Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-05-10
A tap at the door cut short the conversa-


A tap at the door cut short the conversa-
| ton.
Come in !!
lis Mr.. Harcourt at leisure?' asked the
we'll known voice of Sir Richard, without
If 80, he will please accompany me to the
library, a few moments. I shall not !detain
him long
.Aud uow, my aged FRIEND said Sir
Richard, sas Mr.. Harcourt and himself sat
together in the library few moments after,
sth y pressure Of circur stances compel me,
as gentleman and man of honor, TO at
tempt something like an explanation of the
circumstances whicu have led to such dis
astrous result as the death of an honest,
though ignorant man
Il demand no explanation, Sir Richard,
said Mr.. Harcours; may I do not even
solicit it,
But you erpect it, said the baronet,
'and would think it very odd, to say the
least of it, if remained silent on the sub.
ject. In justice to all parties, especially
to the memory of the victim to my folly, l
feel myself bound to enlighten you, as to
the part have taken and the extent of my
guilt, in this seemingly mex plicable affair.
'As | said before, l neither demand nor
solicit the explanation said Mr.. Harcourt.
SO far as expecting it is concerned, l can
certainly reply in the negative, as such ex.
pectation was never entertained even for a
moment Still, Sir Richard, if it is your
wish, and if, under existing circumstances,
you feel it to be your duty, I have no ma.
terial or particular objections to listen to
what you may have to say And, so say
ing, Mr. Harcourt threw himself back in
his easy.chair, folded his arms across his
breast and prepared to receive, as politely
as the attending circumstances could war
rant, Sir Richard Beverley's explanation,
vindicstioD, confession, or whatever the
reader may see proper to term the following
remarks of the baronet
what am about to remark cannot but
surprise you,' said Sir Richard, 'and, to
make the truth of this statement evident,
allow me to inform you that, about FIVE
months ago accidentally saw, and became
desperately in love with your niece
Five months agop exclaimed Mr.. Har.
court, starting.
Il knew that the statement would sur,
prise you,' said Sir Richard; shut you will
oblige me by not iuterrupting me again.
Five months ago, as said, I saw and loved
your niece, and, to my disappointment and
vexation, soon became aware that her
hearts affections were already enlisted else
where. 1t matters not when or how, but
succeeded in entering upon these premises,
became fully acquainted with the servants
and every nook and corner of this old
building. l watched your niece, and her
accepted lover, who was spending his va.
cation here, with an intensity of interest
which you cannot conceive of. From all
that | could gather, from my own observa.
tioDs, as we'll as the information impaired
by the servants, the conclusion forced itself
upon my mind, and almost overwhelmed my
heart, that Miss Harcourt and Edgar HouS-
ton we're iuseperably one in heart and soul ;
AID that, unless mere accident should
dissolve the tender relationship, the hope Of
my life was naught but vanity. Shortly
after this, young Houston was called away.
l was present at their parting, and so we're
you, sir; and therefore | need not attempt
to recall certain very significant and affect
ing incidents which then occurred-inci.
dents which brought tears to your eyes and
a shadow, as dark as the night, over my
heart, and damned that hour of my life,
with curse as bitter as the memory of a
lost spirit
But said Mr.. Harcourt, moving unea.
silly about in his chair, while an expression
of mingled wonder and surprise was mani
tested 10 eOery feature of his venerable
face, 'you don't mean to say that you we're
the soldier whom entertained for fort.
night in this house, FIVE or six months ago
You certainly do not mean that
Il never was soldier, Mr. Harcourt'
But you are the individual, whom
supposed to be such, and who was enter.
tanned at this place at the time you speak
Of?
i again repeat the request said Sir
Richard, shat I be not interrupted in my
narrative. should never come to the end,
if attempt to reply to every question,
which my remarks might accidentally sug,
gest. Oblige me, sir, by the exercise and
exhibition of, at least, a moderate degree of
patience, until you shall have heard me
through. Now, then =
proceed p said the old man, filling his
pipe you shall not be interrupted again,
since such is your wish
after the departure of the young man,
before alluded to- continued the baronet,
Il noticed that your neice was seldom or
ever seen about the house or garden and,
upon Inquiry, I ascertained that she often
frequented the upper and abandoned por
tion of this old house, which, the servants
very gravely Informed me, was supposed to
be haunted That afternoon, sir, bade
you farewell and took, as you supposed, a
final leave. Passing through the streets of
Norfolk the next day, l was struck with
the remarkable resemblance which a GER
tain mask bore to certain picture I had