Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-10-30

Mr.. Mason was standing by the fireplace as
she entered the dining.room. His arms were
folded upon his breast and his eyes fixed
thoughtfuly upon the rug. He made no re-
mark when Lizzie came in; but, quietly
placing chair for her at the table, he seated
himself at his customary place, and reverent-
ly asked blessing upon the meal about to be
partaken.
Nothing whatever was said during the meal,
and, at its conclusion, Mr.. Mason handing
her roll of papers, simply said, "Here are
the papers, Lizzie"
care these all, sir p she asked, confounded
by their unexpected appearance, and observ-
ing that they were labelled, "Number One"
Gall ?" repeated Mr.. Mason, turning sud-
denly upon his chair; "why do you ask that
question, Lizzie? ?" and his face grew ghastly
white again. 81 have no others in my posses
sion"
II merely supposed it possible, sir" said
Lizzie, "from the fact, that this is labelled
number one ;" and, without awaiting reply,
or venturning look upon Mr.. Mason-whom
she now felt confident had reasons for denying
the existance of papers, number two'-she
hastily left the room and ran up stairs, hum
ming lively air, to disguise the real state of
her feelings.
A few moments after, the contents of roll
"number two" were spread out upon Lizzie's
work table. They consisted of a letter from
the late Donald Gray to Mr.. Mason, num-
Der of receipts for moneys received on deposit,
and several letters to herself from Theodore
Robertson. They had evidently been crowded
together, not because Of any necessary con-
nection between the subjects, but, as papers
which he had intended to destroy for on the
outer wrapper of the roll was written in pen
cil-"to be burnt"
The letter from Donald Gray read as fol-.
lows:
"MR. JACOB MAsoN-Dear Sir: Inclosed you
will find twenty dollar bank note, which, II l.
mistake not, makes Five Thousand Dollars or
mine, which you have in your possession. Not
every man in my circumstances, could nave
saved that much in the course Of twelve years,
with salary of eighty dollars month. BY rig
id economy, however, have done so. Had L
not better put this money out at usury and begin
to realize some enjoyment in life from my hard
earnings? What glad surprise have in store
for Lizzie and the old 'oman! They think me
ng.serly and mean, know; but let them wait
awhile longer! will show them what printers
ink can accomplish, when aided and abetted by
rigid in the shape OF % coarse som fre ana and
see me tonight, and give me the benefit of your
advice. I will be at the office until nine o'clock {;
but after that time am at your service
Your obedient servant,
DONALD GRAY"
Oct. 9th, 1872
A cold, icy shudder ran through Lizze's
heart as she read the date of this letter; for
she remembered, that Mr.. Mason had been
at her fathers house far into the night of the
9th October, and that, on the morning of the
2Sth, the writer of this simple, but joyful let
ter was found dead in his bed. And how
came these receipts in his possession ?-the
sole proof of the transaction?
What an inference! Nay! what damning
evidence of guilt!
And poor Theodore, too! How she had
wronged him by these long months of doubt,
and suspicious distrust! Here lay the unan-
swerable credentials of his truth, loyalty and
allegiance before her very eyes; one of the
letters being but week old.
She trembled violently, and grew very pale,
as she read the concluding paragraph of
Theodore's last letter: "Under the peculiar
circumstances of the case, patience ceases to
be virtue, and I consider myself justified in
resorting to measures, which, otherwise might
be deemed rash and nconsiderate. Before l
surrender my claim upon your affections; be-
fore 1 consent to abandon the hope which
blesses me before construe your inexpica-
BILE silence into an evidence of forgetfulness
or Indifference, I shall hear from your own
lips if the past be but a delusive dream, the
present cheat and mockery, and the future
blank for me. This 1 will most assuredly
attempt, should this letter extort no reply. l
will wait one week. After that time, neither
bolts nor bars shall deprive me Of knowledge
of my fate from your own lips"
"For the love of heaven, child, open the
door! It's only mel" said Mrs. Tomkins,
knocking loudly upon the closed door of Liz
ze's room.
"What has happened, Mrs. Tomkns ?"
asked Lizzie, trembling in every limb. "What
was that heavy report moment ago."
ooh my chidw said the agitated woman,
throwing herself upon the bed, "what have
you done! Them papers has killed him!
Oh the poor lost soul!'
"Thc papers have killed him !" said Lizzie.
"How? For heaven sake, Mrs. Tomkins,
calm yourself, and tell me what has happened"
after supper" said Mrs. Tomkins, rising
and sitting upon the foot of the bed, "Mr.
Mason went directly up to his room. About
an hour after, he came down stairs, and told
me that, having occasion to look over his pri-
vate papers, he had discovered that one of the
rolls or packages was missing. Having ham
died the papers just before supper, he thought
it possible, that the one missing might have
fallen upon the floor. AS had been in his
room, he thought it more than likely, that l
had found it and put it away for him."
"And what did you tell him p asked Liz
ze.
"What could 1 tell him, but the blessed
truth, my dear?"
"And then-what?" asked Lizzie, looking
eagerly into the face of the old woman.
"How did the intelligence affect him j.? Was
he very angry ?"
"Angry~ said Mrs. Tomkins, "why, bless