Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-04-10

celed. and become the wife of man who does
love you, and with his whole heart and who
will exert every power Of his being to make
you happy"
Florimond was not exactly convinced by
these words, and yet she was very painfully
embarrassed and deeply moved; and seeing
her agitation, desperate hope leaped into
Ralph Eglinton's soul and shone in his eyes.
No longer master of his impulses, he sprang
toward her, grasped her hand, and pressed it
to his lips.
"You will consent?" he cried with soul
penetrating glance. "You will make me the
happiest of created beings!"
"No," she replied gravely, 81 have not said
So"
"But you will think Of it," be begged ca
gerly. "For Gods sake, do not doom me has
tily to agony and despair.say at least, you
will not decide until you have weighed the
matter we'll. Is my love to weigh nothing in
the balance? Is it to prove curse instead
of a blessing to me, because there lives anoth-
er man who does not love you-whom you do
not love-who is dead to you? Florimond,
do you wish to drive me to despair" ?"
Florimond was startled at the expression of
his face-awed by the terrible emotion which
shook his frame.
"Calm yourself dear Ralph" she said in
soothing voice, "I will not decide hastily-1
will weigh the matter we'll"
"And when" said Ralph, pressing his hand
to his heart as if to calm its dreadful throb'
bling "when shall I know my fate"
"a week from this day, at 8 o'clock in the
evening"
"And may not see you in the meantime?"
"You may not. 1 do not wish anything to
distract my mind or my attention. want to
do justice"
"Say not JUSTICE" cried Ralph hastily !;
"say you will decide from the goodness fyour
heart, for goodness moves in larger sphere
than Justice fit comes to the justness Of
the thing, have such an exalted opinion Of
you-you are such an angel Of"
"Say no more," cried Florimond, smiling,
"or else such praises will annihilate me-"
"a week from to-day, then,' said Ralph,
preparing to depart, II will see you again and
hear from your lips sentence of death or
promise Of life and unspeakable happiness"
Florimond avoided his searching glance
and said nothing. She shook hands in silence
Ralph noticed it, and turned back.
"Adieu, Florimond, till we meet again"
"Good.bye."
"Why do you say goodbye, Florimond, as
if we were never to meet again p
"You are very choice about words" said
Florimond, with forced laugh. II will say
anything you please so goodbye, or adieu,
Doctor Eglinton, until we meet again"
"And when do we meet again, Florimond :?
Look me straight in the eyes and tell me-"
She raised her luminous glance to his and
said deliberately
"This night week at o'clock, D. v"
Apparently satisfied, he went off:
But RAJ ph was not satisfied. He fancied
Florimond's manner and words had been eva
sive, and his inordinate anxiety and suspense
made him suspicious any how, so having al
lowed only two days to elapse he went back
to Avondale.
The capacious landlady was sitting in the
front piazza.
"Is Mrs. Ravenswood at home?' asked
Ralph, touching his hat to her.
"No, Doctor, she has gone away from Avon
dale"
Ralph's heart sank within him at this real
ization of his fears.
"Do you know where she has gomez"
"No, I donot. She took an early train yes
terday morning, but do not know in which
direction"
"Do you know which one Of the hackmen
drove her to the dep6t3"
"She walked to the depot" said the old
lady, "and sent a strange boy from the village
to take her baggage"
Ralph bowed and turned away from the
door. Dejectedly he walked along with bow
ed head and heavy footsteps But few mo-
ments before, he had walked on all, at the
prospect of beholding her, and now his feet
were lead.
"What iron determination there is in that
woman's soul" he exclaimed; "and yet so
gentle and soft. With this strong hand l
could crush her, and yet all my strength is no
match for her softness. She could not answer
my arguments she could not withstand my
impetuosity and yet with gentle words and
a voice of honeyed sweetness, she soothed my
troubled spirit and sent me of-a fool! l
seek to free her from the power of a man who
loves her not, and with whom, defying all his
power, she will not live I seek to fold her in
these arms; to shelter her in this bosom and
to surround her with a worshipping love, and
she flies from me. "Oh woman, woman,
you are an abysm-a mystery and he who
thinks that he knows you, is three times a
madman. "But," continued Ralph, and his
head grew erect and his step firm, 81 will find
her yet poor darling, and she shall be mine,
if there is any power in determination, an in
domitable will, perseverance, patience, con-
stancy and the might Of immeasurable love!"
CHAPTER Xxx.
STRUGGLES
That last interview with Ralph had cost
Florimond night of sleeplessness and anx-
ious thought on the exigencies of her present
situation. She felt now firmly convinced that