Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-04-18

30, cursed hand oh! cursed blow!
| Oriana.
O, happy thou that lest low,
Oriana
All night the silence seems to flow
Beside me in my utter woe,
Oriana
A weary, weary way! 60,
Oriana."
"When Norland winds pipe down the sea,
| Oriana.
walk, I dare not think of thee,
| Oriana.
Thou liest beneath the greenwood tree,
I dare not die and come to thee,
Oriana.
hear the roaring of the sea,
Oriana."
The recitative-for it was scarcely more
sank into mere whisper as he uttered the last
lines. Mildred had turned away her face
for she felt the pathos ofthe words the music
the intense expresson-too much to remain
unmoved. Mrs. Weir saw the attitude of
each she heard the thrilling, attenuated, Or
gan-chords which swelled and died beneath
his fingers. All mother-prudence, all voice
of selfish fear, was hushed. She leaned over
and whispered with moistened eyes:
II can never say No to him."
Colonel Meredith caught the kind, matron-
ly hand, and his face beamed with gladness.
II can never thank you enough" he said,
'for granting me this"
Swiftly the hours of that happy day went
by. Mildred never forgot 1.-THE brightest
and sweetest of all her life's bright, sweet
April. A passing shower, through which the
sun still showed his smiling face; little
breeze tender as mothers cradle song; the
the low tapping of waves on the shore; the
fragrance of hyacinths and lilies and roses
pervading the warm air, almost tropic in its
luxurious softness. To Waldemarit was Eden.
What black shadow warned him of the awful
future? None! none! He revelled in the
beautiful life of to-day as the dancing ephem-
era: the mysterious and fearful tomorrow
he reckoned not of.
The sun was setting and alone upon the
level, shining beach the lovers walked. Only
few hours had elapsed since the formal con-
sent of her mother had been gained and now
young, lovely, and beloved-what more could
Fate bestow! Waldemar's arm rested upon
the waist of his betrothed her hand was in
his.
"Alexis," she murmured, "this happiness
seems more than I can bear. feel as if
waiting breathlessly for something to come
next-some terrible calamity"
She shuddered and grasped his arm. Then
quickly altering her tone as she saw the sud-
den change in his face-the look Of one at
bay with Fate she added:
remember those beautiful lines of Hood,
THE sunnlest things cast sternest shade
And there happiness that makes the heart afaid"
mildred" d"-Waldemar' voice sounded
strangely deep and intense-"I believe now
that you love me. Can your love stand a
test-a terrible test?"
The only reply was the tightening Of the
slender fingers over his. There was long
silence. The waves rippled to their feet the
gulls skimming over the water seemed but
notes in the level line of low sunlight which
shone like glorious path across the Gulf; the
wind came softly and lifted Mildred's brown
hair; and the two angels, Ormuzd and
Ahriman, fought furiously. Oh! fearful con-
test! Well might one shrink from its contem-
plation but in every breast that duel must
come, sooner or later. "Ne Nidis" With
Waldemars it was brief His face grew
white and set: Conscience urged him to be
true; Love urged him to be true. Then the
demon, Self, lifted the two-edged sword, and
slew the gentler remonstrants.
"The testw whispered Mildred, nesting
closer to his side.
He started, and the fight ended forever.
"My darling" he said, drawing her to him
with encircling arms, 81 only asked that l
might hear your answer. Irequire only this
proof" and bending his head to hers their
lips met. 1t was the first time-and the last !
What Waldemar intended-how he ever
hoped to disentangle this fearful web of de-
ception no one ever knew. Perhaps, true to
his nature, he resolved to let circumstances
control him and dictate, step by step, his fu-
ture course. No words did he breathe to his
guardian that limited at the difficulties in
which he was involved ; only an unnatural
abstraction betrayed at times the morbid state
of his mind.
Two days elapsed without visit to Weir
wood. Colonel Meredith was suffering from
sudden indisposition, induced by exposure to
the damp night-air and Waldemar was un-
dergoing the reaction of violent excitement
which made him glad of an excuse to be alone.
He had sent note, full of affectionate as
suranees, explaining the cause Of his absence,
and was leaning against the gate smoking
and watching for the return of his messenger,
when he suddenly became aware of the pre-
sence Of man who stood in a similar atti-
tude, nonchalantly supporting himself against
tree not many yards distant. Something in
the face and figure was familiar to him and
shudder of fear and hatred swept over
Waldemar as his mind quickly reverted to the
midnight scene in St. Stephens church on
Mardigras. 1t was the face he had noticed
there.
"What do you want, my man" he asked
in voice of feigned carelessness. He felt a
conviction that it was better to risk nothing
by giving way to the fierce rage which shook
him like very aspen leaf.
The strangers face grew dark at the pa
tronizing tone and manner. He was not i'll.
looking: q broad, powerfully-built frame,