University of South Carolina Libraries
WABarnott >=? YOMWflLLE jg IMQiLTO Qjl leavis >i. gkist, proprietor. | An |nbcpcnknt dami!jj ftrtospapcr: Jfor tbc promotion of t|c political, Social, Agricultural anh Commercial Interests of tjjc Soutjt. ] TERMS---$3.00 A YEAR, IN ADVANCE. VOL. 17. YOBKYILLE, S. O., THTJESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1871. N"Q- 4. JU (Original I'rtec j^torn. ; Written for tlie Yorkville Knquiror. J, atlonaJ" BY MRS. >1. A. EWART RIPI.EY. a v CHAPTER VI. < ri I (iKAI'KS ANI? COFFEE. ll The next morning, Ysabel came down, saying she would take A vlona's breakfast to her, ^ as she had a very bad headache, and was not! up. Lee bent his head to Ids < up as Mrs. j Grey lamented her indisposition and prescribed various remedies, concluding by saying | she must have taken cold after dancing. j "No," replied Ysabel, "she has no cold.! ^ When she came upstair.-, ! had gone to bed ; J *a and though I left, a light burning in her room, ,u she put it out as soon as she came in. She ! "J went t . '.V I -'4; oil agined I was asleep, and I said to her she cc need have no tear of disturbing me, for I was ' i}l awake, and told her to light the candle. .She did not immediately speak, and then said, in j 0L a very low voice, she preferred going to bed in the dark. I would have thought the child ; 011 p ? ' | was crying if she had had anything to cry for. 1 s" Two or three times in the night I must have an dreamed I heard her sobbing; but once, when I called to her, "she did not reply ; so I must to have been mistaken. But this morning she, in does not wish to speak, and only says her head j tei aches." , ?r Here Lee arose, and pushed his chair so vi-' wi olently that it would have fallen, if Katie had bu not caught it. He muttered some apology, tie and went out to the piazza. As Ysabel en- i do tered the passage with a waiter of breakfast,' in; he stepped forward and took it from her, say- in iug, "Let me carry it." She smiled and thank-: he ed him as she yielded it. Returning it at her door, he said, "Ysabel, persuade Avlona to ha rise, and when I return, let me come and see pa you a little while. I have some Malaga wii grapes which I heard reached the village last night, and I wish to bring you some." i ily She nodded a gracious assent, as she took ; O'i the waiter from him and entered the room, j He was more than usually taciturn as he 1 011 ' * * 1 T* i* J x1 waited lor tns nor.se, ana ivaue s incessant, chatter over the coining party failed to elicit; an a single remark. Reaching the village and 1 e| meeting Henry, he was compelled to listcu to ; PK his raptures over the dance of the preceding evening. an' "Did you ever see anything so bewitching ?" : 8P? he said. "She moved like a creature of air, j SUI and I confess I can think of nothing else ! since. She is the most enchanting woman I ; Rn< ever saw." \ *or Lee winced. | "What did you thiuk of it ?" asked Henry.1 ec^ "I don't know; I have seen many pretty | za? dances in my day," he observed, trying to as-: ',C( sume an indifferent manner. J 0U! tiai'ut* Ano Tviccn?citir? intnvi/?n* "Ul"'l,w V1,V 1 ....... heaut^'?such languishing grace!" replied j^c Henry, enthusiastically. j|l'.vl "Why, you seem hopelessly gone," said i ^ s >Lee^o^ _ i ovi "I am, Lee," replied Henry, flushing; "and : I am glad to have met you this morning, for I j :*ai wish to a.-k you what are your intentions ?" j 1>0 "My intentions !" repeated Lee, haughtily, j "Yes," replied Henry, without noticing the ! ^ altered manner; "I know I am neither handsome, nor wealthy ; nor do 1 occupy a position he other than my own merits give me. You 1 hu possess all these advantages ; and if you intend to prosecute this matter to marriage, 11 *af will withdraw." j en "Marriage is the very farthest thing from j bu my thoughts," replied Lee. j ec^ "Then, what are your intentions ?" persisted j Henry. j Lc "I do not know that I have any," said Lee, ; an lightly. "I sec in the lady a superlatively lovely woman ; she has also the charm of' ph perfect originality; I am interested in her ; she i ga amuses me; but if it will be any pleasure for ha I you to know it, I believe I have succeeded in ; tin making her thoroughly detest me. She hates ; foi me supremely, I assure you," he continued, in j wi answer to Henry's incredulous look. | jet "Such a gentle, lovely creature cannot des- i a i pise anything," said Henry, musingly. "No, that I will not permit," said Lee, be laughing; "I am not equal to a struggle | wa against indifference and scorn. She has per-! mission to hate me; that develops the active ; energy inherent in her, and I like to sec her : a aroused." j hi. "I do not understand your philosophy," , ar said Henry, doubtingly; "but I trust I un- j (^e derstand you are not my rival." i,n: | "You do not mean to say you think serious- *h ly of marrying ?" asked Lee. "I should be ov too happy, but I fear there is no such luck in ' tr ^ store for me," replied Henry. I sn ' 1 11.1 0)1 ' r-v "ilave you weigneu an me coiisuqueuees : j ~j asked Lee, gravely. I ^ "What consequences?" said Henrv. I rc "She is a Catholic, betrothed to a Spanish ^ ' *??n > ^l,t y?u ^iavc an ^vantage over him ;! cc she has rarely seen him, and being old, ugly j and cross, you will appear more amiable by i so the contrast." ! c= "How did you discover this ?" asked Henry, ai "Never mind," laughed Lee; "it's a way I , oi have, and I am friendly enough to warn you." j ci Henry bent his head on his hand. After bi awhile, looking up, he said, "You are not my ig rival then what do you intend to do?" j is "Proceed as I have begun," replied Lee,: t< with affected solemnity; "1 must hurry mat- tl ters a little, and make her hate me more in- j q tensely. I may then look for a revulsion, and si possibly, in the end, she may admire me as | much as I admire her." "Your five years on the continent lnus not, fl " been lost to you, I see," said Ilenry, looking : ci enquiringly at him ; "you are certainly older g than you appear to be." j c "Thank you for the implied compliment," b replied Lee. "I endeavored to make good use n of my advantages, and at home they always r told me I was no fool. I perceive the nega- j v tive commendation is assented t?? by otlieis." ; a "You have no objection to niv telling her a v?ur opinion about marriage?" asked Henrv, o after a pause. i t "An opinion! Did I express one ? I cer- r tainlv did not mean to slander the time-honored institution. I think it admirably serves I its purposes, from the time Adam and Eve left ? their wooing and blended in the marital rela- ( tion, till the present Darbv and Joan age, ] when, pairing off, each couple leaving the poetical, lives in the realities of life." I "You speak of it too lightly to feel its re- i .ponsihilities." replied Henry; "ami with"' our permission, I will certainly warm her of I he esteem in which you hold it." ;1 "Pray tell her, also," replied Lee, "that I ^ )ve a pretty woman wherever I see her, and i ill love her if she will let me." (i Henrv muttered something about trifling, i "Not at all," answered Lee, gravely; "you r<. -it wrli'/'t libortv to reoeat all our con- ( I'~- ?. -- J ersation, with all the notes and coiumentaies with *vhieh you may choose to intersperse ( ; you will searely tell her more than I have ! t >ld her myself-?that marriage is the farthest 1 lought of my mind." ! s "You are incomprehensible," said Henry. ! t "No," replied Lee, "onlv remarkahlv truth- j e ,1." * ' jt Lee rode hack, wondering that Ilenrv, a ' t rave and sensible man, one who had passed J s le boyishness of early manhood, should so j p r be overcome by a passion, that he, young. I t or?* impulsive, and naturally moresu.-c< pti- . d e, had yet to feel. i a Mo thought, with a 'j^oat deal, of eompln-: ii ticv, upon his invulnerability, and congratu- j ted himselfinoretjmn once upon his strength j f< 'mind. Iveaehing Hillside, and going at j ice to YsabelVroom, his quick, imperative j F lock, was answered by Avlona. She started ; t< seeing him, and murmured something about j e understood he had goue to the village, j d Ysubel was in the kitchen with Mrs Grey.. g Seeing she had no intention of inviting him ! come in, Lee, who bore a basket of grapes his hand, gently pushed the door and en ed, saying as he did so, "I promised these apes to Ysubel ; with your permission, I 11 leave them here for her. There are some nehes I selected expressly for you," he con- j k uied, as she stood with her hand still on the i or. her cheek alternately flushing, and pal- i "Those are fine; have you such grapes a! Cuba in winter ?" he asked, as lie smilingly Id up a bunch. ! w "A winter in Cuba?" he continued, as her le nd relaxed her grasp on the door, and she fir rtially turned to him; "how does it contrast "i th ours, and which do you prefer ?" hi "A winter in Cuba," she responded, dream- t'1 echoing his words, as if memory was ear-! su iug her back to pleasant recollections; { lere it is," and she pointed to a landscape | the wall. | so A quadrangular house, large, and from the j id diitecture, evidently commodious, on an j fr :vated spot, formed the foreground of the j li' ,'ture. The high peaks of the hills were in ! ; background, raising their wooded ridges ' th d precipitous heights, while before it was j grl ead a lovely valley, with gently undulating 1 M face, planted in cane and coffee, intcrspers-1 hi with rows of plantains. Alleys of orange 1 a ii mangoes, and the graceful, tall palm, in-! pi sected various portions. i th A garden of flowers and shrubs was attach-! td to the dwelling, and around its whole piaz- j ti? elevated a few feet from the ground, a ' te Ige of perpetual roses spread their ntimer- er ? blossoms to the sun. There was not a i 'B *ged feature in the landscape; even the j w ep-hillsides were clad in living green ; eve- wi lung won* the habiliment.^of summer, and ; th oftnessof light,shade and eblor,was spread . =t ?r all. 10 'I thought that was an eastern view," he j th d, "with its groves of orange, palm and j 1 I OU1MI, v.. .v.wr...0 j o ; loud ; the gangs of half-naked negroes, nuni-1 ( ercd hy hundreds, with their sword-like1 latchets hewing down thecancs, while others : usli with torches to set fire to the wind-1 rard edge of the road; the mounted mayor-! < Is. with long swords and holsters, galloping ; hout and shouting out orders and counter 1 rders ; the deep hell, with its incessant peal ; j lie alternate cries and shouts of the slaves, J ender it a most animating sight." "It warms my ldood to hear of it," said .ice; "and coupled with a vague sense of lunger, it would he indescribably exciting. | aniiot Government, however, protect the1 danter from such attacks?" lie asked. "They do all they can," she replied ; "the lerpetrator of such crimes is, of course, punshed, if discovered ; hut malice is cunning, flic government does all it can to encourage j mcgranatc." ! ui "That is my home," she replied, softly, "ami tl( i sketch was taken in the middle of winter." ' "What arc those tasteful little cabins for?" j U( asked, pointing to some separate houses, ?' ilt on each side of a spacious yard. "Those," she replied, are the negro cot- i Cl ;es ; the building in the centre is the gen-1 Cf il kitchen, and that large airy looking j ildingto the left, is the hospital; it is guard-1 C( by a gate and is closed every night." 1 01 "It is a coffee plantation, is it not ?" asked u :e, endeavoring to prolong the conversation, | d still looking at the picture. i j' "Yes," she replied, "my father's is a coffee uitation, although owning an interest in su r estates near. Although the coffee tree 1 ti s many enemies to contend with, and al- j : nigh the planter does not amass as large a rtnne as those owning sugar lands, yet he , 0 tnesses no overtasked labor, and is not sub-1 , tl ted to the fear of having his fields fired by . ualicious neighbor." "Fired ?" interrogated Lee, as lie handed j r a scat and took one by her side, "in what j ly ?" _ j "During the dry season," she answered, Lj in constant dread, forill 1. 11^ CKCiii I'luiivvi .V ... V II few hours his whole crop, and perhaps all I s buildings, may be destroyed. The canes j e very thickly planted, and their numerous y ad leaves form such a closely interwoven j ass, that if ignited while the wind is fresh, j j e flames spread with inconceivable rapidity j erthe whole field. The sugar-planter is ! uly the prince of agriculturalists," she said, J filing, "but at such a time, he is at the mer-! j of any of the canaille he may have officii- n :d, and they d<> not hesitate at this season to | ^ venge a past slight or present injury." "And when fires do occur, how are they ' j, mtrolled ?" asked Lee. "Very difficult, at times," she replied. "As j tl ion as it is discovered, the great bell of the \ tate, which can be heard for miles, is tolled, , id the neighboring planters send their troops ] * slaves, who hasten to the spot. Alleys arc . t it through the field to the leeward of the j urning portion, and then counter fires are ! 1 ;nited, and thus a large quantity of cane , ^ saved. Sometimes the allev is cut too close 1 ! i the fire, which,sweeping across it, surrounds ! ^ ic workers, some of whom are not infre-1t uentlv suffocated by the dense clouds of ] ] noke." * ; i "I must be an exciting scene," said Lee. ] "It is," she replied; "the roaring of the j < ames; the sharp crackling of the burning j ime ; the volumes of smoke that sweep to the j j i ???i*nlnr?in<r everything in its dark f | the cultivator of the cane, and would punish ' vindictively any one who would interfere with :uch a source of revenue. It grants the su- j ;ar planter many privileges. His slaves can j lot be sold for debt, nor can his plantation be fold for less than its value." "Is there as much cruelty practiced on those j states as we sometimes hear of?" asked Leo. i "When the proprietor does not oversee his ' oncerns, but leaves the whole to an adminis-:' rador, who is expected to make as many .1 >oxes of sugar as his predecessor, and if pos- ^ ible a few more; and who, to secure his place, ries to accomplish the task regardless of the { oinfbrt and lives of those under his authori- < y, there is great severity. But on other es- 1 ates the tasks arc well regulated, and the ! laves do not work more than the English ' leasant. A cruel task-master is as much de-. 1 esti'd in Cuha, by his brother-planters, as a i 1 listraining landlord .would be in England ; i ) nd, indeed, T think of the two, the latter is. j < 11 general, less luunync." I * "The labor, you suv, is less severe on a cof- , e plantation ?" lie asked. i(J "Ob ! yes," replied Avlona ; "and with a t Tench administrador, the negroes areeonten- j id and happy." j11 "Why a French in an ?" enquired Lee. "Theyare always kinder, and pay more re-, ? ardto the comfort of the negroes," she replied, j T Leesiniled. "Your countrymen are severe?" i f "My countrymen ?" she asked, equiringly ; | n Ah ! yes, my grandfather was Spanish, my i f inther was the daughter an English woman, ' ad my father is a Frenchman." j )' "A Frenchman!" repeated Lee ; "I did not j now"?and he paused? S( "No, I presume not," said she, quietly. h "The estate looks like a garden," he said 11 fter a pause, again looking at the picture, j "You should sec it at night," said she,. *1 hen the moon is shining brightly, and the , aves of the cocoa and palm throw their . inge-likc shadows on the walls and floor, irougli the. open doors, lighted by the elfin nips of the eocullos?those harbingers of s( ic rains. A coffee estate is indeed a garden, j irpassing in beauty, anything that your eol- ri r climate can produce." j "Ofthe cocullos," said Lee, "I have seen : *( 1 i ' mc specimens, but nothing to give me an./ ea of great brilliancy. I presume the change lis oin the peculiar atmosphere in which they . Y ve is unfavorable to them," *-aid he. i "They leave the decayed timber, in which ! ey undergo their transformation from the j 11 ub into the beetle. About the middle of C! av, the largest are about one and a lialf|w dies long. On a dark night, the road, lor mile long, looks like a sheet of tremulous losphorie fire spread over the ground, more ni an a hundred yards wide. The air is also i ive with them as they dart in all direc>ns like meteors; and the trees, glowing with n thousand gems in perpetual motion, nit a lurid halo. The chief bright spot on the under part of the bodies. This, | w hile they fly, resembles a burning taper, and ; ith the two large globes near the eyes, in [ m eir rapid mordents, produce n nright'f"* r-eak of light, 'ime eountr\f ladies pin tin n: ' their bosoms through a natural hook in J eir heads, which gWes no pain to the insects, j hey also put them in the flounces of their : 1 esses when dancing, where, excited by mo- j ;?n, the insects resemble so many diamonds." ; 1 It is not to be supposed that Lee's contin- & id questions were the result of anxiety to . a >tain information. He had purposely drawn L*r out on a subject which evidently interest-! a 1 her, in order to place her entirely at her ; ise. He succeeded perfectly, and when Ysajl returned to the room, she found them . tl nnfortably seated on the sofa near the fire, ; :ie of the curious little tables before them, on 11 hich Avlona had placed a silver bowl of c, ater, and over which Lee was holding a drip- fel ing bunch of grapes, while she shared the 0 uit with him. "I am coming back to-morrow to talk about 1 t< iiba." said he. laughingly, as he rose to go; I want you to show me tlio.se pictures of the 'irgin?those copies from the great masters ( f which you spoke." : J "Very well," said she, gaily ; "I will have, ' icni opened for you." 11 I1 s CHAPTER VII. a AI.MOND CAKES AND WAllNINOS. | Lee had seen Avlona under a new jihase v le preceding evening. The hauteur which j ud previously marked her manner had dis- } ppeared ; she had met him as an equal, and \ er intelligence had been marked with a vi- I acity which was charming. i fi After the first Hush, on their next meeting, > A'chad not failed to notice her unusual pale- i ess ; and many and severe were his internal ; ?uproachcs. i r Her soft eyes had a dreamy languor in their I epths, which even the occasional smile could j 1 ot entirely disperse ; and as Lee thought of'* lie tears which had produced it, his manner eeaine unconsciously more deferential and ' under than it had ever been. 1 After placing her at ease with him, he had 1 mused her in desultory conversation respect- ^ ng his travels, and the litile Geneva clock i in the mantel had musically chimed away the f lours, neither apparently being conscious of 1 he flight of time. < It was only artistically and jesthetically,1? lowever, that Lee admired her. He never I vearicd gazing upon her rare beauty, nor the i unguid grace of her movements. This, coupled ivith her intelligence and vivacity, made her I imwt fiKcin-itimr eomnanion. He thought I * <??WWI. - x w [Icury would win a gem, if lie .succeeded ; and n the meantime, he looked forward with no 1 ittle pleasure to such charming compaiiimidiip for the dull winter. : _ After this, he saw her frequently; sometimes in the family circle, and frequently in her own parlor, to which lie had admission. Still he could not disguise from himself that while Henry was met with a smile, he was often passed with assumed or affected indifference. Henry had also taken her to ride more than once, a privilege, which, though solicited, he had never attained. This, however, did not ruffle him as it had at first. He had many ways of amusing himself, lie was still busy at Ilrookland; often was out an entire day with Mr. (irey; would go in the kitchen and chat with Mrs. (irey, play a rough game with her merry bovs, assist Jennie, or tease Katie. Coming in one day earlier than usual, he found the family-room deserted, and throwing himself on the lounge fell asleep. He was awakened by voices in the next room, which he distinguished at once to be Avlona's and Katie's. "No, Katie," replied Avhmn,"1 cannot sav j I think more favorably of him than I did be' fore. I am learning, however, to tolerate him not to like him." "I don't see why," said Katie ; "he is good unturcd and pleasant. You 9aid you thought him handsome, and lie is always polite." "And very partial to Katie; why do you not add that ?" said Avlona. ? "Yes," replied Katie, laughing, "I boliav.fi lie does like me very well, and I do not see ivhy you and .Jennie object to it. lie would like you, too, if you would let him." "Jennie does not object to it," said Avlona, jravelv ; "but she thinks you dwell too mtndi in it, and value it more than it is worth. He s a gay and vain young man, ami seeks imusement at your expense." "Well, if I enjoy it, I don't think it is any> lodv's business," replied Katie, pertly. "True, \atie ; but we, who love you, dislike to >?e mu cajoled and flattered, to f.aicr if this .American aristocrat, who t 'links }^;nse!jfsuperior,to you > soon think of cutting off his righ^^^cS iflcring it to one beneath him in social po. iion." ~~ "Did you not just now call him a gcirtleoan V" said Katie. "Yes," replied Avlona, who spoke low and^ ;cntly; "a gentleman, I cannot dispute ; ho assesses the uniuistakeable characteristic in hat air of easy high breeding, that lost grace nd polish which intercourse, without cqualiy, will never produce ; but gentlemen think i a lenient crime to entrap the affcctiouToWJ ounggirl, only to disappoint them." "Jennie accepts attentions from hiin__herrdf/'said Katie, rather poutingly;" he showed' or how to pot the plants you gave her, and rnde supports for her geraniums, and yestcray, when she was drawing water, he took :ic bucket from her and carried two or three uckets into the kitchen before he stopped." "Hercules and Orphale!" said Avlona; another instance of his insatiable vanity.' T" elieve he wants to captivate every fa? e lie >es." "He cuts wood for mother often, and cares it into the kitchen, and makes traps and itcs for the boys. I don't suppose he wants ) captivate them !" said Katie, triumphantly; I think it is far more likely that Mr. Henry intent on captivating, for he only talk-s^o^ ou and hip, and never scarcely speaks to cnuie." "Mr. Henry is a very sensible, worthy young tan," replied Avlona; and a little more cduition, a little more contact with the world, ould make him a very superior one." t "I mean to tell him," laughed Katie. "Vou will do no such thing," replied Avlo(i, speaking more hastily than she had yet tic ; "he must find out that I ?" Here Lee, who considered he had no right . ?listen to what should he discovered, much ( > lie would have liked to know, gave a very ; istinct "Ahem." The voices ceased, and he alked across the room and went upstairs "So," thought ho, "I am only tolerated, ar? ust submit to her animadversion^ on Tfij >n| - -J-rrt'X'tTalTGr i\ulil.'no ist to hers. It don't ^urt /o"f, the lilidfl iquette 1 She would forget nic ihis day,-^P lenry would push matters with her. She is etter tempered than I gave her credit lor, owbver. How sweetly she hore Katie's pertess! High spirited, with infinite womanly cntleuess. Jennie put her up to it. As if ny attention could hurt that precious little iiMr.vflv ' Wluit mntVw?rlv rnuiiKol. forsooth. "Vk^" "J J ? > . ml I am a gentleman; she acknowledges iat! So I have gained something in her esleni, spite of her resolution to the contrary. '11 make her retract all she said yet, even lough standing by the side of Henry at the ltar! She is going to ride with him this veiling. I'll take Katie and keep him in ight all the time, that she may have full view f my devotcdness. So he rambled on for ame time, constantly congratulating himself lint lie did not miml it at all, and resolving d provoke her more than ever. After some farther meditation, he went own stairs, and finding the house deserted, rent?as was frequently his custom?to the itchen. Here he found Mrs. Grey busy taking marmalade for cake, and to IvU-stfcr^ rise, Avlona, whom he seldom saw there, asisting Jennie in making what she called lmond cakes, for her party. Katie was flutering between the parties, thinking herself ery busy, doing very little of anything. "What are you doing, Katie?" asked Lee, Hitting his head in at the door. "Making almond cakes ; want one ?" said Catie, roguishly holding one up between her inger and thumb. "Yes ; give it to me," said Lee, entering. She laughed and put it behind her back, iucha challenge it was not in Lee's nature to efuse, and a romp ensued, which resulted in jee's possessing himself of the cake, and takng a seat on the edge of the large kitchen able, quietly eating it. Good-natured Mrs. Grey looked on with ininite amusement, while Jennie glanced, in a icrplexed way, from Katie to Avlona, the utter replying mutely by an affect at km of -4* ore gravity. * "Your cakes are delightful, Katie; gjvctiie mother," said Lee, reaching toward the dish. Katie snatched it away and another ?.scufllc msuod, while, in the midst of sundry cries ind screams, and the uncontrolled laughter of Mrs. Grey, Lee seized the dish and bore it ofl in triumph. "Xotv to nunish vou." lie said. "I am <roin<: lo take every cake that has more than two almonds in it, and give the rest to you." Katie made a spring at the dish, hut he held her hack at arm's length. "I will he merciful, and commute your punishment hy taking n fair division, if you will got me some of that marmalade," said he, in at) audible whisper. "Stop your nonsense, Katie," said Jennie," and bring me a bucket of water." Katie reluctantly took the bucket, am went out of the door. Lee pot down the dish and taking up another bucket, sprang after her. There was a good deal of laughing ami scuffling at the well, as Lee held the rope neither drawing, nor permitting Katie ti draw, till Jennie impatiently called to her t< "come along if she was coining !" Li e thei rapidly drew, and seizing both buckets rai and placed them on the shelf, leaving Katii to follow. "Now, Jennie, what else can I do for you?" he said as he turned toward her. "Nothing," said she, smiling in spite of her self, at his comical manner, "but to get ou of the way of my sifter." Lee watched the rapid motion of her arm for awhile ; then said, "If a woman wants t make herself herself perfectly captivating, le Kcr put on ft white bib apron, roll up her ; sleeves high enough to show the dimples, like Jennie, and pin a little handkerchief on her head ; then aint she sweet ?" ;' Jennie laughed, and Mrs. Grey said, "But ii her arms have worked for forty years or i upward, the sleeves had better be down, hadn't they?" ! Mrs. Grey, don't destroy my poetry, if you please," said Lee, in a mock serious tone; "I am going to get Jennie to play Orphalc to my Hercules, and see how contented j we will he," and he glanced mischievously at 1 Avlona. The flush which dyed her cheek did not , soon fade under a gaze which lingered, too ; long, attracted by her exceedingly becoming " dre-s. She had on a little frilled muslin apron, with small pockets, and an embroidered handkerchief was pinned, French bar-maid IMpPrcn, cm 'ni'i-hv'ad. She looked even more Bttan usually beautiful. B "i am trying to discover what that is," said, i Ltv, looking at her apron. "it is a house-keeper's apron," she said j ; holding it up by one corner. ! "Possible!" said Lee ; "what an extremely | j useful article of dress it must be; and those ilittlc things, what do you call them??pockets? ; What are they fur ?" "To carry keys, of course," said she, putting two fingers into one of the pockets. ; 1 "All, yes !" said Lee; "how stupid of me not ^o know?and. how admirably they are adapted ,; libr the purpose!" And dropping his watch i i key into one, he exclaimed, "exactly the idea!" {1 1^ "Pshaw!" said Avlona, taking out the key !' j and handing it to him, "how absurd you arc; I , you must take me for a child !" ; "No, indeed," replied Lee, gravely ; "from I | the exceeding gravity and severity exhibited j , during the last thirty minutes, I would style : 1 j you reverend judge, and call you Portia." j "And you the veriest Shylock that ever dc- 1 grinded?" 1 t r?t I 4 kne paused. j < ! "What?" said he. '1 "Is it possible you cannot complete the sen- j teuee?" she replied, looking up at him, se-: yere reproach depicted on her countenance. 1 "What do you think?" i I "I think you are very beautiful," he said, 1 ml.nlnilf1\. L-inL-inrr liij fnrU nirrtinst. t.lifi t.!l- 8 ?.V?...6 ..." a ?b!con which he was resting. , i j "Pshaw!" said she, turning from him and i in-ranging the cakes on a plate. ! 1 "Girls," said Mrs. Grey, "you arc through i that lot of cakes: go into the house and sec ^ "TTTat the fire is burning, and set the table. I Your father will be home directly and will want his dinner; you can bake tlu: rest after 1 dinner." c T.cc followed theni, laughingly insisting uyou carrying the cakes, as lie saw a large s j hjv)wn one near the top, which had at least 1 Mx almonds on it, and he intended to beg Jen- s nie for it as a reward of industry. Receiving ^begged Avlona to hold it for him till he , ^ fire for Jennie. She involuntarily ; irciJy^knowing whetli?r_]i.e_ was !' ^^^fctTieroJj,^ JJftvingf^ewed the_ BBFihc girh seated aroitn/l it, betook flissejitpetween Avlona and Katie, saying as ! he did so, 'to secure his cake, and to watch '' Katie,' who was knitting at her purse. \ "Who is the happy person for whom this is 1 % stined ?" he asked, playing with the end of: 1 l?t. . ' , Is j "Does it interest you ?" she laughingly ! asked. 1 j "Certainly! Docs not everything you do in-;' tercst me?from the time you stumped your > j toe and fell down in the road, even to the < ' present moment?" i' j Katie glanced at Avlona. "You arc laugh-1 1 ing at me," she said. "Who told you so, Katie?" he asked, turn- 1 ; Uifs to Avlona, who had taken up Mrs. Grey's 1 , cards, and was awkwardly attempting card- 1 ; hlg- j | He watched the vigorous movement of her |1 ' hands, which invariably resulted in failure. "Do you not admire my work also, and the ' haudiness with which I accomplish it ?" she 1 asked, looking up at him. r^-Lec's eyes were brilliant with suppressed mirth. "I don't believe vou understand card i ing very well," he said, biting his lip as she again attempted to draw the cards. "I don't know anything ab6ut it," she said,! "hut I am learning. Why don't you laugh?" : she asked again, looking at Lce'slace; "I know ; you arc inclined to do so." "I really was afraid of offending you," he , ; replied. ! "You cannot offend me by laughing open- j jjy ; it is only when you speak ironically, or ! flatter, that you offend me, and sometimes : make me feel inclined to treat you as Mrs.! , (Irey does her boys, when they offend her." "How is that ?" asked Lee. Katie laughed and said, "Box their cars !" ! "Was that what you meant?" asked Lee,; quickly turning his eagle glance on her. ! Shesmiled, but did not answer. "I give you leave to do so whenever you ; please," said Lee, "but my revenge will be ^^ifTt^i'Lsuav" "And what may that be ?" she said, lifting her dark eyes to his. f"My lips will explain at the time, though it my be a mute eloquence," he said, bending toward her and speaking in a low tone. "Avlona bent her head to her work without \ answer, though Lee noticed the flush mount to her very brow, and after sitting for a few moments longer, she dropped the work and went up stairs. "Offended her again," thought Lee; "it . seems to be my luck." ; Early in the afternoon Henry drove to the ; door,and finding no one in the house, went up ; to Lee's room, lie seemed very much cxei led ; dusted uH" his clothes with a brush, near; vigorously reeombed his hair ; drew his gloves | on, then oft*; replied to Lee's remarks at ran-' I dotn; then suddenly facing toward him said, , "Lee, I was in earnest about warning the Se-' nora regarding you the other evening, and I intend doing so; but if it will affect our , friendship, I will say nothing." ) Lee's face Hushed a little at the opening of > the sentence, but he replied, "Certainly, Heni, ry ; you arc at perfect liberty to do so. I do i1 not think anything you can say can make her e dislike me more than she does already; and i unfortunately, I am never near her, but to ' add to the provocation." "1 do not understand it," said ITenrv, throw ing himself into a chair ; "but when I occat sionally repeat some of your random remarks, she invariably defends you." s "It may be a peculiarity of her disposition," o said Lee, "to defend the ahscnt; I know her t! to be generous." "I suspect it is," replied Henry, lookin thoughtfully into the fire; "she evidentl don't like to talk about you; but what is you buggy ordered out for," said he, looking fror the window; "are you going to drive ?" "Yes," replied Lee ; "I am going to tak Katie out awhile." "Well, keep at a good distance," laughei Henry. "I only want to keep in sight," said Lee. "Go before, then," replied Henry. "Bu where are they all? I could not find any o them down stairs!" "Avlonaisin her room, and Katie ant Jennie in the kitchen, I suspect," replied Lee "I'll go and hunt them up for you." "How is it you have entrance to her room?' asked Henry jerking his thumb toward Avlo na's apartment. "Ysabel grants it," replied Lee carelessly and although Avlona tacitly forbids it, yet 1 am not easily daunted when I wish toacc-om plish a purpose." "And the purpose?" asked Henry. "To be amused," said Lee ; "but now ma) I ask, how have you overcome the three-headei Cerberus?" "Ha, ha !" laughed Henry," she thinks 1 am devoted to Katie, and so imagines there is no danger in trusting her precious charge tr me. She told me in her broken English thai Sen or Lee told her I was a very secure young man; hut tell the Scnora I'm waiting, will you r Lee crossed the passage and kuockcd with his usual imperative knock at the door. There was no answer, although he heard a step in the room. A second summons was lingering[y answered by Avlona, who slowly opened the door. "I hope I have not disturbed you," said Lee, bowing low. "No," she answered, without moving from >efore the door. "I feared I had, as I knocked twice without receiving answer, and then, so tardily, that [ thought you had not heard me." "Yes," replied Avlona, "I heard you, but?" "But you did not know who I was?" said Lee, interrogatively. "Yes," she replied, looking quickly up, "I cnew it was you?I know your knock?" She topped and blushed as her eyes fell under the nerry glance of his. "Is there such individuality about my mock ?" he said, leaning against the door, alnost forgetting Henry, in watching the rapid ,'ariations of her color. "Yes," she again brielly replied. "In what way ?" lie said ; "I am curious to enow. Is it too low, too gentle, to reach your airs?" "Indeed, no!" she said, looking quickly up it hi in ; "you knock as if you demand enrance, and I do not always choose to reply to uch imperative summons." There was a token almost of defiance on ler face, as she now looked fully up to him, ler head thrown proudly back, and her face lushing. __ ~~X? T \ "Had you known I kPocked b>V<>xy, and hat Henry is in theneft om awjiitimj your pleasure to drive, you would haveueen kinder, md opened the door more readily." "Tell Mr. Henry I will be there in a few nonicnts," said she, turning quickly away; md hastily gathering up a shawl and nubia, she ran down stairs. Lee followed, more leisurely, and Henry, ivho had preceded them, was already at the loor. As Avlona, who seemed unusually nervous, crossed the step to the piazza, she dropped her shawl, which she had carelessly thrown around her. Henry stooped, and picking it up, handed it to her, while Lee was not only giving Katie innumerable charges about wrapping, but assisting her to envelope herself; for although the afternoon was sunny and warm, the air of the evening would be chill. "You will not be comfortable driving in that way," said Lee to Avlona, as he held the gate open to allow the party to pass ; "permit me to assist you," he said, as she gave a jerk ut her shawl and partially drew it up, and before she could refuse, he had taken it from her, and placing it carefully around her, he directed her to fold it closely, as she would find driving colder than the more active exercise of walking. She thanked him, and as she took her seal in the buggy, he lifted his hat in answer as they drove off. She bowed, and smiled such a rare, daz zling smile, that for a moment he gazed aftei her, wondering what power had effected sucl a transformation on a face always beautiful but in that moment lovely beyond conception "Henry will wait for me to pass him," saic he, as he handed Katie into the buggy ; "w< must drive quickly." True to his word, Heu ry was driving slowly, and as Lee passed, his restive horse made a spring which caused Katie to scream. A word from Lee controll ed him, however ; and turning to the part) behind, he raised his hat crying, "All right!' Avlona was bending forward, pale ant frightened, and Lee turning to Katie said "Avlona thinks now your life is not worth s farthing in my hands." Lee was more than usually light-heartet and entertaining, ami Katie's merry laugl rang out almost unceasingly. After proceeding several miles, Lecturnet to sec if the other party wished to turn, am found they were nowhere to be seen. "Why,1 said Katie, "Mr. Henry has left us." "No,' replied Lee, "it is Avlona who has left us but we arc independent of their movements let us go on." After enjoying a very pleasant drive, the; returned, and found Henry and Avlona hat not yet gotten back. The evening grew dami and chilly, and it was nearly dark when the; reached home. Lee, who had been listening for the wheels went to the door and met Avlona lookinj tired, chilled, and thoughtful. Henry was very lively ; talked a great dea of his pleasant drive, and spoke of scvera views, which he designed showing the Senora to all of which she faintly smiled, or replie* in monosyllables. As Henry was leaving, he linked his urn into Lee's, and as they walked out into the nigh he said, "You were right, Lee ; I believe sh does dislike you. I told her you were a fickl sort of fellow who admired pretty face* but was cautious enough never to go beyoni admiration. I told her, also, how lightly yo spoke of marriage, and how you sough amusement, etc. You didn't mind my tellin her, did you ?" he asked with some embarrass mont. g I "No," said Lee briefly; "but go on, that is y | not all." r | "Yes," replied Henry, "that is all; except, af n I ter defending you for awhile, she suddenly be } came silent." e "Henry," said Lee, leaning his arm upon the gate and facing him in the moonlight, "it 1 is nothing to me what you said, nor do I expect anything that you have said to affect my conduct in any way; but you have not hesit tated to censure me. I grant you, with my f permission," he continued, as Henry made a gesture of deprecation, "and now I think you 1 ought to tell me what led to her defending me, ; or what the defence was." "Oh," replied Henry, "she denied you were '! fickle; said I had mistaken your character; [ said you possessed wonderful stability; denied i your caution;also said that involved deception, ; j and you were more frank than anyone she ever [ j knew. She said, also, that she had never met - j a more ardent admirer of beauty ; that she ! .? i . . , ., . , _ * i* i thought you discovered something oeauuiui or attractive in everything in nature. True, ' you sjioke lightly of marriage, but she did not I believe it was from false ideas regarding its sacrcdness, but merely from a thoughtlessness [ | which never contemplated its relations. As s j to being amused, she said that was a pcculiar? ity of your temperament; that you enjoyed life ; thoroughly, and derived pleasure from every ; source." [ "What silenced her, then ?" said Lee; "and why did you turn off this afternoon from foli lowing us?" ! "I have told you, honestly, just what I said," replied Henry; "and believing it my } duty to warn her, I granted all she had said, i but persisted in my idea of believing you to be j fickle?a sort of general admirer. She suddenly asked me if you had told me to toll her this. I acknowledge I was taken a little by surprise, and told her yes, we had spoken of it, and you had not objected. She then hecame silent, and defended you no longer ; hut very soon after, asked me to turn off into another road, and we came round, by the mill, home. This is what detained us so long. You didn't mind my telling her," said Henry, as Lee remained silent. "No, not at all," replied Lee, coldly; "only II give you warning that I shall certainly endeavor to disabuse her mind of any bad impression you may have made respecting me. She possesses more delicacy of feeling, a more j innate sense of propriety, a more womanly, I fortrivintr and gentle temper, than I gave her ! credit for; and I am now ashamed of myself when I contrast my tantalizing and vexatious manners with her forbearance. I intend to j do better, and I intend to tell her so. We J understand each other, I believe, sir; good1 night." j A vlona was going up stairs as Lee returned, I i and lie could not help thinking that she had j left the room just as she heard his step at the I door. lie followed her and said, ' You gave ! us the slip this afternoon ; why did you desert j us?" / j?-iiXJhl not Irn^wJhere had been anv agreei r'nent to keep togettf ... nli n? ' ( He stepped befor%iier and laid ill# hand on | t.he knob of the doifr, as if to open it, but before doiug so, he said, "There was some reason for your leaving us; tell me." .She smiled her proud, cold smile, as she looked fully at him. "What did Henry tell you this afternoon?" he asked. "What right have you to question me in this manner?" she replied, her cheek crimsoning; "I consider it a very great presumption 011 your part, and desire it may never occur again. Let me pass!" "Let me tell you what he said," said Lee, as he slowly turned the handle of the door. "No, 110!" shesaid, shaking her head impatiently, "I will not hear." "Do you fear me ?" asked Lee. ' "Fear you !"she repeated, lifting her head proudly. "Then listen. If to seek your your society 1 is a crime, I am guilty ; if to admire you 19 - a crime, I am guilty; if to think you bewitchingly beautiful is a crime, I am guilty." Iu an instant his hand was struck from the 1 door, and she had swiftly passed him and ! closed it. ' "There!" said he, as he entered his room, ' "I thought I would have conciliated her, but she looked so temptingly defiant as I spoke, I ^ could not refrain from telling her how bcauti5 ful she was. My luck again! Henry has the odds this time." [to he continued next week.] f (copies of tin- Esqi'irkr containing! tlic previous chapter* of this Story can lit; I'lirni.-lieil to new Mtli.-cribern.] I " ! fpswUaucMS Articles. i ALL COTTON. "We commend to the careful perusal of our s planting frieuds the following article from 1 The Paper, a Democratic sheet published in Pittsburg, Pa., now that the season for plant7 ing the new crop is approaching: ' "A sufficient number of years have elapsed 1 since the conclusion of hostilities between the , States of the North and South, to permit of a 1 calm survey of the causes which contributed to the result. The conquerors were not made 1 so by reason of their superior bravery, nor, 1 as would at first appear, from their numerical superiority, although the latter aided them 1 j very materially, but because the North was a 1' section of mechanics and its adversary merely an agricultural region. "It was not a contest of muscle against ; muscle, but of brains and inventive genius in J opposition to personal courage. The South found a few staples so productive of wealth V that it confined itself to the cultivation of 1 these, and allowed every other interest to p languish. Its cities became only great warey houses for the storage of cotton, sugar and tobacco, and the pride of the people swelled 1, into undue proportions as they beheld the shipI \ ping of the world at their crowded wharves, ! eager to carry off, even to the uttermost ends 1' of the earth, the fruits of their fertile fields. II From this was begotten the fallacious idea j that cotton was king, and that 'ds sceptre not 1; only swayed the destinies of America, but that i it was not without force on the other side of the a | Atlantic. This was very flattering to the t ] vanity of a growing people, still young in the e j family of States, and was sufficient to dazzle e | their eyes with a splendor altogether meretris, j eious. The domination of cotton should have d | been a source of pride to every American, u That pride, however, should never have even it remotely approached idolatry. The fact thai g it did become so, no person will deny, and tc >-; this we assign the subsequent overthrow of it: i Worshippers. i "When the war broke out it found the States of the South rich in cotton, in sugar, 1 in men ami in money, with an enthusiasm amounting almost to insanity, and a determination to achieve victory by the prowess of i arms. The North went into the conflict with ; an earnestness as terrible, but with everything the South lacked. We had a diversified industry to back us; we had iron and coal and steel for the manufacture of arms and munitions ; we had corn and oats for the cavalry, wheat and rye for the soldiers, and mills for the manufacture of cotton and woolen fabrics with which to furnish raiment to our men in the field. The South had none of these. 'Tis true, there were iron works in Virginia and in Mississippi, but these were crippled early in the war by reason of the blockade and mechanical poverty of the South. History furnishes no instance where 8,000,000 of people. euuallv united and dutormiued, have boon ^ subjugated. Had the South pursued a wiaer ^ policy in the past; had it encouraged a healthy immigration and fostered manufactures, it would have been a more formidable antagonist, and doubtless would have protracted the struggle indefinitely, even if we admit that under circumstances victory was in its reach. The lesson we deduce from the failure of the South, then, is that, without a blending of industries, no State or couutry can ever attain true greatness. When a country can live within itself it is independent, and not until then. The people of the South are rapidly realizing this, and from all parts we hear of new manufacturing enterprises. Georgia seems to have the lead as yet, but Tennessee, with her rich mineral deposits, is putting on the armor of Vulcan and striding rapidly to the front; while Louisiana seems to have made up her mind to send us her cotton in webs, instead of bales, as formerly. The mechanic is invited to go South and co-operate with the planter. This invitation is being heeded, too, and a union of interests is being formed that will eventually give birth to great social changes there, and which cannot fail to be productive of much good to the whole country." THE STATE SURVIVORS' ASSOCIATION. We have received a printed copy of the proceedings of the first and second annual meetings of the State Survivors' Association, together with the eloquent address of Gen. John S. Preston,delivered before the Association in Columbia, in November last. The object and purposes of the Association are fully set forth in these proceedings, and to all who are ignorant of the part which South Carolina played in the great struggle, we commend the able and convincing report of the Kxccui> 1 ?l.?...a ?!,!?? LIVC* DOillU, ? JIIL'X1 UliJWU^ Ullivi tuiiigc^ that this State gave to the Confederate cause at least one soldier for every vote cast for secession. The Executive Board, with the assistance of Prof. Rivers, have compiled a roll of the names of 10,000 South Carolinians who died in service during the war between the States. i There is. besides, a supplementary roll of u union eoljietuU l.ohl .^111 (.'"?> [ tfienticr TTTese rolls the Survivors' A.-socia| 'ion now propose to publish by subscripltGTrj J and if 1,100 subscribers at $5 can be obtained, i this great memorial of our dead, and valuable historical work for the State, will be secured. The plan is to publish two editious; the first with a preface inviting corrections and additions to be submitted to the Executive Board by the friends of those who fell; the second, with the additions and corrections thus made, in a better and more permanent form. A subscription of 85 entitles the subscriber to a copy of both editions. The manuscript is ready for the printer, and the Board are about to canvass for subscriptions. There is not a family in South Carolina which will not find the name of a friend, a relative, or a brother-in-arms upon thcjroll of this legion of honor of the South Carolina dead, and we cannot doubt that the Survivors' Association will speedily obtain far more than the miuintim number of subscribers required for perpetuating the memory and fame of those who poured out their blood for their State and the sunny South.? Charleston Keivs. Tin: R ki.ations'of Corn and Pork.?The . well-known sympathy between these two gifts of nature has been reduced by agricultural science to exact mathematics. The consumer may be indifferent to results like these, and call recklessly for "another rasher of bacon," for he knows by tl?e time the product gets to his plate, the price is all the same, and bears j no proportion to the cost of corn ; but to the producer it is great satisfaction to know that I a bushel of corn properly fed, makes 10 pounds ' of pork, and so if his corn can be bought or j raised for 121c a bushel his pork costs him a j cent and a quarter a pound, gross; at 3Uc a I bushel, 3c a pound; at 50c a bushel, 5c a | pouud, and so on, a cent a pound for every i 10c a bushel. Then, suppose a farmer buys i a stock hog of 150 pounds for $9, or six cts. a j pound, and adds a hundred pounds weight to j him, with 10 bushels of corn, and theu_ sells i him for the same money per pound,?or $15,^ : he trcts GOc a bushel for his corn, which is a 1 c? ' great price on a western prairie farm. Indeed, ' if he sells his 250 pound hog for 4 3-4c a pound, or only 82.50 more than he gave for him, he gets 25c a bushel for his corn, and that will pay in interior Illinois, Indiana or ' Iowa. Be a Man.?Foolish spending is the fatli| er of poverty. Do not be ashamed of work, | and of hard work. Work for the best salary ' or wages you can got, but work for half price 1 rather than be idle. Be your own master, and do not let society or fashion swallow up your individuality?hat, coat and boots. Do not eat up or wear out all that you can earn. Compel selfish body to spare something for profits saved. Be stingy to your own appc 1 titc, but merciful to others' necessities. Help , others, and ask not help for yourself. Soe 11 that you are proud. Let your pride be of L-iinl Hp too nrond tn be lazv : too li.V, x v , proud to give up without conquering every difficulty ; too proud to wear a coat that you . cannot afford to buy ; too proud to be in comi pany that you cannot keep up with in expen1 sos ; too proud to lie or steal or cheat; too proud to be stingy. flfcirGod made both tears and laughter, and ! both for kind purposes ; for as laughter eua, bles mirth and surprise to breathe freely, so i fears enable sorrow to vent itself patiently, t Tears hinder sorrow from becoming despair ) and madness ; and laughter is one of the very 5 privileges of reason, being confined to the hui man species.