Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-04-11
CHAPTER VIII.
"Ah! dream too bright to last!
Ahl starry hope that didst arise
But to be overcaStl


But to be overcasti
A voice from out the Future cries,
'On! onr-but DER the Past
dim gulfD my spirit lowering lies,
Mute motionless, aghast!' FOE.
Mildred went home. She saw nothing Of
Waldemar, though she remained in the city
two days after the fatal ball. But as the train
moved off, bearing her from the scene of her
first trial, she caught a brief glimpse of
haggard face coming with kind Of crazed
hurry around the corueroff tfh the utreot- tomarde
the depot. It was Waldemar-but so chang
ed she could not for the moment realize the
fact. Leaning forward, she saw him stop,
look wildly at the departing train, clasp bis
hands over his face, and then an intervening
wall hid him from her sight.
The thousand conjectures and painful ques-
tions which surged through her mind were al.
most unbearable. When her uncle came to
her side, having been engaged in conversation
with some gentlemen at the other end of the
coach, he at once observed the deathly white
ness of her face which contrasted vividly with
the deep crimson spots on either cheek.
"Are you ill, my child ?" he asked, with
undisguised alarm, taking her hand in bis.
II am afraid I am going to be- uncle" she
replied, and the forced smile died away into
sigh.
Poor Mr. Moreton knew not what to do
He sat with her head on his shoulder the live
long day, resisting all her entreaties to believe
she was better; till at last they reached the
nearest railway station, and found the car.
riage waiting to convey them to Bayou La
Fourche.
Once more in the arms of love, with a
mothers infinite tenderness to anticipate eve
ry want, to soothe every grief Mildred gave
way, glad to feel no longer obliged to exert an
unnatural strength. That very night while
the soft spring rain was falling, as if nature
herself wept in sympathetic unison-Mildred
unburdened her weary heart upon her moth.
er's bosom and found relief There could be
no reserve, and there was no blame.
"You have come back to me, my baby"
murmured the voice Of that fountain Of un-
selfish devotion-a mothers love-"I will
guard you from al future suffering"
Alas how vain that wish. As if any earth
ly affection can shield us from the inevitable!
"Into every life some rain must fall" and
thus early had the storms burst upon this
stricken young soul. And the end was not
come yet.
In the invigorating atmosphere of her ma
tive home, where the Gulf breeze seemed to
bring fresh vigor every hour, Mildred gradu-
ally grew more like her old self; but that
painful restlessness returned at times, and
struck grief into the devoted hearts who
watched her with undivided and unfaltering
constancy.
"Dear aunt" Mildred said one day as she
saw that her unsettled, excited movements
we're observed, II can't bear to be such wor.
ry to you and mamma, but don't know how
to help it."
1t was such piteous appeal that quick tears
started to her aunt's eyes.
my darling, we know you cannot help it;
only God can help you."
She enclosed the slight form with her arms,
and no word was spoken. Presently Mildred
raised her head and passed her hand with a
carressing movement over her aunt's face.
"Aunty, you have had your own griefs, J."
she said in soft voice; "were they greater
than mine
Every heart knoweth its own bitterness" !"
was the quiet answer; "But One can help,
and His word is sure He can loose the
prisoner, and bind up the broken.hearted.
"Yes-how beautiful !-how good that is!
And yet, aunty, I meyer thought Of it before.
Was that not strange wicked?"
mo, my child, it is neither. The human
soul naturally hugs its own misery; it is both
blind and deaf 1t is only when Divine Love
offers relief that the eyes see and the ears are
opened. That Love speaks to you now; it
alone can relieve your burdened heart"
"When was in the city," Mildred went