Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-10-25
q Serial Story.
THE UNKNOWN.
BY A SEPTUAGENERIAN.
Rcpublished from the Yorkville Enquirer
1871, by Request.
CHAPTER x.

and Maria were sitting, in higher spir
it's than usual. He had at last secured
a superintendent for the work to be
done at Mrs. Cornerstone whom he
felt persuaded was the very man fol
the place.
Said Mr.. Taylor, "He is an educated
mana gentleman in person and ad
dress. In fact, Henrietta, he is so at
tractive, proposed to him to have
room here and seat at our table. He
appreciated my offer, | am sure; but
he is apparently very reserved, ano
excused himself, giving reason which
I must admit, that he would prefer, i
it could be arranged, for him to remair
on the place; for in addition to the
benefit of always being with the labor
ers to overlook them, by being con
stantly there, he could study the natu
raj advantages of the localities and
better comprehend my designs for its
Improvement"
alt is very easy" said Mrs. Cover
"to make him quite comfortable there
Maum Sylvia and Moses being already
in the yard, they can wait on him anc
a bed, chair and table in one of the
lower rooms, will he easy TO get.
think he is right-it will be better fol
him to be there at all hours"
"What is his name ?" asked Maria.
"Mr. Randolph. He's very hand
some with dark complexion, has a re
markably clear skin, is tall, has goot
form, brilliant black eyes, with mel
ancholy expression, and one Of the
most peculiarly sweet voices l ever
heard in man. Talks remarkably
we'll, and before had made an engage
ment with him, / was walking here
through these grounds showing them
to him, and he used a quotation from
The Odyssey" which was as pretty g
compliment as I ever received. He
repeated the original Greek but I'll
give it to you as Pope has rendered it
"Great is thy skill, Oh father, great thy toll
Thy careful hand Is stamped on al the soil
LILY u 'ihNJ"'N ">'t wy ,'-N N'
The olive green. blue fig, and pendent pear;
And not one empty spot escapes thy care,
On every plant and tree thy cares arc SHOWN
Nothing ncSlcctcd!'
"Now was not that neat and deli
cate? l must confess / was so facina
ted, Maria, 1 thought l would bring
him in and let you try your counter
charms this evening. assure you ht
is worthy of any society but he must
return to Asheville tonight"
"Ah uncle, that Greek. Pm afrait
from his want of sociability, he is a
misanthrope and rides his hobbies, un'
like you-seltishly."
"Well, you'll see him tomorrow, fol
I want you to ride over with me in
the morning to Mrs. Covers and see
the terraces, now they are fully begun
think when they are done, they vii
always bring to mind the Hanging
Gardens of Babylon = Pm trying te
make your place the tenth wonder o.
the world, Mrs. Cover"
"And you bid fair to succeed.
think its very generous in you to sur
pass 'Fairview,' Mr.. Taylor.
"One's ideas expand. Besides, I'm
not so sure your place will so much
exceed this. They are of entirely dif
ferent styles. 'Fairview' is of a quiet
er beauty than Wildwood ) the gen
ius of Henrietta and Maria preside
here-tbat of Madam Covers erratic
taste there"
IA very pretty compliment to d
wife, Henrietta mine is rather
doubtful one"
"He means an erratic phenomena,
Mary"
~ hope 'Wilwood' will be phenom
ena of beauty" continued Mr.. Taylor
I think, Maria, you will agree with
me yet, in regard to the terraces
They already develop somewhat my
idea concerning them"
Maria let the matter pass then, but
she had no intention but to find way
of escape from the proposed ride of
the morrow. The name of Randolph
awoke recolections pleasing and pain.
full. She instantly recognized i'll Mr.
Taylor's description, the collegian she
had known and had she been in doubt
the quotation from 'The Odyssey
would have removed it, forit had been
marked feature in John Randolph's
conversations-his frequent classical
illusions; especially was he fond oi
referring to 'The Illiad' and The Odys
sey.' 1t had been a subject of much
thought to Maria, the reason of the
change of John Randolph's manner
toward her, in their last interview
and had caused her more pain than
she liked to confess even to herself
Again and again, she recalled the cold
ness and restraint exhibited by him
thought over her every action in con
nection with him, and felt acquitted by
her conscience of any just cause of OF
fense given him. She felt assured
she could not say why-the young
man described, was no other than the
John Randolph Mccullough she had
known; and from reasons unexplain
able to herself as she canvassed the
matter, he was evidently ipcognito
Perhaps-and her heart beat quicker
at the thought-he fancied thus to be
near her. At least, she concluded
she would not ride to the scene of his
employment tomorrow, or at any time
till he first sought her presence. 1t
was not difficult to evade the ride, and
Mr.. Taylor, very happy in the thought
of the able assistant he had secured
went cortentedly alone to the scene o
action.
At the end of fortnight, Mr.. Tay-
lor's satisfaction in his new employee
was entire. The ready appreciation
,,;t \ ,,bi,b bic pl,pS nc he unfoldeU