Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-03-21

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There qods no mtstuktng the meaning OF
his guardians letter.
to please her. But-now he was q
pauper. He had no home to take her
to, nothing to support her on. He had
always held in supreme contempt the
man who was willing to marry a wo'
man and involve her In the distress
and privation Of an uncertain or even
an inadequate income. He had just
done that despicable thing himself. not
purposely, but ignorantly. rashly, ir-
revocably.
Pure, upright and honest to the core
himself, be never entertained q single
doubt Of his guardians rectisude. His
riches were not the first that had ever
taken wings unto themselves. Doubt
less property had deteriorated and
stocks had gone down and investments
had proved disastrous. The man whom
his father had loved and trusted as
brother must be good and true. TO re-
feet on his guardians management
was to reflect on his fathers judgment
He was incapable of doing either.
He would not answer this letter i'm
mediately.
He wanted to be perfectly calm and
entirely just when he did so. 1t would
take him few days to pull himself
together. The point Of view had been
altered for him with such. violent sud.
denness that 1t left him Quivering and
bewildered. with sense of irrepara'
BILE loss weighing him down.
After little while two more letters
crossed each other on the high seas.
This time one was from Tom to his
guardian. The other was from Olivia
to Tom.
Said the first:
NV Dear Mr. Matthews-To say that l did not
experience a severe shock on reading your letter,
by which learn that what between an expensive
education and unfortunate investments | am left
10 DeBlu lie dS pun Ndii nav
myself a wealthy one, would be untrue. was
quite unable to think or act intelligently for
eral days after reading your letter. To fall from
the top OF a ladder to the hard ground is iarrng
to q fellows nerves.
do not believe | am very Luxurious chap
st least hope ! am not-but, thanks to my dear
fathers fostering tenderness, things have always
gone so smoothly for me that suppose began
to think was to sail in placid waters until
reached port finally.
The plain exposition contained in your letter
has annhlated all expectations OF that sort for
ever. am not dsmayed at the prospect OF hav.
ing to 90 to work. In fact. ] had planned to
buckle down to hard work as soon as | got
through with my studies. 1t seems now that my
virtuous plans have turned into stern necessities.
Whatever is ahead Of me, sir. ! hope will be
able to meet it as my fathers son should. The
Office OF guardian must be at best an arduous and
thankless one. You have now had entire control
Of my affairs for seven years, during which time
have never given them thought. 1t was enough
for me to know that my father loved and trusted
the man he had selected for my guardian. Doubt.
less my majority will come TO you as a great re.
lief.
! thank you for your invitation to be your
guest while examining the mass OF papers that
must have accumulated on your hands. The in.
vitaton | must decline. lille was thinking oi
Olivia and OF the impossblity OF his staying un'
der the same roof with her now.l Doubtless can
put up somewhere in Vaudeville for the few days
which | must devote to getting better under.
standing OF my affairs. OF course ! presume that
in justice to you all those papers will have to be
gone over.
Up to the time Of writing this letter confess
to feeling so stunned that | can hardly yet grasp
the fact OF my paupcrship. will be with you
as soon as possible after reaching America and
will then relieve you OF all further care OF my
tangled affairs.
Unmixed satisfaction was scarcely
the uppcrmost sensation in Horace
Matthews soul rs he read this manly
letter. The look Of perplexty that had
become habitual with him deepened
into settled gloom.
Said the other letter:
Ny Dear Thomas-Why did you write me that
silly, useless letter? ! told you before you went
away from here that never could care for you in
that way. You were too young, and ! was toe
old. feel exactly like an affectionate aunt to-
ward you whenever we come in contact. ] want
to be doing something for you all the time. But,
Tom. dear, one never could think OF a nephew as
you ask me to think OF you. now. could ono?
Besides all that. Tom. | have been engaged to
be married to Mr. Clarence Westover for six
whole months. There, now, will that bring my
dear boy to his senses? | that you shall
fall in love with Jeanne wcstover. Clarcnce's sis
ter, as soon as you come home. She Is worth
dozens OF me.
As for the law practice with papa for your
partner which has always been your dream and
mine, too, | hate to think Of its not coming to
pass Father seems to be getting old so fast. II
he had anything in the world but his naughty
Ollie to vcx him, l should call him careworn.
He did not behave very badly about Clarence and
me, although think he still opposes the idea oi
lovers.
was so sorry papa found it necessary to sell
Broxton Hall. 1t certainly was running to seed
dreadfully fast. ] hope you won't be very soTy
about it. That is one reason why ! want you tc
fall in love with Jeanne Then It will come
back to you, as she is the member OF the family
who adores it, and It is to be hers.
hope this letter won't put you into very
bad humor with me, Tom, dear, for / really dc
care a great deal for you | am crying about you
right now. ! think you are manly and generous
and ntcllcctual-cvcrything, in short. that
could wish my dearest nephew to be. And, Tom,
if that last photo doesn't iattcr you. you must be
getting to he drcadfully handsome. Jeanne
Westover ravcd it.
II you had TO reopen that silly matter. am
glad you did it while the sea rolled between U.s.
Now you know everything and will have several
months in which to look things squarcly in the
face before We meet again.