Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-10-25

occasions of tea drinkings, or dinings
but Mr.. Randolph found polite ex.
cuse, and so the young man was, to
the Taylor, household, quite unknown
For four years after John Randolph
so abruptly left Chester, he had sought
first one place and then another never
sojourning long at any one place. He
T went from Chester to Salisbury direct
but there, as elsewhere, the object o.
his search, like ignis fatuus, seemed
to lead him but farther on into OBJ
scurity. He directed his course to the
different towns ut which the various let
ters containing the remittances for bis
use had been mailed, engaging here and
there in different branches of business
taking the first opportunities which Of
fered of honorable employment, and
executing we'll whatever he undertook
His mind became more and more un'
settled, till he was fast verging into 8
monomanaist on being unknown. John
Randolph had no idea of any of Mr.
Taylor's antecedents or connections
and in his absorption of the one idea
made no inquiries concerning his house
hold, and had no thought Of Maria
Haughton constituting one of its mem
bers. He had come to Asheville, be-
cause from here had been mailed one o.
those mysterious letters. The growing
beauty of this landscape gardening ar
rested his fancy and soothed his suf
ferings. He entered into the spirit o.
every conception, and surprised Mr.
Taylor with the success of his own
ideas. Occasionally he had indulged
in creations of his own, much to Mr.
Taylor's satisfaction, for the old gen
tleman was no opinionated enthusiast
but a true one, and admired the beau
tiful when brought forth by another
brain and hand, rs much as if the pa
ternity had been his own.
The work at Wildwood progressed
rapidly, and in few months from Mr.
Randolph's assuming charge, it was
pronounced complete. All this time
Maria Haughton and her former ad
mirer had not met. He knew not o.
her vicinity, and, therefore, did moi
seek her presence. She knew not his
ignorance, and avoided him. Through
Mr.. Taylor's interest in him and gen
eral comments, she knew he was pecu
liarly reserved, rather taciturn, rest,
less, and unhappy eager for active
employment, earnestly energetic in
what he undertook, seeking novelty
and, withal, paler, sadder and thinner
! When the day came that everything
was pronounced done, and the ladies
Mr.. Taylor, said, might 60 over, and by
their presence give the finishing touch
Maria could find no plausible excuse
for remaining away. In truth, had
she known her own heart, she would
have known she did not desire it. She
knew the work being completed, il
was understood Mr.. Randolph would
not longer remain in that vicinity, fol
he had already positively declined the
offers of several gentlemen around, to
overlook and plan adornments fol
their places, his eminent success al
Wildwood making them anxious tc
secure his services. The thought o.
his going away without her seeing
him, overcame pique and pride. She
could not bear the idea of another
long separation, without an effort tc
reconcile what was wrong; and she
fondly hoped this meeting would bring
about an explanation of his inexplica
BILE coldness.
Mr.. Taylor would not be watched at
his work, and he had not permitted
Mrs. Cover or his wife to visit the
place while the work on the grounds
was going on. Mrs. Cover had entire
confidence in Mr.. Taylor's Judgment
was not person of curiosity, and rest
ed, without resistance on his mandate
With Mrs. Taylor, her husbands every
wish was law so now, he could indeed
enjoy their pleasures in the noveltie:
which met their view. Once or twice
he would have taken Maria with him
to consult her, for he had great conf
pence in her taste but she declined
the honor at first, and later, lie found
so able coadjutor in Mr.. Randolph
he had not sought advice elsewhere.
With numberless exclamations oi
real admiration and surprise, the ladies
gazed on the changing gardens" ira,
versed the winding walks and laved
hands and brow in the mimic wa
terfalls which had been introduced
along the little mountain stream, that
ran through the grounds, so artfully
done, they seemed the accident of ma
ture, rather than handicraft of man.
Each new device to increase the
natural beauties of the place, was met
by fresh exhibitions of pleasure by the
fair visitors, and Mr.. Taylor's face
beamed with pleasure at their thor
oughly approving delight.
"Now," he said, 81 will take you to
a rustic summerhouse. There we can
rest till time for our luncheon"
He had purposely reserved this for the
last, as it was, beyond doubt, the chez
douvre. The shape was hexagon-
three of the angles solid walls, and on
them mosaics shaded in by the many
varieties of barks gathered from noun
tains and valleys around. One side
had represented on it, "Stonehenge,' y
easily recognizable at glance another
was waterfall third the Crock Of
Gibralter." The arches of doorway
and windows were curiously wrough,
in of deformed cedar boughs. Inside
the walls and roof were lined with
MOSES of various hues, arranged in
wavelets, one shade merging into
another with harmony which remind.
ed one of the blending Of clouds and