Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-03-20

"Wish was" said Florimond, smiling bit
terly.
"Poor Albert" said Mrs. summerville, com
passionately. "You have struck him such
cruel blow, and he has kind, noble heart
That first afternoon, when we discovered your
cannot call it else, your disgracetul flight
Albert was of course exceedingly hurt, disap
pointed, mortified and irritated. He quilted
the house in great anger, but he came back
the next day and begged my pardon for his
hasty conduct. I am sure did not blame
him! He went home then and consulted his
father, who is anxious for him to come to an
understanding with you on almost any terms
The whole family are unspeakably annoyed al
your conduct, and say if you will only be
reasonable now, and let the dead past bury
its dead they will exert every power of kind
ness to do away with the disagreeable impres
sion you have formed Of them"
"Too late! too late!" murmured Florlmond
and then with rising excitement, "What die
they take me for? A spiritless fool, who
would submit patiently to their prosecutions
their contempt? Three years ago their kind
ness would have made me happy-they would
not give it! No,0 prefer their hate to their
love. Let them thank themselves for the
change"
"But, Albert" persisted Mrs. Summerville
"why should you make Albert suffer for their
misdeeds?"
"Their misdeeds," said Florimond, "have
nothing to do with my conduct toward AL
bert. He has sowed for himself the harvest
he is now reaping. Talk no more about it.
for it is useless Dearest mother, fear the
oppressive Loneliness Of which you complain,
has not been good for you. You do not look
so robust as when I left home. If you will
only do as I tell you, I will return to you
Write Immediately to Albert. Tell him he
need not seek to see me, for nothing can change
nv unalterable determination. Make him
promise not to come here or persecute me, and
then there will be nothing in the way Of my
return home. Write now, mother. Where
is he, anyhow"
He is now," said Mrs. Summerville, speak
ing very slowly; che is now in this room."
FIorimond was, for moment, petrifed
with astonishment; but seeing no one, she
concluded that it was practical joke Of her
grandmother's, who wished to test her feelings.
But on looking around, she discovered Albert
standing in the door at her back-pale, agi-
tated, with compressed lips. With faint
cry, Florimond sprang from her seat and tried
to escape through the opposite door, but AL
bert eluded this attempt and caught her forci-
bly, in his arms. Mrs. Summerville, in great
haste, left the room.
"You shall not escape me again" said AL
bert, a little sternly.
Florimond struggled Intellectually to free
herself, and finding it impossible, trembled
and wept tears of insensate rage.
"Florimond! My dear wife" said Albert
in astonishment; "what have l ever done to
you to cause these dreadful feelings against
me? Calm yourself Florry. Why do you
tremble so? I will not harm you. Look at
me. Let me assure you of my affection, and
beg for your forgiveness in whatever 1 have
done to wound you, and beg, too, for the love
which you once bore me"
In answer to this appeal Florimond only
said
"You hurt me. Let me 60"
"I will free you," said Albert, bitterly dis
appointed in the efect-or rather the non
effect of his words and manner-"I will free
you, if you promise to remain in this room for
a few moments while I talk with you"
81 PROMISE" said Florimond, and Albert
her. She was, however, so weak from
nervous excitement, she staggered in trying to
reach seat. Albert provided her chair
saying
"Sit down, Florimond, and pray listen to a
few reasonable words. Why do you hate me
so2 Why do you refuse to live with me? 1t
is very dreadful state of things. You doom
me to life of loneliness-you separate me
from my child. Think, Florimond, I have
never yet beheld the little one, and she is
more than two years old! Are you acting as
Christian human-as wife and mother
ught to act? Lay aside this childishness-
this unworthy pettishness, and act as a woman
of dignity and character should demean her.
self. As a man of sense, I ask you, woman
of sense, what have I done to make you an
gry"
Florimonl answered not word, but she
raised to him a glance Of such smouldering
fire, vivid glance so full Of the revengeful ire
in her heart, Albert was almost stunned.
Recovering from the withering effect OF
that glance, and having waited sufficient
length of time in vain for her answer, he ex-
claimed, "Your obstinacy does provoke ME
Let me appeal 10 your sense ofjustice- you
have not lost that, too, with your other amia-
BILE qualities; think how unfair it is to harbor
resentment against me for fault, real or sup.
posed, and when come to you, wishing to
know the fault and ready to atone and never
trespass again, to be refused the knowledge of
your grievance lies to be treated, in
Short with continued scorn and contempt"
"Ifyour own conscience does not tell you,
said Florimond, "wherein you have sinned
against me, my voice would have no effect"
"Really, Florimond, your allusion is too
vague but if you mean the circumstance-for
which I have expressed my deepest regret of
not coming to you when you were sick"
h!you we're much better employed then," }"
said Florimond, bitterly; "you were basking
;n'tha heautiful Gabriella's smiles %