Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-05-16

spent $3.50 for new electrical appa
ratus to experiment with In his labora
tory. And now he was talking hard
times and grudging the small sums he
gave to religious objects in connection
with his church and thinking he could
not afford to help the family of mar
who had once saved his life!
Again she turned to the piano ant
played awhile, but size could not be
rested by the music as sometimes she
had been. When she finally rose anG
walked over by the table near the enc
of the lounge, Mr.. Hardy was asleep
and she sat down by the table, gazing
into the open fire drearlly, look Of
sorrow and unrest on the face still
beautiful, but worn by years Of disap
pointment and the loss Of that respect
and admiration she once held for the
man who had vowed at the altar tc
make her happy. She had not lost bel
love for him wholly, but she was fast
losing the best part Of 1t, the love
which has it's daily source in an inborr
respect. When respect is gone, love is
not long in following after.
She sat thus for half an hour and
was at last aroused by the two girls
Clara and Bess coming in. They were
laughing and talking together and had
evidently parted with some one at the
door. Mrs. Hardy went out into the
hallway.
Flush. girls, your father is asleep
You know how he feels to be awakened
suddenly by noise. But he has beer
waiting up for yo..
"Then guess wen go up stairs
without bidding him good night" said
Clara abruptly. II don't want to be
Iectured about going over to the Cax'
tons"
mo; l want to see you both and have
little talk with you. Come In here
Mrs. Hardy drew the two girls into the
front room and pulled the curtains to-
gether over the arch opening into the
room where Mr.. Hardy lay. Nov tel
me, girls. why did your father forbid
your going over to the Caxtons'? l did
not know until tonight. Has 1t some
thing to do with James|
Neither of the girls said anything fol
minute. Then Bess, who was the
younger Of the two and famous fol
startling the family with very sensa'
tional remarks, replied, James and
Clara are engaged, and they are going
to be married tomorrow"
Mrs. Hardy looked at Clara, and the
girl grew very red In the face, and
then, to the surprise Of her mother and
Bess, she burst out into violent fit OF
crying. Mrs. Hardy gathered her into
her arms as In the olden times wher
she was a little child and soothed bel
into quietness.
"Tell me all about it, dear. l did moi
know you cared for James in thai
way"
But l do" sobbed Clara. "And IA
ther guessed something and forbade ut
going there any more. But | didn'1
think he would mind it If Bess and
went Just this one night l couldn',
help 1t anyway. Mother, isn't 1t righ,
for people to love each otherT
"'Tisn't proper to talk about suct
things on Sunday" said Bess solemnly.
"Clara!' said Mrs. Hardy. "Why
you're only a child yet! Is 1t true thai
James is Why, he Is only boy"
HE Is 21, and am IS. and he's earn
Ing $40 a month in the Office and Is one
of the best stenographers in the state
We've talked 1t over, and l wish We
could be married tomorrow, so" Glare
burst out with it all at once, while Bess
remarked quietly:
"Yes, they're real sensible, and
think James is nice, but when I marry
want more than $40 month for can
dy alone. And, then, he isn't particu
larly handsome"
"He Is, too," cried Clara. "And he:
good and brave and splendid, and II
rather have him than q thousand sucl
men as Lancey Cummings. Mother,
don't want money. 1t hasn't made yol
happy"
"Hush, dearw Mrs. Hardy felt as i
blow had smitten her In the face
She was silent then.
Clara put her arms around her moth
er and whispered: "Forgive me. moth
er! | didn't mean to hurt you. But
am so unhappy"
Unhappy! And yet the girl was JUS
beginning to blossom out toward th'
face Of God under the influence Of tina
most divine and tender and true feel
ing that ever comes to a girl wht
knows q true. brave man loves he
with all his soul. And some peopl,
would have us leave this subject to tht
flippant novelist instead Of treating /
as Christ did when he said, "For thi
cause"-that is. for love-"shall a mai
leave his father and mother and cleav'
unto his wife"
Mrs. Hardy was on the point Of say
ing something when the sound Of pc
culiar steps on the stairs was heard
and shortly after Alice pushed the cur
tains aside and came in. Alice wa
the oldest girl In the family. She wa
a cripple. the result Of an acciden
when a child, and she carried crutch
using it with much skill and ever
grace. The minute she entered th'
room she saw something was happen
- b,,t eba cinp1y coid.
I "Mother. isn't it little strange ia
ther sleeps so soundly? went up t
him and spoke to him just now. think
ing be was just lying there, and he
didn't answer, and then saw he was
asleep. But I never knew him to sleep
so Sunday night. lie usually reads up
| In tbo ctIldy"