Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-01-16

me 10 aQVlSe you 10 retlre as early as possible 70
your own chamber as you are sadly in need of rest
Your wife makes an excellent nurse for the sick,
and she, alone, will be admitted to her daughter
room with our consent"
Mr.. Gravely made no reply; but noiselessly en-
tering the house and carefully closing the door be-
hind him, left the physicians upon the verandah
and tip-toed to the library.
Here, throwing himself at full length upon a
sofa, he buried his face in the soft silky cushions
and wept aloud. Ascene to be noted-to be pom
dered over, and laid to heart Tears of anguish
upon crimson pillows of downy velvetl A wrung
heart amidst scenes of luxury and almost princely
wealth.
Magnificent pictures, in gorgeous frames, of
beauteous landscapes and more beauteous forms
and faces, looked mockingly down upon the wretch
ed man. Exquisite statuary, standing so fngidly
calm and beautiful in the angles of the room, were
only haunting ghosts to annoy and distress him
now; while the roses, which bloomed from those
china vases upon the mantle, spoke not of pleasant
fields and lovely gardens, but coffin wreaths and
church-yard flowers.
"Curse the hour employed the old scoundrel!"
said Mr.. Grayely, suddenly springing from the
sofa and walking agitatedly about the library
'Ungrateful wretch To seduce my darling child
from her happy home to that abode of pestilence- -
that sink of contagious corruption and disease
For what2 To nurse his wife Ia woman perfect
ly reeking with pestilence And the william ha,eao
this Oh! my God is not my anger just?''
'Can I come in, sir ?" asked person from with
out.
'Yes," said Mr.. Gravely, huniedly throwing
open the door, "Is Louisa worse?"
'Miss Louisa sleeps at present" said the old
female domestic; ''but it is not about her that I
have ventured to disturb you, SIR
what then?'
IAN old man stands without and insists upon
seeing you. Says his name is Richard Daniels" )"
Daniels repeated Mr.. Gravely staggering
back. HE wants to see me2 Impossible
'He says, that he will not detain you but a few
moments, SIR
'Tell him to be gone and if he does not heed
you, set the dogs upon him. Hark what noise
is that2" And Mr. Gravely opened the door and
looked eagerly out
''For God sake, old man, said voice in the
passage way, like some one expostulating with an
other "there is necessity for this rashness. You
cannot see Mr.. Gravely tonight His daughter is
critically i'll and this violent entry upon his prem
ises and into his very house, is shameful piece of
business"
''Let him come into the ibraryp' said Mr..
Gravey, in an impatient tone Of voice. s"This
noise will alarm the wholehouse
Upon hearing this, old Daniels broke from the
individual OBTAINING him and rushed breathlessly
forward. Then falling down upon his knees before
Mr.. Gravely, bitterly cried out ''For God sake
sir tell me what it all means l-wherei is poor Mag
gle? They tell me that she is not here but"
81 must insist upon an immediate cessation to
these loud out-cries, Mr. Daniels, said Mr.. Grave
y, rudely pulling the old gardener into the library,
and hastily closing the door, "You are presump-
tious old scoundrel to encroach upon my privacy
in this manner, sir. But, since you have so well
established your claim to presumption, let us hear
what impudence and impertinence is to follow
"Oh, sir!" exclaimed Daniels, the tears stream
ing down his withered cheeks II mean no rude
ness no presumption. tits the violence of despair
and madness that you see. -
"But, what is it that you wish ?" asked Mr..
Gravely somewhat moved at the deplorable plight
of the old man. "Who is this Maggie, that you
are speaking Of? Why expect to find her here?'
my poor, sick wife, sir" .y
"Your wife, indeed!' said Mr. Gravely, impa-
tiently turning away. "What do you expect me
to know of yourwife ?"
'Then she is not here2" asked, or rather ex-
claimed the old man, inyoluntarily sinking down
upon lounge and growing deadly pale.
"Of course not. Pom my soul dol not COM
prehend this remarkably singular conduct, said Mr.
Grayey.
IT again tell you, that know nothing whatever
about your wife or her whereabouts" " said Mr.
Gravely, evidently annoyed.
'Then, by all that is good in humanity, pro-
nounce you heartless monster!" said old Daniels,
much excited.
Mr.. Gravely turned quickly upon his heel and
looked upon the excited old man, perfectly astoun
ded Then, erecting his fine person, and walking
up to Daniels, he laid his open hand heavily upon
his shoulder and thus addressed him:
"Daniels, listen to me one moment! You are
treading upon dangerous ground -tampering with
an already enraged heart Under cover of your
age you make an unprovoked attack upon me in
my own house, and insult me to my face. Now,
Daniels, if you will credit my word, assure you
that can scarcely overcome very strong desire
amounting almost to determination kick you
out of the house. That being the case, 1 advise
you to keep civil tongue in your head, and give
me your respectful attention.
Ever since knew you, Daniels have endeaV-
ored to throw as much work in your way as | pos
sibly could, and to assist you upon all occasions,
and in every conceivable way. As return for
these repeated efforts to advance your interests,
you induce my only daughter to visit a section Of
the city, which you know is not respectable, and
in which no young lady can be seen without Sc
rious damage to her character. You prevail upon
her to visit a portion of the city, which you know
is infected with yellow fever; and-to make mat
ters worse-actually induce her to attend upon q
woman lying Ill with that terrible disease. The
consequences are that my beautiful, darling Loui-
sa, is now critically i'll, the fever introduced into
my household, and your patron and benefactor rem
dered wretched and unhappy man. 10 cap the
climax, you presume to enter my house by sheer
violence and bestow upon me the most degrading
epithets. What does all this mean, Daniels?"
II hold myself responsible for none of these
things" said Daniels. ''Your threat in the gar
den, this morning, to withhold the payment of my
wages, because I begged brief holiday to attend
upon sick wife, has wrought all this mischief II
incidentally informed Miss Louisa what had passed
between u.s. and, she offered to prevent the posi-