Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-10-30
gu Original storg.
THE WHITED SEPULCHRE
BY CLAUDE FORESTER.
CHAPTER II-CONTINUED.
Written for the Yorkvillc Enquirer.

mitting"- said Mr.. Mason, throwing open
door in the attic. "Directly opposite is sister
Tomkins' quarters
Chow, sir ?" asked Lizzie, in a tone of sur
prise. "Did understand you to say that
your sister resides with you ?"
81 speak not after the flesh, my child, said
Mr.. Mason. "The relationship existing is
purely spiritual one. Mrs. Tomkins is my
housekeeper, in worldly sense"
"Why not dispense with the services of a
hired housekeeper, altogether?" asked Lizzie
"Why, how is that possible, my child, see
ing that have no family of my own to at
tend to these domestic duties?"
"3ut, sir" suggested Lizzie, eff | am to
live with YOU, would it not be as we'll to rem
der myself useful and selfsupporting, in
measure, rather than an additional expense :?
Could not keep house for you ?"
"And discharge good sister Tomkins y ex.
claimed Mr.. Mason, with uplifted hands and
a look of CONSERVATION. Il cannot listen to
such plausible temptation, even from you,
Lizzie. No, no; there is sufficient room for
both of you. I did not offer you home tor
the sake of services which you may be capa-
BILE of rendering. I wanted you here for your
own sake, and for an additional comfort, in
your companionship and society. Let me but
see you happy and contented, aud l shall con-
slider your presence fair equivalent for all
that can possibly be done for you." And,
having thus spoken, Mr.. Mason grew very red
in the face; and, turning quickly upon his
heel, descended the staircase.
Lizzie became suddenly conscious of
vague, inde6nable fear; and, very singularly
too, her mind instantly reverted to the invita-
ton of the spider to the hy-a bit of nursery
rhyme, familiar to the reader, no doubt
Somehow or other, the unusually kind voice
and manner of Mr.. Mason grated harshly
upon her ear and made the warm blood tingle
in her veins. There was an instructive recoll
experienced the exact nature OF which she
could not divine-the cause or reason of which
was inexplicabe even to her. Shetried very
hard to reason her mind out of its apprehen-
sive driftings, and to secure an anchorage IN
the unblemished and exalted character of Mr.
Mason but, somehow or other, the "Peace-
bestill' would not come.
The idea of her mere presence being an
equivalent for all that Mr.. Mason could posi-
bly do for her Her presence "a poor,
friendless orphan "Aye" whispered the
voice of warning, "but the friendless orphan
is beautiful is very young and lovely" and,
as she glanced into the little mirror before
her, momentary tremor shook her dainty
form.
These impressions, however, which had
passed over her sensitive nature, as the clouds
drift over the blue of Gods own heavens,
were soon dispersed and scattered to the winds.
When she reflected calmly and dispasslonate-
" upon the character of the man, she could
not resist the inference, that everything ema-
mating from such source must be kind,
gentle and affectionate in its manifestations; ;
and, if Mr.. Mason's theme, manner and even
tone of voice had been strangely kind, she
attributed it all to the hidden principle within,
which gave tone and character to everything
said and done by the disciple of the lowly
Nazarene
In other words: While she could discover
nothing in herself or the circumstances of her
situation, calculated to draw from MIR. Mason
such profuse and liberal expressions of gen.
erosity, hospitality and afectionate interest
when the act alone expressed all that was re-
cessary-she had only to remember the fact
that he was a man protesting Bible princi-
pies and whoever attempts honestly to live
Bible lives, must necessarily be eccentric men,
differing materially, from every other class, IN
word, thought and deed.
So Lizzie leaped the shadows which fell
across her path, and was in the sunshine again
The next three or four weeks of her life
were made up of pleasant experiences. Mrs.
Tomkins the housekeeper was kind as one
could wish, and left no means untried to ren-
der Lizzie's new home attractive and agreea-
BILE; while Mr. Mason manifested such an
abiding interest in her happiness, that it was
impossible to be otherwise than grateful. En-
tertaining books, beautiful dresses and even
costly jewelry had been again and again pur-
chased for her. A private tutor had also been
engaged for her, and Mr.. Mason only awaited
her consent to purchase splendid piano.
At the expiration ofthis time, however, the
novelty of her new existence began to wear
off; and it was no unusual thing to see Lizzie
sitting by the window of her little attic cham
Der, looking out over the fields toward the
princely mansion of the Robertsons. 1t was
no unusual thing to see the dear head bowed
upon the window-sill and the delicate form
tremulous with emotion and, the only cause
to be assigned for all this was-to use the Ian
guage of a little girl-because she had "lost
the happy out of her heart"
What had become of Theodore?
Nearly whole month had passed since she
last beheld him, and in all that time neither
written or verbal message had come to quiet
and comfort her poor heart, so wholly his.
Was it possible that he had, at this late hour,
measured the distance between their social
positions and deemed it impossible? Was it
possible that he had used her merely as a
toy, and for the qualification of spirit OF fllr-
tation. Was all the music to be hushed,
which pealed out of the consciousness OF his
love; and was she doomed-as thousands have
been-to stand with outstretched arms before
an idol that would never leave its PEDESTAL
never come down to her?