Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-05-14

ceived, with an aching heart, that his manner
to her was gradually evidently growing less
fond and more constrained. One source of
great annoyance to her also was that Mr..
Russell, ignoring her scarcely concealed re-
pugnance to him, persisted in showing her
marked attention, frequently paying her visits,
bringing her presents of flowers, and endeav-
oring, in every way, to ingratiate himself into
her favor. Under the pressure of all this
anxiety, she began to look ill and worn, and
Jean, her faithful servitor and sworn friend,
reported in confidence, to his fellow servants,
that if Monsieur Sydney continued much
longer to neglect his wife as he was doing, the
Door beautiful madame would surely pine
away in despair. But the worst was yet to
come.
One evening she was sitting alone, as usual,
in her little parlor, indulging in one of the
melancholy reveries which had become habit
ual to her, when Jean knocked at the door
and announced Mr.. Russell.
"Say cannot seehim," she hastily replied.
"Tell him that Mr.. Sydney is not at home
till him have headache, and beg to be ex-
cused."
pardon, fair lady," said the voice of Rus
sell, who, unperceived, had followed Jean up
stairs. "It was not your husband, but your
self, that asked to see, and my business un-
fortunately is important and admits of no de-
lay"
Business !" echoed Elsie in tone of an
noyance. II cannot imagine what business
you can wish to discuss with me, Mr.. Russell
my husband is the proper person for you to
arrange such affairs with"
"My dear Mrs. Sydney" said Russell in a
tone Of easy familiarity, that brought the in
dignant blood to her cheek, as he seated him.
self beside her on the sofa, "you are too hasty
in your conclusions. Pray do not suppose
that l would intrude any matter Of disagreea'
BILE import upon you, were it not that necessi-
ty compels me to do 50. I have already seen
your husband, and it is at his request that l
am here now. I am the bearer of letter to
you from him.
"a tter!-from Charlesw said Elsie in
extreme surprise. II don't understand-pray,
give it to me at once"
He slowly drew an envelope from his pock,
ct, fixing his eyes at the same time upon her
face.
"Before I give it to you," he said, delber,
ately, II must forewarn you that the contents
are not of an agreeable nature. happen to
be acquainted with their import. In the first
place"
"Will you not give it to me?" asked Elsie,
who was now trembling with agitation, yet
endeavoring to conceal it from his eyes. 81
prefer to read it for myself"
"But, pardon me, I must tell you-it is but
right that you should know. Your husband
has gone away"
"Gone away" echoed poor Elsie, in be-
wildered tone. "What do you mean p
"Simply what I say-he left Paris this af
ternoon by the $50 train"
Elsies brain seemed to swim; she could moi
believe her ears. Charles gone away! Gone
without word of warning-a word of fare
we'll Mechanically she took the letter
which Russell now held out to her it was di
rected in the familiar handwriting she knew
so we'll. She looked at it steadfastly for /
minute, trying to collect her thoughts.
"Mr. RUSSELL" she managed to say in low
tone, speaking calmly, but with great effort
"will you be kind enough to leave me now
I prefer reading this alone"
Russell arose as if unwillingly.
"Mrs. Sydney" he murmured, bending over
her, "the contents of that letter warrant my
making an offer which, under other circum
stances, would be intrusive-that of my assis
tance and protection. Will you promise tc
call on me for either, or both, should you re-
quire them, as I think you will? You may
rely on me as a true FRIEND"
II do not understand you," said Elsie
family; 81 only beg that you will leave me
now."
"You will remember my offer?" he per.
sisted.
eyes, yes," she replied, in an agony of i'm.
patience to get rid of him. Taking her hand
he pressed it 10 his lips, and ere she could re-
sent the liberty he was gone.
Her first movement, when the last echo Of
his footsteps had died away, was to lock and
double-lock the door, to prevent the possibility
of further intrusion. She could hardly gain
courage to open the mysterious letter-her
trembling fingers at first refused to do their
Office. At last, commanding herself with a
desperate effort, she broke the seal, drew out
and unfolded the sheet, and read:
"Do not hate me, Elsie, when you learn that
before this reaches you shall have left Paris. l
could not tell you Of my intention, for the parting
would have been too painful for us both. 1 have
been summoned home, and must 60 without de-
lay. But you must prepare yourself Tor 1urther
intelligence, which will, I fear, oyerwhelm you as
completely as it did me. Elsie, have uninton-
tionally done you great wrong. Our marriage,
as we thoughtit, was no marriage-the certificate
is worthless, and the whole thing fraud. We
were imposed on in shameful way. You will
see that under these circumstances, 1t IS best Tor
us that we are forced to part" (Here something
was carefully marked out.) "Forgve me, en-
treat you, for being the cause of so much unhap-
piness, and think Of me charitably as you can.
You will find purse in my drawer, which con-
tains enough for your present needs. I cannot
write more. am in great haste and it is nearly
time to start Once more, forgive me! I am
constrained to write, FareweU!! &C. S."
"P. S. Russell has promised to be the bearer
of this. You may count on him as friend"
And this was all-this brief, cold epistle !;
not even loving word to soften the agony Of
the unlocked for blow.
Elsie read, with white, parted lips and d.
lating eyes, until she came to the cruel word
$50 rowo1l 20 Than tho naner slinnpd from