Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-05-24

than all the combined experiences OF the
past. The shadow about her life. path, was,
in the providence of God, to be deepened
and intensified, and rendered even less en-.
durable. The burden upon the chafed
shoulder and lacerated heart, was to gather
additional weight, and the dim, uncertain
and Pickering light, that fingered about her
life, was to be eclipsed in almost impene.
trable darkness.
One gorgeous June sunset hour, as Min
ME sat musingly upon the UNCOVERED porch
of Harcourt Hall, letter was handed to
her by old Dinah, who had received it from
the hands of stranger. Hastily tearing
open the envelope, scrap of printed paper
fell to her feet. Paying no attention to this,
she unfolded the letter, and, to her surprise,
astonisbment, indignation and iuconceiva.
BILE sorrow, read as follows
MISS MINNIE HARcouRr:-Enclosed,y you will find a list
Of the casualties of the battle before Petersburg on the a4
instant Among the number killed during that rash and
inconsderate charge, you will find the name OF Edgar
Houston, ayoung gentleman, between whom and yourself
existed, in times past, an exceedingly romantic intimacy
and very tender relationship There being no doubt OF his
DEATH deemed It simple piece Of JUSTICE 10 save you
from further suspense and anxiety on the subject, by ac-
qnalnting you at once, with the fact
And, row Mss HarcOurt allow me 10 ask, If the affec-
on have borne for you, the consderate silence and non
interference have manifested during the life Of my rival
and the unaterabe interest still feel in your welfare and
happiness does justify the hope which cannot but
entertain, Of successfully renewing my suit Alone, desc
objections can you urge why you should resist the
pshment Of my highest ambition and the dearest wish oi
my heart!
line addressed tome, through the post Office at Norfolk,
will command my prompt and immediate attention.
't''" RfCiHARb issib BEVERLY, BAsOsrr.
S,cschiug up the scrap of printed paper,
which had fallen to the floor, and running
her eyes over the sad list, she saw, sure
enough, and to her inexpressible grief, the
name of him, who was dearer to her heart
than the very love of life, Edgar Houston,
killed.
The emotions that thrilled the heart of
poor Minnie, were so peculiar in their char
acter, that no effort to portray them could
possibly succeed. The knowledge Of Ed
gar's death did not bring tear to her eyes,
or an exclamation of sorrowful regret from
her lips; but, with strained, wild, fearless
gaze, her dark eyes looked long, lovingly
and silently upon the name few moments,
then suddenly looking up with sigh, she
threw the scrap of paper iuditferently aside,
and walked slowly into the house.
Edgar certainly could die but once; and
his death having been reported to her
months before, the poor girl had expended
all her grief on the subject Then, too,
there certainly had been mistake some
where, or there were two Edgar Houstons.
If it was her Edgar that died in the hos
pital, then, of course, it was not him who
fell between the lines at Petersburg. The
ring on his finger, the name on his clothes,
was almost conclusive proof that the soldier
buried at Norfolk, was the proper object of
her grief and sorrow. This other well,
God knows who he was Both, however,
had been reported dead, so it mattered not
to poor Minnie, which was which for, in
either case, the shadow was dark enough,
| God knows
So Sir Richard Beverly still hovered a.
bout her path He that was driven from
her presence in ignomiuy and disgrace
his artifce, cunning and deception all ex-
posed, his character exhibited in its true
light, his deep laid, subtle plans all thwart,
ed-he, so long forgotten, or remembered
only with an exclamation of disdain and
indignant displeasure, be to step upon the
stage just at this critical juncture How
unfortunate
With flushed face and throbbing, fe.
verish heart, Minnie sat herself down before
her little writing desk, to attempts a reply
to the baronet's ill-timed and presumptuous
letter. For while her indignation prevent
ed the expression of her thoughts and feel
ings; but, after the destruction of several
sheets Of paper, in fruitless attempts to re.
ply to his lstter, she succeeded in express
sing herself in becoming and appropriate
manner. Calmly, firmly, but dispassionate
ly and enphatically we're those sentences
expressed, striking from beneath her cor
respondent, every prop of expectation and
hope, and erecting impossible barriers be.
tween him and the realization of his wish
es-the triumphant reply of pious virtue to
subtle hypocrisy and cunning, sheep-clad
vice The letter-which must have fallen
upon the baronet's heart like bursting
shell at the feet of the coward-was con-
cluded, sealed and sent.
.s
Miss Harcourt,' said an aged clergy.
men, as be met her in the garden week
or two after, stbis intrusion, l am sure, will
be pardoned, when I state the circumstan-
ces, which made it necessary. In the
good Providence of God, have it in my
power to do you a service, and Illustrate the
cruel devices of wicked man. Do you
know this MANI
Sir Richard Beverly ! exclaimed Min
ME, changing color, as she read the name
upon the fly leaf Of the little blank-book,
which the clergyman held towards hear.
Tell me what you know of him ?" said
the clergyman, as he watched the color
come and go in Minno's cheeks.
Without knowing why, Minnie related
the circumstances attending his first ap-
pearance at the Hall, his subsequent
conduct there, and the final exposure of
the gigantic deception which be had go
enooacofullo nrantioed unon them At the