Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-03-05
gu Original Storg.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
DESTINY;
OR,
HOUNDED DOWN. .
BY NELLY MARSHALL McAFEE.
CHAPTER XXXII.

no further than the fork, as ne there met
man who answered the description given him
by George Falls, and he returned to the inn
ahead of him, to relieve the anxious mind OF
the artist "Where had he been ?" repeated
the painter. "Where had he been ?"
"To the Bluffs"
"And what is the Blufs-a river town or
what?' queried the stranger.
90 it is the name of the Gadbury estate"
said Mrs. Falls; sit is the finest in the
county"
"The Gadburys-rich people?"
"I should say SOL Do you know them ?"
care they at home now" said the artist,
deftly turning the query.
eyes, sir; the whole family are there. They
spend nearly every summer here; but go to
the city in the winter"
"He married widow, didn't he A very
beautiful woman-celcbrated?"
Beautiful r' said a mulatto woman, sotto
voce, who was sewing by an open window
pursipg up her mouth-"that depends on folks
taste, reckin She amt nigh as hansum as
Miss Falls, to my notion. She's too dead
white, and her hair is too yellow-an she's
got real cat eyes"
They all heard her grumbling and num-
bling to herself, but nobody paid any atten-
tion to what she said The artist went on
eating his dinner Just then the doorway
was darkened by a figure, and rich, musical
voice cried out
eating dinner this late?"
80, he here you are!" cried the painter,
in delighted tone; "alive and handsome as
ever! You dog how could you desert me
in this miserable little village, and leave me
to dabbe with my art or die with ennu' :"
81 am almost starved p said Mcdonald,
not noticing his reproaches "Mrs. Falls,
can't you take pity on me and appease my
hunger?"
"Certainly, sir; I had your dinner reserved
with your friends; but it will be like having
dinner and supper together-it is so late"
Mcdonald pulled up chair near his friend.
A savory repast was soon spread before him,
and after he had somewhat appeased his vo-
racious appetite, his companion commenced
his questioning.
"McDonald, where have you been? am
dying with curiosity. You were gone so long,
was anxious about. you. was afraid you
were drowned or garroted, or something of
the sort"
Mcdonald sighed and said tersely: "No
such good luck as getting out of the world in
such innocent ways"
The artist stared at him as if he thought he
had gone daft.
"Well, upon my word-youre queer fel.
low? What is the matter? implore you
to explain !"
"You want me to explain, do you? Well,
it will be task difficult of accomplishment.
1t will involve, indeed, history of some of
the leading incidents of my eventful life, of
which you have never dreamed ?"
"The devil it will p
"Quite true! TO begin the confidence, then,
AMIN love!"
"In love? Why, I have been fool not to
guess it! But took you for such sensible
man, you know, never thought of that" said
the artist, with an arch glance and merry
laugh at his friends expense.
"If you have made up your mind to ridi-
cule me- I'll stop"
Before you begin? But 60 on; am as
solemn as an owl"
"Well, listen without hootng."
T I loH
about from point to pont-here to-day, to-
morrow somewhere else. | had health and
wealth, and was counted the handsomest man
of my time, in society and out of it I had
no ties-no obligations. My mother lived,
but was her idol, and whatever 1 did was
right in her eyes. Among other things that
did, l went, one summer, to Nantucket.
Summer life there is not without its delights,
can tell you. There you find safety, quiet
and delicious temperature, all Of which
characteristics cannot be found elsewhere in
greater perfection.
~ now approach the interesting part of my
story. When went to Nantucket, the world
was full of beauty for me- The mornings
were always lovely the sun was always bright
and vivifying; the nights simply enchanting. |
found pleasant lodgings in the village, and to
my delight learned that there were other par
ties from New York there for the summer.
There is nothing-or rather there was
nothing then-that afforded me such delight
as sea-bathing. The afternoon after 1 arrived
drove three miles, to the southern side of
the island and took bath in the rough surf.
But having taken up my abode in the fishing
village at its eastern end, determined to
bathe there afterward, in defiance ofth perils
of the 'under-tow.' enjoyed every day of
my life, because it was so different, | suppose,
from the feverish life I had led previously,
when frequented the gaming table and lost
my money with lavish and careless indifier-
ence. Dissipation had sunk me into mental
torpor. Nantucket reused me from it effect
ually was like a school-boy out for hol-
day.
"One evening went out in the surf, and
met the other visitors to the island for the
first time. They were all bathing and dab
bling about, and riding the waves One beau
tiful swimmer-a woman-hoated on the
water like naiad, and chanted songs in the
sweetest voice and most captivating manner.
Suddenly, sharply on the air, rang cry of
alarm. reared my head and listened and
IL