Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, January 04, 1877, Image 1
Hetosfitptr;' .for fjrt promotion of f[jt; political, Social, ^jrialtoral anb Contntcrtial Interests of % Soo% jTERMS?$3.001 TEAR, IN ADVANCE. I
~*rr\T otik: ~ "rORKVILLB, 8. O., THHJR8DAY, JANUARY 4, 1877, J NO. 1. * I
TAKE THE IS.
And good and bad tie end;
And thejr who expect to m?xw8flK|AA n#HUe,
Are lit danger of marring innr^M? than they'll mend.
jjjr you're sure tfl amiss;
Tha*eorK't notab#|*e' - A
: Take fltf world a* tt k ttiWieipl^Wnlog, \ 1
Ne'eretirup tlie siuliAMfeHMapQW;' \
' There'JVlsdomIn this;hQUfi<$H$Wtt at repining VV
. - 4 Over tilings which nwwded, we know !
Thereof beauty around uAHttSBtla enjoy;
And cWde not, unless inBHHBwMl
Though Garth's not the HvmHH ilgMl^rfaaaa boy, \
There's something to HA gMro|Nrw1<kt
Take the World as It Is, wmHnpNtivdJwj&rowg,
- ** ??-??? r.1?un.ir^^BHMKSbd andWolh
/. !0 wrc^liittiK? >UCHUVMlMn^ -v
' Jb* - Kheffk# that depend on }?tmwb of t&-?gfrow! \
It* hopes which para by life thSAeams of oar youth.
Yet, ()!. whilst the li*lit of "W??,
^^T^hennJn^ts^^
lOTh~K^MWraMHH0ST7"
rln one of th? jrti||pnfc-aooks, lying among
| ' ^ the-Sco^^ bord^ a
complain of Jpufiered unkttfl
f; treatment at his bqp^t&is jfeife was a gentpj
rather melancholy imaa.. people who rb
mem be red her-asa gfii, N^t|iat all the mirtn
and cheerfulo^rl^KTOjp^ition had been
' quelled by Da\/id^Jpur wkys. But she
t seemed fond offvninM, iideed, for that
matter, be 8eeme^:Jb$ ?f,%r too, after his
. fashion ; for onc$; ?M) -aba bad been very ill
L and like to die, hftlliJiM^gi light after night
to nurse her, and bWWlWilio food or drink
r for many hours, WftfoWte' Wis pronounced out
x of danger. ThejUHnnnildren, adaughi
ter and two sons^pMlltyptf Andrew, was a
| 6ne, handsome pjj$Jh^b$:.i?d fearless apsi
! strong, skilled in^illlhtrtiiiiaports. Next p
\ him in age, was TttBbfrjr pfettjjr, blooming girl,
brown-eyed and ftdlWaekedi, and nearly til
active aud hardyaa^^^l^J But Davie, thi
( third, was a palei j^ll, atudftjus boy ; caring
I for nothing but was 8UP
plied, almost tocflRlilWp fin his own good,
I by the minister, ?#Wlg&bftjtaiok daily lessons
9 at the manse. 30^ W'S 'ptipil of the minI
ister's too; but ibtt at more taste for
| study than Aod^wC jd worthy Mr. Ross
(was often terrioiM??wpM uj uer tm cicuuccs
and want of ap plkstioj whicii made her recitation-hour
as pttobli* bore to him as to
herself. Though idle rfoer books, and something
of a romp, withalKate was, nevertheless,
a general favoritf* She was so sweety
tempered, affectionate obliging, that nor
one could help being?ond of her, and qjt
home, she was always?dy to lighten h?K
mother's labors, by tabg part in the bousi^
hojdtoi^jjjR Kenne-, however, who w|
proud of her danger, was careful mil
hjk perinit her & do au rough work. She
"l^tracted.berVn the ligbr branches of cookery
; taught h^r to mat and bake the lig^
est imLwlHtestrof breac to roll out pastijy j
I to picklo and preserve viut she would {|g|
suffer her to parch hefcce and hands over
the 6rg. All the houiold cleansing and
^ag .that could noiie delegated to ithe
> cu-maid, wa^served for herlell
B . .bus, in a mr-ire, brought tWa
M W delicately tl most of her <wjfe<
posi^of the familflj^fti
B proteges of the naiuisteryave them a sort of
importa ice in the parisfyd this, in addition
to the fa ct of the lassie'topularity in virtM
I of hero merits, prev<pd anything liktf fl
feeling oft jealousy amo the young ptspU
|| who were liess consideraj? treated at home
k than hereg/lf. # ?'!
As Kajtegcew up, heiputy aod wibiWmt
I carriage captivated the fly of many a mrnl
I beau, a?drwon foe her mordent adniifera :
H but though ahythflfeiveddre than one ?ligi<
her pla^ko^iiKinn to?|any desiretto en
kfcflL ter into thS wed<jed stagier pareijj&^ifli
B n had 1 (joked/forward con'^Uv to herkbakiDfl
,*djraata|?eoM cmitcbi.re a little) dtsap
fcer rrfbsal uj%t might,fbb ten
Bl sonably regarded as excltt offers for a gir
Hf in her poai&oittj?, for *nok, young Mai
colp LyWal.thriving Crowoer, who hit
fl fai r; in ft few years, to one of the rk:h
est men in Uw^ly ; Mn l^vie, (
second coujui ftf^ rnijrV niece by 'fear
riage, whose superior rft alone-was an in
duceraent'in J^b favor, pendently of hit
steady character aiis prospects aa j
^ ^^H9BBflk^ss-maa;'t|i Ediob. Many a girl ii
B fli<irish, fts ber -not told her, wouh
: ^ivenjier eyes to beitber of t^ese.oi
^ aralty the lust, at her diepeeal
wctf??d 1uite fferent to the ad
T vantagerwbich ?he so ?lly threw away
Hn pjer pat^ots cherishe hope, howevei
|g| yoongOgdvie's slight prosper in th
MT . end ; for, apparently united by the failur
B v / of his first ttttlnpt be c^ed, at every op
ft portooity, to fbow her marks of alter
I / tinn and adoj**tioo, the raaDse si
II 1 " / frequent#** thawte og in her neigl
^ borhood.thatiygi^ V? Mne peopl
remarked^*** 10 & *?wn did nc
Bw go to rack and r?om o renee. And th
be'st, or the hat Qgilvie's pj
MB rtnte, who knew nothiiWlly of Kat<
M had set tWr he?tt<?* taking a loftie
H m\cht ^i?d wwe Igrw >jpoeed to the?
^|h + tpjp9 of his into the cou rhich they sui
HRl pectad bojded atisehief SMrs. Kennedy
Bt had an inkling ofpm sundry hint
I 3rop|>e<ltby the miniifc all the mor
oa ?ery Wthat her daugl
V 1'i ffer might be pewuade^cept his hanc
It wou ((^fc^heeahsfand delight t
see Kap'ble^S^j *n 8|:heir objectiom
to so fiilMfe; for? as sh
sai^fte^Be^oo have caue
to be wherever sh
ing been BTOtpo;BIt ?|he raaose, ws
^ gaunterinjgjlf^fl^^WJwhen she ws
V o^laken by%6f.;^*otfrew, who ws
Bfl|^r.k,uraiDg froo a ehoohditioa amoo
the hills.
\ 4
?fc 1 I , I
- ) 1 *
' I . ?
"Halloa, ^felled after her, as he
perceived h^frcm ? |U$? distance, "where
have you bqth{jhis..'time o' night?"
"Night, indeed,'.' laughed Katie; "why the
gloaming hatas$ Wwfeag onto fall yet. Look
at the sun's fi^BfiMMbp o' Edie's Crag."
"I see theqpjdU |eboij|N:f but you've a good
stretch aheajf of yfai JW before you reach
home. the manse?"
"Just," said BSdfcitltotber sent me over
to carry a jug ef QgwTnn^to Mrs. Ross, whose
best cow fellitiMr^dflif lr two since. And
Oh ! Andreitthw^^Wtl^egentlemen staying
at the raans^'wWW'ibtae up for grouseshooting.
told me so, and he's
as proud as eter ypa.iiaw a gallant in your
iiife. because ibis fiiifopr ,'fcas promised to let
, *im go with:th?? to narrow to show them
he way." l? '
"Show thetorthe wir ' I should think they
ougi^t to kn$w th*Wj| ^Sbont these hills well
enough," sai$ Andrei . "Two of them were
out to-day.. I met tbf> n myself awhile since."
1 "pid youSVntakp&KaAe, much interested.
"Whaf sortrSttj^W^lblks are they?"
"Oh I I ordinary looking
jnough, as t 'i&iltd see," rejoined An'
ijrew, careles^ly^j^ joun^pen are wont to rejhliy
to such irkjjjwieif., 0tye of them's an Engi
jjtass stuck in VfciaifPfeAiM 1 he drawls and
i> '^#pths "healtM^ttgSftither's some friend
| tafTara Ogilm^'l|Nbwieve. By the way,
njutie, he's ipoisfn^^^lj to the manse in a
fls he with supreme initec
IsOppOW/'
sine than that, and you
MweC:iMw|^'hsirte#3ingly, half in earnest,
1 v '^wy. Kiti?S yo? h?d better make up your
' tSinf, at inswer you'll give him
this tjrae.f* Jtitfl if y??:ta(ce ray aavice, you 11
letitjbe ay,.and not.no, for maybe if you say
> uo afain,'ft*1!! A<tf glfe you another chance."
"Say Katie, still feign"To
hia<^nestio4 ?(> often asked before," replied
^ndriftr, ?nd, in a clear, ringing voice,
jailed oiit tfil ^anza of a little Scotch
. to see."
^Iill be ? brew wedding, Katie, if all his
i #M Iqra witness it. Remern
V^There's W'llWdtaj^ coming off that Pve
' m larked Katie. "Keep
your jokes ^^'nwntttjAndrew ; they're too
imk," she added, with
l,y6u and everybody else seem
vtry amicus to get rid o' me, since you're alyfuyk
trjJjjg to put me up to marrying and
going off. t ^u'd miss me more than you
thin^, i?^j[ ^vnr wast silly enough to go."
| ^ $$don^wafet you to go," said Andrew, more
mother's always lamenting
overyoa^iHjM neste in not taking Ogilvie, bes
cans# shult^kl tlwould be a good thing I
Tbryoo, matter, for us all. You
^ Oan^jHW,^Katie, that your marriage with
lift jto me aod Davie, as well
IliytpjpSn. .^There's Davie, especially, who
loves Qir.uooKM so; ihe ruignt get mm into a
lawyer's offidp, or sjome place like that, in
lowojaniile the'making of hira. But then,"
hMade^qvctijj ^'i that Kate's f?e
ffffrqriqffr.over^ ,ft*i not /or persuading you
against your will ^4^4 promised mother to
\ talk to'you.a bit, aU?d Wee if I couldn't get you
into a rtnisonahle Wfcy of thinking it over."
"Pttought CDot^er had been talking to
urmured^Kjirt^] Infectedly. "I wish,
i lor part, that T^m Ogilvie was in Egypt,
* or anywhere, else on t of reach. I'm sick of
, ftMQUud oljAe u*i^oCfTam Ogilvie ; I am,
, indeed." !
j 3 *Pl?fen I'll not api akwtnny more," said Ani
drew, affectionately throwing his arm around
, her waist, l|>r I'd you, Katie, as you
well b now, lor the world. But would you
I teltnie, just tbif ODcji^nd for all, what's the
| rrnanp that ySu do object to him so much ?
. Gwwme a goofvplaan answer, that I may sat.
isfy m other wjten she speaks to me again."
, "Reason! I 'f^aWtid reason, except just
. t$at' my heart^aou't be forced Into the matter
i against its wil';" relied Rate, with some exj
citement. "Htfs ^11 enough, I suppose. He's
!. not ill-favored,port tll-maiutered,.and I've no
MftkSoa tn Aiafllrs Iiim* t?w?M mm- Ko lola mo
uauou i/v/ ' ueu, rmj ivug OD uc i^I?O
| #Ione ; but I'd rs lief rria rry a stick or a stone,
. for all the Jotoe'lhaie for'hira. And the Bible
i says, you kDow^Ajqi dreyi that when folks mar.
ry they mijst lota o ae another best in all the
i world ; acid dpy< mauppose I could ever
. care for Aim* t i compare with mother, or
. you?" ' 1a ,-u'T
I "Well, but ffii \ rfiht come afterward, you
i know," reixjarjce^A ndrew.
i "Never," ?a$l j^te,digkledly. "I'd never
j trust my hea* tqitura jtbat way afterward, if
*- it didn't begin toiim-a foefore."
; "You area rotifcnwc lassie," said Andrew,
I- "and I reckon soiiL people would think you
. hadn't common wise, to see you throw away
, so good a bhance.TB^t!|t for one, won't urge
e you against* your not to please anye
body, or foi any hood that might be gained
i- by it." / 4 * ibvt-.i
i- At this mdtnentl their-ibiiversation was ino
terrupted by ih? *wi?Tof voi ces, and directly,
l- at a turn in tie pap before them, they espied
e t?*o young men approaching, carrying guns
it on their shoulders, End pouches at their belts,
e "The/olts at tl ? mapse," whispered Ani
drew, dropping bis arm from Kate's waist.
As the two couples aet.theitrangers stopped,
ir and one of the?, "iessiog Andrew iu a civil
e tone, asked if heqofeld di'eei them to the rnini
ister's house, ^s thdy liad aJ^sed their way.
J, While Andre# wapgivioghim uie necessary
a direction, bis feoiopaaioto, tbe Englishman of
e whom he hadjlipokeii fcbr'Kate, was gazing ini
tently at theyoun^ gift', %ho had turned her
1. eyes modestly^She was not unconscious
o of his scrutint, though she pretended not to
9, observe it, aim. tbd.earneat gaze which she
e felt, ratheritiuft* brought a richer bloom
e to her chaek, enlancing thus the beauty
e which had so-forcitl^ attracted her attention,
e "Come, !Vlorti$j^HVaitl right now," ex1,
olaimed th 5 one'wlo had alioken to Andrew,
n as his colloquy w?(b'thie "fatter came to an
end; and naobau his hat, the
j. Euglishma i,>ho lad not tittered a word, fola
lowed him Ube n>3vwl##ay.
is "That'sa|preityglH, Wt it?" asked his
is friend, when-thCTVeib ot# of hearing. "Apg
parently, we interrupted an interesting conversation
between her aweqtheart and herself."
?T v i]
i
"Her sweetheartI. More likely her brother," sa
was the reply. "Didn't you notice the like- ea
ness between the two ?" nc
"Not I; and brothers of that age don't ubu- a\
ally walk with their arms around their sisters'
waists, unless they are a good deal more af- qt
fectionate in this rural district than in my ej
part of the world. However, sister or sweetheart,
she's pretty enough for a fellow not to lx
object to giving her a cordial embrace. I hi
wouldn't mind trying the experiment, myself; "1
would you?" y(
"Not particularly," answered the other, in
the drawling tone which Andrew had com- m
mented upon, but which he appeared to assume
only as his fancy prompted biro to do so; at
for presently espying the minister at some dis- gi
~ ? l 1.
tance ahead of them, ne exciaimeu, uiuuu iu
more briskly, "Come, McGregor, there's Mr. m
Ross. Now, I dare say he has been lookiDg for
us. It mast be supper time at the manse, sa
and it would be a pity to keep them waiting." to
And quickening their pace, the two sports- m
men soop overtook -their clerical friend, and qi
with him, walked rapidly onward toward the
manse. si:
Meantime, Andrew Kennedy and his sister
pursued their way homeward, the former com- w
meeting, in his blunt fashion, on the look ol
and air of the strangers. tb
"I say, Katie, what a gawk that English fa
fellow looked, staring at you as if he'd never tfc
seen a lassie's face before 1 I'd have liked to
box his ears for his impudence, only I sup- D
pose it's his way of showing admiration ; and tr
maybe it's English politeness to stare folks b<
out of countenance." te
"He didn't stare me out of countenance; di
and I don't think he meant to be rude," said tl
Kate, softly. Either the young gentleman's fr
admiring looks, or Andrew's remarks there- gi
upon, made a somewhat lasting impression c(
upon her; for she spoke no more, except in
monosylltbles, until they reached home. tl
tc
p<
CHAPTER II. T
Three weeks passed by, during which Kate
went over frequently to the manse. She had K
for some time past been emancipated from tt
the school-room there, but being a pet both of 111
the minister and of his wife, who was her ^
godmother, she had a habit of running there 110
often in her leisure time, and of employing sc
herself in helping the minister in his flower no
garden, of which he was fond, or Mrs. Ross in
her housewifely duties, and she always met a tl
ready welcome, and was treated quite like one e?
of the family. a
It was about this time that Mrs. Kennedy tl
began to observe a change in her daughter's t(
deportment, for which she was at a loss to account.
From being an exceedingly cheerful, w
light-hearted girl, she seemed gradually to 111
become serious and reserved, wearing at times
an abstracted, abseut look, as if her thoughts ai
were far away from her present surroundiugs, h
and occupied with some new and engrossing A
subject. When spokeu to suddenly, she 8(
would start and color up violently, as if de- P
* - J - ? 4 ? ? .v.w? ?* r\rl iyi Ara tKutl (I
leciea ID SOIUCWUUg wiling , auu iuuiv ........ |
once her mother was surprised to find her in ^
tears, though she accounted for this last phe- 01
noruenon?au almost unprecedented one in
her case?by saying that she did not feel well. t(
"Katie, lass, I don't half like it," said Mrs. g'
Kennedy, on one of these occasions. "You d
are not used to be greeting in this way, nae- 01
body knows for what, and moping about all 8'
your lane, as you've been doing lately. Something's
wrong wi' you, that I feel sure. Can- P
na you tell your mither what it is?" P
"It's nothing, nothing, mother, but what
I've already told you," hastily answered Kate, 111
striving hard toregaiD her wonted composure.
"I'm na' just very well?that is, my head is k
dizzy, like, and it aunoys me, and makes me
foolish, that's all." J
"God grant you may not be going to be ill, ti
lassie," said her mother, anxiously. "Your
head dizzy, did you say ? That's an uncom- t(
mon complaint in one so young and healthy. rl
And do you have any pains? Put out your n
tongue and let me look at it. Nay, I see nothing
wrong there?and your pulse is slow *1
enough. But maybe we'd better have the doc- a
tor around. He's an uucommon clever man,
and can doubtless give you some remedy that J
will set you right again." 7
"Oh! no," said Kate, laughing faintly, S
with a burniug red spot in either cheek. "I I
dou't want the doctor, mother; I'm not going
to be ill. Just don't worry about me, for I'
there is no cause. I'll feel quite well again a
soon." a
"1 hope so, truly, my bairn, for it makes
ray heart sair to see you so dull and moping
like. I like to hear my Katie's merry songs, tl
and see her cheery smile ; they always 611 me a
with pleasure, and lighten my work," said a
her mother, affectionately. The girl clung to h
her, as she fondled the drooping head, pass- tl
ing her rough, toil-hardened hand with a ten- n
der touch over the glossy dark braids of her h
daughter's hair. She was not much given to *
caressing her children, usually, but it seemed I
as though her newly awakened solicitude must w
needs find vent in this way. Kate cried again 1'
after she was left alone. Evidently there was g
some deeper cause for her depression than she r<
had chosen to confess; but she made an effort,
when next in her mother's presence, to appear h
as gay as usual, and partly succeeded in dis- v
sipating the latter's anxious fears. h
One evening, as she was returning home, af- h
ter one of her usual visits to the manse, a
quick step followed her, and a voice called b
her by name. With a deep blush she looked o
up, as the young Englishman, who was still
one of the minister's guests, came to her side, a
"Good evening, Mr. Mortimer," she Baid, "
shyly, as she suffered him to take her hand. F
"Katie, don't hurry on so fast; I have so n
much to say to you," he said, gently detaining
her. "Canuot you stop awhile and talk ? tl
We will sit dowu on that rock yonder, where si
no one will interrupt us. Nobody is likely to n
pass at this hour." n
"But it is getting late," she rejoined, hesitatingly,
"and mother will be wondering where n
I am."
"Oh 1 no, it is not late?it is only dim in h
I ?l:? . aoa hnw hpiwhtlv thfi sun is still h
til 10 nuu\i | oww mw.. ?- -D j ?
shining on the hill-side. You must stay, Katie, v
for I have^piece of news to tell you, and some- p
thing very particular to say beside." tl
Thus urged, she made no farther objection, ti
but allowed him to lead her to the spot he
had designated, where a fallen rock, half over- f
grown with moss, offered a resting place, al- v
most screened from view by a clump of low a
trees, that stood between it and the path. j<
Here they sat down, Mortimer still keeping s
her hand in his. t!
"Katie, I am going away to-morrow," he fa
id, in a low tone,as he fixed.his eyes earntly
upon her face, from which, at this anluncement,
the bright color suddenly died
ray. , ?
"To-morrow I" she faintly echoed, with a
livering lip, while big tears rose to her
res.
"Yes, Katie, to-morrow. I knew you would
> sorry," said the young man, potting her
ind to his lips witfi a very lover-like air.
3ave yoa been thinking over what I told
)u evening before lafct?"
Katie silently nodded. Her heart, at that
oment, was too full for speech.
"And what conclusion have you arrived
; t" asked Mortimer, in an eager tone. The
rl was still silent for a moment, thentremu*
usly broke fortb,j&ll in a quiver of exciteent?
"Oh ! Mr. Mortimer, I cannot tell what to
y 1 My mind misgives me that it's not right
i listen tp you, and yet it's awful hard for
e to refuse, after all you said. If I was
lite, quite sure-r-"^. ^
"Quite sure of what, Katie ?" he asked, as
le paused.
That you meant it all trnly?that you
ould not change your mind afterward?hot
1! to leave my mother and them all, and
ten find out, maybe, that I had trusted to
,lse appearances?what would become of me
ten ?"
"False appearances, my own dear Katie?
>o you not believe me, then?do you not
uet in my love ? I thought you knew me
Jtter," said Mortimer, in tones of mingled
nderness and reproach. He would have
rawn her close to him, but she shily resisted
le pressure of his arm, and turning her face
oid him, she sat with her eyes fixed on the
round, apparently trying to overcome the
mfiicting emotions which agitated her.
"I thought I had quite convinced you of
le truth of all I said, the last time we spoke
igether," Mortimer continued. "You ap
sared satisfied then, Katie, w nai nas maue
du doubt me since?"
"I did not say I doubted you," murmured
[ate; "but at night when I lie awake,
loughts will come into my head that perplex
ie, and make me uncertain bow to act
Phen you are with me, I seem to feel that you
mst know best; but when I am all alone, it.is
> differeut Oh! if I could only tell my
lother?if she could only know!"
"But don't you see that it is impossible
lat yout mother should know, for the presit,
Katie?" said Mortimer, gently. "After
time, everything shall be explained, and
ten ail will be right again. She loves you
>o well, I am sure, not to forgive you."
"Forgive me I Yes, I'm not afraid that she
on't forgive me; but in the meanwhile, she
lay break her heart," said Kate, sadly.
"Break her heart, if she knows you are well
nd happy? You can write that much to
er, you kuow ; put a letter where she can
nd it soon after we are gone. Don't let idle
jruples stand in the way of our life long hapiness,
Katie. I know I am asking you to
lake a sacrifice for my sake, aud perhaps it
wrong, very wrong in me to do it, but I
nly do it, believing in your love. If I thought
iat you did not love me, I should never dare
irankesucha request. But you are too
nod, too truthful, to have told me what you
id not really mean. If I thought you had
nly been amusing yourself at ray expense, I
inuld never put faith in any woman again."
"Amusing myself at your expense," echoed
oor Kate, iu whose nature coquetry had no
art. "Oh! how can you say such unkind
lings? I never said a word that wasn't
ue."
"Then it is true that you love me, for you
now you confessed that you did," said Morraer,
triumphantly ; "and loving me, Katie,
mi nntrhf. to he willing to go through some
Q - 0 w w
rials for ray sake, else hovr can you prove
iat your love is sincere? Now I am willing
> give up all for your sake; and yet you wont
an a little risk, submit to a little delay, for
jine ?"
"It is not of myself, but of others that I am
linking," she rejoined. "I could endure
nything, if they did not suffer by it."
"But that is just it. That is the very trial
ou should be willing to bear?the only one
ou will be called upon to bear; for as rearde
yourself,you well know there is nothing
won't do to make you happy. You must
ry and endure the thought of their being a
ttle anxious, a little unhappy, about you for
while, knowing that it will come right after
time."
"If I only knew when," sighed Kate.
"Before long, you may be sure. Once let
lem see and know you at home; and I'm not
fraid of any opposition on their part. You
re good and lovely enough to win their
earts. There is not another girl I know, or
rat they know, who can compare with you,
o matter how great her wealth, or how high
1_ T o rvroa * rlool a|
er rauK. 1 uocu iu uuua ? mvH< Vi
ealth and rank, before I knew you ; but now
find how insignificant they are, compared
ith other things. I would not give you, my
ttle Scotch wild-flower, for all the artificial
litter and bloom one meets in the cultivated
egionsof fashionable society."
At this moment, a distant rustling was
eard, as of some one coming through the
roods. Kate started up in affright, glancing
urriedly around. She would not for worlds
ave had their interview discovered.
"I must go," she exclaimed, beloff her
reath. "Don't keep me?only think if any
ne should come?" '*
"Then promise me first," said Mortimer, in
n eager whisper, as he still held her fast.
When . I send or come, will you be ready 5
temeraber, Katie, this is our parting?tell
re quick, before I bid you good-bye 1"
A great struggle was evidently going on in
he youDg girl's heart^J^or.jUL.Aq8j#p^ jj
semed impossible for hir to reply, but .the
loments were flying, and discovery was imlinent?there
was no room for delay.
"Tell me before yoo go," -epeated Mortiler.
"Promise me; Katie, <juv>k |"
"I promise," said Kate, faintfy. He pressed
er to him io a hurried embrac*. kissed her
urning cheek twice, and then relying her,
talked rapidly off toward the mans^ while,
anting and breathless, she slipped through
be wood, like a frightened deer, in th* direo*
ion of her own houae.
After the interview it was harder tban^ever
Dr Ber to keep up appearances. Her sijcret
weighed very p?ii her vc^nscie^ce,
nd every kin^f^m^-i^r motor's, e^u
at or merry speoth of h^brot^r- An
her life, and it was a oew experience to her
to have a part to play, especially each a trying
one as this. Bat one thing apheld her,
and that was the strong, clinging love, which
had sprang ap, secretly, in her heart, ripening,
almost at its birth, into maturity, and
surrounding its object with a halo of perfection
which seeawd to warrant almost any sacrifice
which shetaight be called upon to offer
at its shrine. She had had admirers enough ;
but though her vanity bad been flattered, her
affection had never yet been touched in the
slightest degree. But when this English gentleman,
so far her superior in rank, in education
; so handsome, (at least in her eyes) so
manly, and yet so gentle and refined, had
whispered to her how fair he thought her, and
how happy it would make him if she could
learn to care for him just a little, poor Kate
felt a wondrous emotion stirring in her breast,
whose influence she had no power to resist.
And so in spite of inward tremors and selfreproach,
she yielded to his solicitations to
meet him, now in this place, now in that, when
no one was near; and in these stolen interviews
her fetters became more and more closely
wound about her. For every word of love, every
caress be bestowed npon her, deepened and
strengthened his influence and made her the
I ?iii:.,,. TrialH *ri hi? wiflhps. He con
liiUIC niinu|j bv j ivi?
fessed to her that his parents had other views
for him ; that it was necessary for seme time
to elapse before he conld openly make her his
wife, but urged her to consent to a secret marriage,
after which he promised to get everything
satisfactorily arranged. Of course, she
was at first greatly startled by this proposal,
which seemed to her to involve untold difficulties
and dangers; but her lover's arguments
gradually brought her mind around, if not
exactly to his way of thinking, still, more in
accordance, than at first, with his views, and
' those magnetic words, "for his sake," wrought
a charm to which she must, perforce, submit.
Yes, for his sake, what would she not do ?
Anything, certainly, that was not positively
wicked, positively criminal; and it could not
be that he, so noble, so good, would wish her
to commit any real wrong. And Mortimer
truly loved her; his professions were not insincere.
He thought her the prettiest, the most
charming little specimen of simplicity he had
ever met, and there was depth enough in his
nature to enable him to appreciate her innate
goodness and sterling worth. Yet, after all,
that love is and must be selfish, which seeks its
own gratification at the expense of others'
happiness and welfare, and asks from its object
so great a sacrifice. He knew it would
half break Kate's heart to steal away secretly
from her home, and to think of the sorrow
of those she left behind. But he thought her
affection for him ought to outweigh every
other consideration, cancel every claim of
duty which had hitherto bound her, and make
her ready to endure anything rather than give
him up.
fii* weflks nassed awav. and one morning
Kate was gone from the little cottage, no one
knew whither. Search was made for her in
vain, but at last iu her room was found, where
in the first hurry of agitation and terror it
had been overlooked, a tear-stained note, has
- ? % o I
tily written and inditfereutly spelled, coniessing
that she had gone away with some one
who loved her very dearly, who was very
good, very noble, and would be as kind to
her as kind could be, hut whose name she
could not yet reveal. Very soon, she hoped,
she would be able to tell them everything,
i and they must not grieve about her, for she
was sure to be happy in all respects save one,
. and that was her separation from them and
the concealment she was obliged, for the present,
to practice. And ohl would her dear
mother, and all of them, forgive her? For
, she knew she was doing wrong to leave them
! in this way, hut she hoped and believed it was
i alitor the best; and she sent them all ber
; best love, and many kisses?and here there
, was a great blur on the page, where the tears
> had dropped, half effacing the concluding
words, and the hurriedly scrawled signature,
"Your own Katie," on the line beneath.
i Wonder and anger and grief and longing,
nil were vain to remedy the disaster. Kate
i was gone, and weeks and months passed by,
i and no farther tidings of her ever reached her
- home.
CHAPTER III.
> Some ten years subsequent to the events re1
lated in the preceding chapters, two ladies,
one elderly, the other considerably her junior,
yet past the bloom of youth, were seated, on
a pleasant June morning, in a once elegantly
; furnished but now faded apartment overlook:
ing the Thames, near the brink of which their
bouse, an old-fashioned country mansion, was
situated.
Both ladies were plainly dressed, and both
' - ? fn?/\ Ponfo roKlnK
I were eDgageu 1U Lieeuienruia, inu mv/N nuivu
i seemed to indicate that, whatever their rank
f might be, they were not persons of self-indul1
gent habits or unnecessary leisure. Their
whole air and appearance denoted that they
were well-born and refined, yet there was a
I certain shabbiness of aspect about them
I which, like that of the room, told of the decline
of past prosperity; and the countenani
ces of both, but especially that of the elder,
i were shadowed by au expression of melan;
choly, which in the latter assumed the peevish
, tinge of discontent.
"I do wish, Geraldine," she was saying, in
a tone of voice entirely corresponding with
' her looks, "I do wish that you could be persuaded
to regard this matter in a different
i light. It is so annoying to have you persist
, in a view of it which is not only unreasonable
1 and absurd, but entirely uncalled for."
"By no means uncalled for, mamma," answered
the other, calmly. "I look at the
whole affair in a matter-of-fact light, and
itefEkftwnaf afaTslg as..jjqders ta nd i n g of the
facts of the case, which you w3fulIJ\rftC(i8e to
believe.^ T~r
"Nonsense, Geraldine; mere obstinate pre*
judice on your part. I am sure no one could
act in a more gentlemanly, honorable man-,
ner than Desborough has done from the firstf'
and I don't see why you should impute fclie
motives to his conduct."
- - - p i
"1 don't impUW 1A1HU
duct, mamma. Oq the contrary, I give him
credit for being perfectly honest and sincere,'^
said Geraldine, with a touch of sarcasm in her
ace^
ings of so-caHed'first love.' Cannot yon be
satisfied with something more qniet, more
suitable to your age and his ?"
"I do not heed to be reminded, so often as
you appear to think necessary, of the fad; that
my mature age does not warrant these 'silly
extravagances/ as you term them," rejoined
Geraldine, a scarcely perceptible flash rising
to her cheek; "bat without any display of
boyish ardor or enthusiasm, a real sentiment
of affection would certainly prompt a greater
mannAW mar Ira T/ird Dfldhftf.
wai IllbU UlMUUWl VIIWU UJM* MV
ough's intercourse with me, whom he professes
to wish to marry. You must acknowledge
that no icicle could be colder."
"What you term coldness, I consider merely
as a suitable gravity, a dignity befitting
his position, and which, to my mind, is far
more proper and becoming than the fashionable
levity so popular now-a-days."
"I am sure I am no admirer of fashionable
levity, nor could my worst enemies ever accuse
me of indulging in it. But putting this
question, and the question of Lord Desborough's
intrinsic worth, which I am quite
ready to admit, aside for the present, I adhere
to the first and most important point, which is
his palpable indifference to me?an indifference
so palpable, mamma, thatl wonder even
at your anxiety to secure him for n son-in-law
overcoming your maternal pride sufficiently
to make you excuse it."
} If Geraldine's voice had previously assumed
a sarcastic tone, the inflection was doubly
marked now,, as she pronounced the words
"maternal pride." Her mother, however,
chose to ignore the scarcely veiled sneer, which
it did not suit her present purpose to resent.
"What on earth, Geraldine, do you expect?"
she irritably asked. "Is he to go down
??? ? Aanolian AP A1/1 fll* PA IT).
I UU 1110 l&UCCO| iiivu a ix*vaiiwa vi v*u| v* vwm.
pose flowery verses iu your praise,' and sing
them under your window at night while he
twangs a guitar as an accompaniment t"
"Oh! no, there would be great danger, from
his advanced age, of his catching cold, or perhaps
even a rheumatic fever," was the satirical
response. "Your ideas of lover-like conduct
are even more extravagant than mine,
since I never should exact such fatiguing
marks of devotion as those."
"Nothing could be more sensible or proper
than the way in which he spoke to me of his
wishes," continued the elder lady. "Having
said what he did on that occasion, I presume
he thinks it unnecessary to be forever harping
on the same string. He considers that you do
I him thejustice, at least, to believe in what he
has said, and be is unwilling to press you in
your decision, since it seems so hard to arrive
at."
"Few lovers are so considerate," remarked
Geraldine.
"There I agree with you," said her mother.
: "To my mind, few men are so worthy of regard,
so deserving in every respect, as this
man, who is desirous of bestowing on you his
noble name, and his large fortune?two gifts,
Geraldine, which it would be worse than folly
iu you to reject."
"Especially the fortune," said Geraldine.
"I acknowledge, mamma, that we are is some
respects?in most respects?sunk very low;
but let me be spared, at least, the humiliation
of such a descent as this?to barter my last
atom of self-respect for the sake of a few paltry
thousauds."
"A few paltry thousands, indeed!" exclaimed
her mother, indignantly. "Why, Lord
Desborough is one of the richest men in the
peerage, as everybody knows. And as to our
being sunk so low, I don't know what yoa can
mean by such an expression, except that we
are poor, which is no fault of ours?and if
you have lostyour self-respect, I, at least, have
not lost mine I" J"I
am glad to hear it," said Geraldine, in
a low tone. "It is well that one of us, at least,
has that to fall back upon."
"You talk very straflgely to-day, Geraldine.
I must say that you are very little comfort
to me in my decliniug years," said her
mother, bitterly. " When you see me as I am,
feeble and broken in health, and oppressed
by untold anxieties and cares, you might at
least do all in your power to cheer and help
me, instead of contradicting and opposing me,
thwarting my most earnest desires, and using
such a disrespectful tone toward me as would
make any dutiful daughter blush."
"Mamma, you cannot call me undutiful, or
reproach me for not helping you. Do I not
work from morning till night, denying myself
even the least gratification in order to contribute
what I can to your comfort ? Do I
spend anything on myself but what is abso1
* -' ? ? 0 \,T -? ore no Knffov
iUCeiy uecessary i mj muiu? ???
than yours; in fact they are older and more
worn, for I always look to the necessities of
your wardrobe first. Do I not strive to supply
you with delicacies, allowing myself only
the plainest food ? Do I not stay with yon
all the time; never, or very rarely, even going
out for a walk, unless to accompany you ?
Do I, in any way, seek my own pleasure or
amusement, even to the trifling extent of read- J
ing an entertaining book, when it interferes
with your wishes ? Surely all this is no want i
of duty or respect."
"All this may be very true. Yet it amounts
to very little, if you persist in refusing to
gratify the one crowning wish of my life.
And one, too, that you can so easily gratify?
one which any woman less foolish, less obstinate
than yourself, would yield to with delight
1 If Desborough had asked you to marry
him twelve years ago, you would have
jumped at the offer, Geraldine, you know yon
would; but now?"
"Hush," interrupted her daughter, in a
trembling voice, while the flush deepened to
scarlet on her cheek; "there are some speeches,
mamma, which I will not bear, even from
I you. Is it not enough to feel that I was once
euiltv of an absurd weakness, which, unhap-1
liU. ija not able to. deny, without being j
twittecH^Bfcfcytt^^grward^^Lord
fiflBHRHHI
tbougi^^B^^^BBMHI^H
was
^ IHI
Colonel Mortimer did me the honor to wish |
that I might become his daughter-in-law, and . ' #
that his son proved refractory?not that I
think the less highly of him for that On the
contHiry, it was greatly to his eredit that he !
refused to marry for money. Refusing to enter
into the desired alliance then, when I had
something to recommend me, it wonld not be * 1
pleasant now, for him to have me forced upon
him, poor, and plain, and obecnre as I am."
"Have you been foroed upon him I Good
Heaven, Geraldine, how could that be possible?
Does he not voluntarily seek your
hand? Con he not follow his own wishes in
that matter V*
"He certainly wonld not have thought of
it, unless the idea had been suggested to hiro?
rejoined Geraldine, with emphasis. "I under1
l!- ?. lis ?\iftaa an/1
SIADQ DI9 QlUllVOB pcucvwjf I uo ^/miw *>uw
sympathizes with as, and is generous enough
to wish to afford as relief, which it is possible
only in this way for him to do. As to love,
or even ordinary liking, he does not feign the
shadow of it. Oh I mamma, for pity's sake , m
do not let as disease- the subject auy longer
now; it is too humiliating, too painfal in its
details." ^
"Very well," cried her mother, in an excited
tone, as she rose from her seat; "it shall
be as you wish. I will cease to argue with
yoa, to try to persuade yon of your folly.
Only recollect this, that in denying my fondest
wish you are probably guilty of the sin of -a
willfully shortening my days. Yes, look as '
startled asyou please, obstinate daughter of
minvthe fact iB~so.N l was assured by the
doctor, not a week since, that I had a disease
of the heart which any ajsappointment, any
undue agitation, might canse to terminate fa- /f
tally. On the other haud^ease of mind and
physical comfort would, ?e said, probably
preserve my lift for years to come. With
you ..therefore, rests the-Jtltern^tive; but act
as you Beej5t. ^My-death, I presume, would " J9
be less of a misfortune than a benefit to you, I
since it would relieve you of the persecution JJ
to which I subject you." With these words,
and in a state of great excitement, me ayjm&er ..
left the room, closing the door with violence
behind her. ,r
; Geraldine sat perfectly motionless where
her mother had left her. Her hands were
tightly clasped, and every trace of color had
forsaken her countenance, leaving it ashy .
pale.
"If this is, indeed, true,''she muttered to
herself, "it is vain for me to contend any longer.
I may as well yield to my fate. Oh I
mother I?if I could kilow how far yon have ;
let yourself be urged by a desire to work upon
my feelings 1 But no, I dare not impute such
motives. It must be true, though I have heard
nothing of it uotil now. BJiserable that I
am, there is no escape for mer-no escape for
him?from the misery to which I am forced
to condemn him."
Scarcely had this soliloquy passed her lips,
when a sharp cry from^the-aaighboring room *
8 tar tied her, MHfshe ran to ascertain the
cause. She found her mother wrrthing on
her bed, as if in great pain, her hand pressed
to her side, and hastened, terrified, to offer
her assistance. )
"Go-r-go I" was the vehement reply to her i
offers; "you can 3o up good. The very sight
of yon completely unnerves me. Fetch the
doctor, quick.; he may relieve thiy piercing
agony, at least, for the time." '
*'- nnf An hAr
ureawy vioxaiwiuv |/?v v**, Mv.
boaoet and set out in quest of their physician,
who at this hour of the day was usually to
be found at his own residence, which, fortunately,
was near at band. 8hb met him as
he was on .the poipt of going into' town, and
begged him Jo retarn with ber without delay
;^pd taking her Tip in his .phaeton, he
drove her immediately pack home.. On the
way, he corroborated the statement her mother
had made to her, of thecqpdition of her
health; and poor Oeraldine, when she heard
this, severely reproached herself for having
allowed any shadow of doubt in regard to it
to enter her mind. So great now was her distress
and remorse, that she resolved, mentally,
to shrink ho longer from what seemed evidently
her duty; since, in refusing to make
the sacrifice, she might, indeed, find herself
goilty of her mother's premature death.
Dr. Philipson soon succeeded in relieving
his patient, by means of restoratives which
he had brought with hinijaud having seen
her tolerably composed*, hp took his leave,
after privately calling Geraldiirer aside, and
charging her to be careful in guarding against
anything which might startle or annoy her
mother in the least degree, as any agitation
of her nerves would probably cause a recurrence
of the attack.
That evening, Lord Desborough called.
Geraldine had, in fact, expected it, as he had *
been in the habit of visiting her periodically
twice a week since he had made his proposal
of marriage, to which she had, up to the present
time, given no definite answer.
When she went op again to her mother's
chamber after his lordship had bid her goodnight,
her face was pale, but rigidly composed,
~ J -??? (wKifiillr milm an la vine her
ttUU UOI TUIW vmvuuij , , j 0
hand on the invalid's arm, she said injow bat
distinct tones?
"Be content now, mamma, for I have fulfilled
your cherished wish; I am Lord Deeborough's
promised wife."
"Geraldine, is it really so ? God bless yo?,
my dear! You will never repent." cried the
sick woman, as she drew bcr '
luctant face near enough topp8Ehwii^9 _ |
upon her cheek.N While Gerildme watf buy 'xs*
ing herself with arrangement^ for 1mt comfort .
daring the coming night, she talked inoe?u>t?
ly and rapidly of the new shite of a Shirs ; of
the advantageous prospect it secured to them ;
nf lior nwn hanniness : of Lord Deeboroujih's
w? ?rr ? - ?
good qualities, and the certainty of his making
an excellent husband?to all of which
Geraldine listened, but replied JMlTlpr her
brain was throbbing with fever Mjl^Sid she
duslonging inexpressibly for an^gHnjll of
Quiet came to-ffifctt^sst ? ^