Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-04-25

Mrs. Collier was taking little rest in her
own room. Dinner and its subsequent duties
were long since over and there was no need
to hurry about tea Colonel Meredith was
still confined to his room-a bowl of sago
was all he required; and Mr. Waldemar was
gone out-no doubt to Weir-wood-and would
not return for several hours. So the well.to-
do housekeeper reposed calmly in comfort
able Windsor rocking.chair, and looked out
of the window with her hands folded.
She was not thinking very deeply-only
that things must be settled tomorrow; and
casually wondering where Rose could be.
As twilight grew on she became slightly
uneasy, and was just rising to enquire if any
of the servants had seen her niece, when Gil
bert entered.
"Where is Rose?' were his first words,
quick and impatient.
II am sure don't know. thought she
might be walking somewhere with you"
aWith meS How is that possible when 1
have been fishing all day? he questioned half
angrily.
Mrs. Collier arose fairly alarmed.
"She was lying down all the afternoon, and
I sent her cup of coffee at dinner; Lawrence
said she looked very pale, and refused it. l
came up as soon as Mr.. Waldemar left the
dining-room, but Rose was gone. suppose
she went for little walk, thinking it might
help her head.
Gilbert scarcely restrained his impatience
during this speech he barely waited for the
last words before he was out of the room.
His mother called after him
care you going to hunt for her, Gilbert%
But he was gone.
First he searched through the gardens;
she might be, as his mother said, roaming idly
there. Perhaps Waldemar was with her.
But no trace did he find. Hurrying across
the lawn he saw one of the gardeners trund-
ling wheel-barrow towards the lodge.
"Isay, Reuben, have you seen Rose Collier
anywhere about?'' he called out.
II believe I did," the man replied, stopping
to take offhis hat and wipe his brow.
where? When?"
Gilbert came up and put the questions abb
ruptly.
"Well, you see," the negro began with the
usual circumlocution of his race-"I was ty-
ing up them young apricot-boughs that is just
a-breaking down with fruit" 'r.
II haven't got time to listen to all that now.
Where did you see her, and at what timer"
"Well, as I was saying, twas about an
hour by the sun, and I was just tying up
them apricot"
Gilbert uttered an oath.
"Don't you see you are keeping me here,
and am hurrying to 60 and hunt for herr
Tell me at once where you saw her."
The man looked bewildered. Hehad never
seen anybody Gin hurry before; he could
not comprehend what the word meant.
II see her a-going through that very gate"
pointing to the wicket; "and she warn't by
herself neither"
This significant hint was enough h. The
Saxon blood boiled at the very suggestion.
He almost knocked the gaping negro out Of
his way, opened the gate, and took the mar
row path through the thick dark wood, straight
to the bayou.
He reached the open space. Not human
figure was visible, though thefull moon shone
with cloudless splendor: All around the
shadows lay, sombre and huge; but the sur
face of the water was shimmering like molten
silver.
Gilbert stood still. He looked around: the
silence appalled, him. He was turning away
when shining object attracted his attention.
It lay halfhidden in the moss at his feet; he
stopped and picked it up. The topaz ring
Gilbert knew it to be the same with which
that fatal bridal had been consummated.
His blood seemed frozen with horror. Had
he murdered her?
There were traces Of footsteps There, on
the very brink, where it shelved off abruptly
into the water, was broken vine-the earth
torn up as if by struggle.
Gilbert Collier crept forward. He stared
into the black sluggish depths with an inten-
sity which it seemed to him would penetrate
into its most secret recesses, and reveal to his
throbbing balls the dreadful truth. But the
dead woman lay quiet down among the tan
gled moses, and gave no sign.
Still searching, and staring like one daft
his long tawny hair and beard torn by bram-
bles-his muscular arms breaking down all
obstacles-he wandered down the banks of
the bayou. Then back again, he followed
the stream in an opposite direction, till the
dense swamp interrupted his progress
The moon was at her zenith when with
swift avenging footsteps he sought the house
Suddenly there was the sharp report of pis'
tol. Ashe drew near, he heard sounds of con-
fusion-voices calling as if in terror-lights
glancing past the windows in rapid succession.
He rushed up the steps. They were at WAL
demar's door. Colonel Meredith, pale and
trembling, wrapped in his dressing-gown-the
housekeeper, and three or four servants were
all in a terrified group, knocking and calling
aloud
"Alexis-Mr. Waldemar-for Heavens
sake open the door!"
Gilbert Collier pushed them aside-threw
his powerful weight against the panels; the
door fell with Grassland the scene within
was revealed.
Upon small marble table the lamp burned.
A few papers were scattered around, and wri-
ting materials in confused disorder as if left
in haste. An armchair was pushed away