Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-01-02
gu 0rigiual storg.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
THE MYSTERY OF MOSsGR0vE.
ROMANCE OF THE 18TH CENTURY.
BY MRS. HENRY DEAS.
CHAPTER 1.
DARK NIGHTS WORK.

and drawn by two tired looking horses, slowly
traversed the main street of small and ob-
scure country town in retired part OF the
State of New York.
The carriage contained three occupants.
On the front seat sat middle-aged man, with
a sinister face and rough, dark beard his
dress was coarse, and his vulga air contrasted
strongly with the refined appearance of his
companions. Of these, one was young man
of about twenty-five, and the other female,
wrapped in long, heavy cloak and hood,
which almost entirely concealed her features.
The latter was, apparently, in deep sleep,
for her head reclined on the gentleman's shoul-
der, and the profound repose of her attitude
unbroken by the jolting of the coach, and her
deep and regular breathing, seemed to denote
total Inconsistencies of what was transpiring
around her.
care we nearly there, Leroy" presently
asked the younger man, anxously looking out
of the window.
"Behold US already arrived" responded the
other, in an accent which proclaimed him a
foreigner, by birth as well as name. "see,
wonder is the house-here is the gate itself"
As he spoke the coach stopped in front of
large iron gate, opening in high stone wall
surrounding an enclosure some fifty yards
square, From this gate a gravel path led to
a square brick house, nearly concealed by the
overhanging branches of a cluster of sombre-
looking trees that embowered it. Leroy
opened the carriage door and alighted first;
then turned to assist in the removal of the still
sleeping woman.
II had better awaken her, think" said the
younger man, and gently shaking her, and
raising her dropping head on his arm, ne
added in louder tone,
"Bertha! Bertha, wake up-we are at the
end of our journey"
With much difficulty he succeeded in arous-
ing her, and opening her eyes she enquired in
a drowsy voice,
"Where am I? Did you call me, Alfred?"
ayes, you must get out now-come, come,
don't fall asleep again! Give Monsieur Le-
roy your hand-there, Leroy, have you got
her? Hold her for minute, till | get
down."
"Madame seems to be only half awake"
remarked Leroy, with smile. "Your pre-
cautions were quite effectual, mon ami."
Supported on either side by her two COM
panions, and gazing around with stupehed
air, Bertha moved slowly up the graveled
walk toward the house. Thedoor of the latter
now opened, and on the front porch appeared
woman, holding lamp in her hand, which
cast its uncertain light on features as coarse
and as repulsive in their expression as those
of LEROY himself. As Alfred Stanley-for
such was the name of the young gentleman
glanced from one to the other of this unpre-
possessing pair, an irresolute look crossed his
face; for a moment he hesitated, and holding
Bertha firmly with his arm, cast backward
glance at the carriage, which wasstill in wait
ing at the gate. Leroy and the woman-who
was none other than his wife-both observed
the movement; and the latter, holding open
the door, exclaimed in tone Of affected
anxiety
"Pray, sir, don't keep the lady standing out
side in the cold-there's good fire in the par
lor, aud I'll make her comfortable directly if
you'll bring her in.. She's a good deal ia
tigued, sir, am afraid? Perhaps she would
like to 20 to her room at once"
eyes, I dare say" said Stanley, as without
farther hesitation he entered the house, half
carrying his dropping charge, who seemed
perfectly passive in his hands. They were
shown into small sitting-room, where
bright fire was burning in the CRATE, affording
pleasant contrast to the chilly, gloomy at
mosphere without Stanley placed Bertha on
sofa, which madame Leroy wheeled close to
the hearth, at the same time loosening the
fastenings of her cloak and hood which, fall
ing back from her face, revealed a set of fair,
delicate features, upon which il-health or suf-
fering had set its melancholy seal. Long,
dark lashes shaded the halfclosed blue eyes,
beneath which two deep circlets were traced
by care or fatigue, and profusion of soft
golden hair, partly escaping from its confne-
ment, fell in rich curling masses about her
shoulders. Although not positively beautiful,
there was tender, child-like charm about her
whole appearance, which, joined to her appa-
rent helplessness, must have found an answer
to its mute pleading for sympathy and 'protec-
ton, in any but the hardest hearts.
But who, on reading the harsh and forbid
ding countenances of Leroy and his wife, al
belt they we're now tutored into sycophantic
smiles, could fail to discern the grossness of
the natures to which those lineaments were
the true index?
Even Alfred Stanley, youthful and hand
some az he was, seemed all unfit to be COM
panion and protector to one so gentle, inno-
cent and fair His cold gray eyes glittered
with steely light, and stern, unsympathet-
ic expression rested on his symmetrical fea-
lures. In spite of this frigid exterior, howev-
er, close observer might detect, from time to
time, q covert shade of uneasiness on his face,
as he glanced alternately from the master and
mistress of the house to the unresisting victim,
now placed in their charge.
"May see the accommodation you have
reserved for her, Madame Leroy? p he pres
emily asked. "It is getting late, and | must
be going"
"Certainly, sir" said the Frenchwoman,
with much urbanity. "Probably you had bet
ter induce Madame to accompany you, at once
.4. ,Lo will ho Glad to rest