Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-11-08
CHAPTER II.
Miss Johnsbury Speaks.

Miss Johnsbury Speaks.
On our way to the White Noun
tains we stopped for week at Had
ham Springs. Hallam Kirke and Ada
both wished it-he, because his old tu-
tor, Professor Hallock, was boarding
there; she, because her physician had
told her that the mineral water was
good for shattered nerves.
We found the Applebys Of Boston,
and the Redstones at the Spring Ho-
tel. That Grace Appleby is a design
ing creature; everybody knows that
she did her best at Newport last sum-
mer to ensnare Hallam. However, as
I could make no reasonable objections.
consented to tarry for space in the
odious little town.
Watch Hallam!" These were Aunt
Somersets parting words when bade
her good-by in Golden Square.
How like an unamiable bag Of bones
she looked, shivering in her invalid
mometer at ninety in the shade!
"A mans fancy is prone to wander,
especially when his fiance is ill-tem-
pered, jealous and passe. Keep him
out of the society of younger and pref
tier girls. At your age you cannot af-
ford to lose a rich lover"
Spiteful old thing! How 1 do hate
Aunt Somerset, and how fawn upon
her. and fiatter and obey her-all be-
cause she is childless, decrepit old
woman, with no end of money!
Ada, as the widow Of tolerably
rich man, has an income Of her own,
but l am quite dependent upon Aunt
Somerset's bounty. 1 could never in
dulge in Paris dresses and new dia-
monds but for the quarterly checks
which she gives me.
Sometime l shall be her heiress.
When-oh, when will that happy day
dawn? Invalids-rheumatic invalids-
are distressingly tough.
date the beginning Of my vexations
from the Sabbath morning when Hal
lam induced me to attend service at
the Shaker church on the opposite
shore Of Hadham Lake, and when we
first saw and heard that girl Esther
in the midst Of the praying and sing
ing and general antics of the brothers
and sisters.
I observed at once that Hallam was
greatly struck with the beauty Of the
detestable little creature. and the re-
markable sweetness and compass OF
her voice.
She was a beauty, in spite Of her
abominable dress. Her skin was like a
peach and wonderful lashes shaded her
great gypsy eyes.
Hallam watched her necessarily. My
blood was boiling by the time the
meeting closed, and we started home
ward in a little steamer that puffs uI
and down the lake. I kept a serene
countenance, however, and COO
voice. l must bear everything. l sup
pose until l am his wife.
We'll" he said. carelessly, what did
you think of it, Marcia"
"Oh it was immense-almost as
good as third-rate theater," 1 an
swered cheerfully; those creatures in
the caps We're very unique"
He looked displeased. He wants q
woman to respect all kinds Of religion
"The service seemed to me very
earnest and pathetic" said he. II saw
nothing theatrical about it. BY Jove!
did you notice the little girl who
sang?"
Yes. 1 also observed that you new
er took your eyes from her face"
| He colored.
She was we'll worth looking at" ht
answered carelessly, and we never
spoke another word till we reached the
hotel.
How is it that do not feel quite sure
Of Hallam. kirke, although our engage
ment was published to the world si'
months ago? He is not, he has neve
been. an ardent lover l met him
Newport last season. where he wa
considered most desirable parti.
Ada and Aunt Somerset were wild
for the match, and l, with my siX-and
twenty years staring me in the face
left no stone unturned to secure him
He was young, almost a boy-1 was
veteran belle. Verify, l did my best
He struggled in my net for long time
then proposed in orthodox form ant
placed superb diamond on my hand
We sat upon the piazza at the Sprin'
House that night, and he was very 81
lent and abstracted. At the piano in
side Grace Appleby played sacred mel
odies in a mournful, minor key. Th
moon shOne on the lake and on tn
round peak of Moose Mountain. l hat
made an exquisite toilet of black ant
ere am color, but my fiance did no
give it a glance. His chair was tilte'
back against pillar Of the piazza, ant