downstairs-hath Mr..
Shaw talked soft things to thee? Come.
cone. speak up, my child Surely, need
not lie angry, if your beauty has pleased
him, and he has saddened you with foolish
fancies Is that it? We will make you smile
again when we know what troubles you,
sweetheart"
"Why do you say l NOPE and am low
hearted, mother? Is not my laugh merryi
Am not a cheerful help to you in the house?
One cannot always be glad. The noise of the
sea, and the cry of the wind tonight, and
the struggling of the sweet moon with the
clouds have-have-" She faltered, and con-
~ n oft n a,,fo
times one has pleasant sorrows which one
likes to nurse. There is no reason that l
should NOPE. I can feel very happy. Ah,
dear Lord! would that he had come and
saved me from another day of fear" And
breaking out thus, she threw ner head upon
her mothers breast and cried.
But Jenny wept rarely-at least, in her
mothers sight; therefore, the honest bosom
on which her face was hidden was rent by
the unaccustomed sobs, and anxious, plain
tive sympathy spoke in the poor woman's
voice, as she exclaimed, with her pretty
fingers tenderly kneading the girls rich hair:
"Oh, my child, my dearie! you will break
my heart with your misery! What is your
fear? Has any one wronged you? Kind
Lord, what trouble is this that hath come
upon you' Jenny, Jenny, raise up your
eyes-see how bright the moon shines in
the room; it makes thy hair like yellow
silk. Oh, my pretty lamb, who is he that
hath not come! and what is thy fear, JennyT
Now, the door of the bedroom and the door
Of the parlor both standing open, and the
staircase measuring but small space be-
twixt the low floor and the passage, it was
scarcely possible that Mr.. Strangfeld, sitting
in expectation of his daughters arrival,
should fail to catch his wifes words. When,
therefore. in her clear, panied voice, she
cried, "Who is he that hath not Gomez and
"What is thy fear, Jenny" up rose the mas
ter shipwright and the staircase groaned
under his boots
Jenny, hearing him coming, drew away
from her mother with quick movement Of
terror, and backed through the glare Of
moonlight into the shadow near the bedstead
"Wife," exclaimed Strangield, in his strong
voice, show is it that Jenny does not come to
mew
To which no reply was vouchSefed. He
advanced by a stride and said, "What has
the girl been saying and what is her fears
Jenny, come forth. can see you standing
there. Give me thy hand, foolish wench,
and now down stairs with US all If there
be aught to fear, pray that the Lord may
deliver us from evil"
So speaking, he held forth his hand, and
the shrinking girl, not daring to disobey,
came to him fearfully and dropped fingers of
ice into his palm