Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-05-01
CHAPTER XVII.
THE PAINFUL AND TRYING INTERVIEW

CHAPTER XVII.
THE PAINFUL AND TRYING INTERVIEW.
The afternoon waned the short, winters
day was done, and darkness enveloped the
earth. Knell after knell for the departing
hours came from the silver-tongued clock on
the mantel, and still Albert cambridge lin
gered in Mrs. Ravenswood's parlor. Albert
has somewhat changed since we saw him last
He does not look 80 robust in health as Of
yore, and there are lines of care and thought
about his face, as of one who had dealt in the
keen strife and passions of the world some
thing, too, of the SOLDERING influence Of years
in his manners, and an expression Of stern
pathos and sadness about his intellectual gray
eyes, which dwelt not there on that eventful
day, years before, when he last parted from
his wife, Iron courage breathes forth yet
more unmistakably from his clear-cut linea'
ments, and indomitable resolution still more
strongly marks the man. He is explaining
to his wife and child the mystery of his re-
turn to life.
"In fact," said Albert, certain grim humor
on his face, II have never yet been dead at all
It was a man named Andrew cambridge, who
went out to Mexico from the South, shortly
after the war, who was killed. For my part,
I remained in that wild, tempestuous country
but short time; for finding that l could not
accumulate wealth there, which object had
now become the paramount desire of my ex'
isteuce, I left and went into the interior OF
South America. 1 have been culpably negli'
gent, know, in corresponding with my fam
lily; but 1 became reckless and hopeless, and
so absorbed in my greedy search for money, |
thought not of home nor friends, nor father
and mother, nor any, save my wife and child
"My dream by night and by day was only
to get rich, and flying back to my country,
regain the happiness l had lost. embarked
largely in cattle-raising and other money-mak-
ing speculations, and by constant attention
and watchfulness, met with greater success
than even my most sanguine expectations had
ever dared to hope.
"You once made an accusation against me,
Florimond, of having sought you for your
money-an accusation which, at least, had
some grains of truth in it, or else it had never
stung my pride so deeply. have always
been an ambitious man, who longed for power,
influence and weight among his fellow-men.
For this, certain degree Of wealth is neces'
sary, and it is great temptation to man
especially very young man, who has few
settled notions or principles-to gain wealth
through wife, If, as in your case, the wife
brings to his home beauty and gentleness, too,
the temptation is doubly strong.
"When you so cruelty repudiated my love
and my protection-ah! dear Florimond, the
memory of that dark day is stamped in living
lines of fire on my soul There remained for
me but one object in life. To get money-to
come back to you-to say, now, Florimond,
my fortune is equal to yours, you cannot now
accuse me of mercenary motives-come back
to my hearth I have come, Florimond. |
find you poor-changed-but ah far more
lovely in person-fairer than the widest dream
that has ever pictured you to my heart in my
lonely exile! During these years of separa-
ton, you have expanded from the bud to the
perfect blossom-from the immature girl to
developed womanhood. The grace of your
person, the accomplishments of your mind,
the dignity and the sweetness ofy your manners,
all fill up the measure of my wishes, and graf
ify alike my affection and my pride.
"For weeks, Florimond, unseen by you, l
have seen you daily. I have watched your
coming in and going out. I have looked
upon my fair child, and my heart has almost
burst in its craving and its yearning for you
both! In that old time, years ago, you said
did not love you. But you could look into
my heart now-if you could know the strong
emotions which overpowered me just now,
when held your unconscious form once more
in my embrace, and kissed your beauteous,
unresisting lips-you would believe that now
love you with the most devoted, overmastering
affection"
Florimond listened to this passionate appeal
with downcast eyes, and in sullen silence.
Her gaze took in nothing but that ring which
gleamedsn her fnger-evidence Of her recent
VOWS to Ralph.
"Florimond, you do not look at mel You
do not answer me! Is it true, then, that you
have ceased to care for me?-that you were
soon to become the wife Of another?"
"It is true," she answered in a low voice.
II suppose I have no right to complain
exclaimed Albert, bitterly; "but think you
might have waited little-at least until |
was fairly cold in my grave"
81 did not wish to marry so early after
your death-your supposed DEATH" said Flori-
mond; Il thought it only right and proper
that should wait year-but was so de,
pendent and so peculiarly situated. owed
everything to Doctor Eglinton-the food 1
put in my mouth-my very life. He even
saved YOUR child from starvation And he