Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-01-10
Helen looked up into the sad face of the speaker

+ "Shed no tear for me, Helen, said Guiscard, in
= sad tone; 'I would not cause even momentar
: pang to one whom I esteem = nay let the whol
e truth be spoken whom love so dearly, so de
votedly, as yourself I had not thought to say thu
b much to you, but circumstances have impeled m
D to speak. Were my prospects brighter, were m
destiny happier one, would not resign thi
hand" continued he, taking her palm in his OWL
for all that the world holds of honor, or wealth
or beauty. But and the speaker paused
there is dark destiny that hangs over all m
race. Could I ask you to be my bride-mine
nssne, MINE, Il would plead with you for you
love, as would not plead for my own life. But
cannot ask you to become the bride Of the grave
and who of my in-fated race ever welded brid
who did not, from that hour, droop and witherike
broken fower?"
HAS good dame Agatha, asked Helen, blush
ing deeply, and casting her eyes upon the ground
ever repeated to you the couplet about the brde
of the Guiscards?'
"She has never alluded to the misfortunes Of ou
family but once or twice. and then but slightly
replied Guiscard. Nevertheless I have heard thu
whole story of their evil fate from another; and
the lips of all were silent, our family portraits woulc
utter portion of their sad history. Think you
Helen, there is one pure.minded, young, beautiful
being of your sex, who, knowing the story Of oul
family as you do, would dare to become my bride ?
"Love is stronger than the grave" replied the
maiden, avertng her gaze as she spoke, and toying
with the red caps of the moss that grew in profu
sion at her feet.
faye! Helen, stronger, indeed, than the grave!
returned Guiscard 'The madness, devotion, Of
what you will, that has induced so many of youl
sex to link themselves to the evil destiny Of om
race, to perish in the bloom of beauty, is proof o.
the fact. Were mine heart hardened by selfish
ness or pleasure seeking, might sue to you to be-
come my bride; but love you, love you too truly,
too deeply, to ask you to join hands with me and
die early as is the fate of all the brides of my family
but since my feelings have betrayed me into speak.
ing thus far, I will speak one word more Be
your answer yea or nay, alike it will bring something
of comfort know not whether it will please Inc
more to know that have caused no one q pang by
awakening an interest in myself or, that evi-star-
red as my race is, one heart, of all the world has
been found to love me. Let me know all, Helen,
while circumstances thus favor us were as other
men, fortunate in this that no curse followed where
I dared to claim bride, could I hope, under such
circumstances, ever to be to you more than mere
friend? Could I, then, hope that you might give
me such love as woman, only, has to give, and
which it is hers to give but once?''
"Ah Robert trife as you may with your own
heart, you should never trife with woman's by
asking idle questions like that, replied the beauti-
full woman with a glance which must have convey
ed reproach to her companion. eff I answer you,
yea, think you it would be magnanimous, for fear
of future evils, to turn idly away from an avowal
for which you have sought? What matters it to
the wayfarer on the DESERT who is resolved to die
of thirst whether or not there be water in the foun-
tain? Our affections are inviolabe and sacred
things. None but God and those who wish to share
them, should seek to probe them
''Forgve me, gentle Helen, fear I have gone
too far," said Guiscard apologeticaly. is it not
lso?'
EITHER too far or not far enough replied Hell
en-, with grave composure. "If my love is to be
magnanimously and unse6shly thrown away, bet
ter for you, better for myself, that we should be
silent But owe you too much to be silent when
you ask me to speak.
"Nay, Helen" interposed Guiscard; do me not
this injustice, beseech you. Ihave in my excite
ment said much that I should not have said
"And you wish to recall it?" Andas Helen spoke,
she rose to her feet, and her calm blue eyes seemed
to read the depths of his heart, while smile play
ed around her lips.
"All that has been displeasing to you, would
gladly recall" answered Guiscard but when full
heart would speak, who is wise enough to check its
utterances? Who is strong enough? Helen, |
loveyou with my whole heart; withoutyou, whatcan
my life be but burden anda regret? fl dared,
would entreat you to become my wife; yet what
could I promise you, but love while life endured
and flowers, for, perhaps, an early grave?'
'sWho could ask more?' returned she with a
smile of sweet sadness, as she placed her hand in
his, ready opened to receive it.
Unutterable thoughts crowded upon the mind of
the young man, as he bowed his head to kiss the
hand of his afianced bride Henceforth she became
dearer to him than ever as dear as a loved one on
whose brow is written sad DOOM silently appeal
ing to loving hearts that weep tears, all the more
bitter, that they are wept only in secret.
As he raised his eyes to the face of Helen he al
most expected to read upon her brow, the strange
shadow of some coming evil To his astonishment,
there was unusual mirthfulness in her eye, and an
arch smile lighted up her features She seemed to
have exchanged the pensiveness of newly af6an-
ced bride, for the mirthfulness of one heart whole
and fancy free.
"Ask, good old Agatha, Robert, to repeat to you
as she repeated to me" began, Helen; but the
sentence was not finished before the rapid rolling
of carriage wheels was heard close at hand, and in
a moment more carriage stopped in a few feet OF
them and several other vehicles were seen rapidly
approaching Mrs Rothsay sprang from the fore
most carriage as soon as the door was opened, and
she and Helen were folded in each others arms
What Helen had been about to say to him, Guis-
card could not divine The lovers had no further
opportunity of speaking apart for that day, and
Guiscards thoughts were now too busiy engaged
to be employed in vain conjectures in regard to a
matter which he esteemed of so little moment
Nearly all of the party had come to the bluff, to
learn the result of the steps that had been taken
for the deliverance of Helen Rothsay. The joy and
exultation of her friends broke forth without
bounds They had felt the agony of despair and
the rebound from hopelessness to joy, was most en-
Enthusiastically manifested Her female companions
pressed her to their bosoms and wept for joy; and
their cordial greetings and warm expressions of ad-
miration and gratitude, would have been delight
fl tribute to the heroism of Robert Guiscard, had