Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-01-22
sorrow on her heart and brain, recovered con-
sciousness or strength,

|
en- services. The servants, too, departing,
took all they could conveniently secrete. For
they knew we'll that the property would be
confiscated and they determined to reap some
of the booty themselves. No one remained to
serve the sufferer but Lide-who was con.
stantly beside her-and acting upon her own
authority, had brought Benna Dinwiddie to
| serve in the kitchen, and the old grandmother
to aid her in her faithful watch by the sick
bed of her benefactress.
/ She had reciprocated the generous kindness
shown to her in many ways. After the dread
full scene in the vault, she had gone down in
the darkness and sought out Irving McDon-
aid had put water and wine to his lips and
summoned two trusty followers to bear him
hence, upon stretcher, to place of safety.
It would take too much space to recount
the gratitude that was expressed and felt by
the man. Once away in another State, con-
scious that his guilt might not be traced, ne
made public the cause of Fessenden's mallgn-
ments and tracing his property to the guests
who had purloined it, he demanded restitu-
ton or threatened disgrace.
Not an article but was returned to him,
with assurances that they had been taken for
friendships sake, in order to preserve them
from con6scation So easy is it to turn as
the tide turns, whether it drifts rich argosles
to shore, or washes grand wrecks into un'
known and stormy seas!
But he never returned to the town of Brls-
tol. He sold out his property there, and held
the position of one who had been prosecuted,
rather than that of an offender OF the law.
He made no mention of revenge for his moth
ers death. In defense of him, she had shot
two or three men but her own life had ex-
plated the bloody deed.
The chiefest thought with Mcdonald was
that Mrs. Vaughn Fessenden was free wo-
man; and down in his soul he swore to win
her. The mans whole nature was darkened
with sin and crime. The one desire with him,
now, was to get rid of the faithful and beau
tiful wife, who grieved over his dishonor and
disgrace, and would not be comforted.
Ao for Lide Halstead, he had not quite de-
cided what to do with her. Let her 90 out OF
his life when of late days her beauty had
begun to burn in his blood, he never would;
but he must be wary; he must not alarm her,
else he would lose her. One love, more or
less, usually never counted with him. But
she was no ordinary woman There was the
charm-the spell-for him And it bound
him as in iron gives, and even the memory OF
Mrs. Vaughn Fessenden could not still the
passion again, when once awakened.
The shadow of his dead mothers prophecy
had at last fallen, like blight, on the beauty
and purity of Lide Halstead. 1t remains
vet to be proven whether she withstood the
strength and the sweep Of the storm; or
whether she fell, shattered and unredeemable
forever.
One day, about week after the Bristol
property was sold, letter came to Gertrude
from him, telling her to join him in Rich
mond, Virginia, with the greatest speed her
health would allow, and to bring Lde with
her. She accepted this as an evidence of his
devotion; for he knew how she loved her pro-
tgae, and joyfully communicated the news to
the young girl, who as joyously received it.
Preparations were hastily made for the jour-
ney, and two days after the letter was re-
ceived, they we're en- route, all speed, to Rich
mond.
Arriving there, instead of her husband, a
strange gentleman presented himself, saying
Mr.. Mcdonald being dear friend Of his, and
he having found him quite indisposed at the
hotel-had proposed taking him to his home
for change of scene; but that he had told him,
in excuse, that he was expecting his wife eve
ry day and could not leave. However, upon
his sacred promise to return for them himself,
he had yielded and gone out to his residence
for several weeks.
Gertrude was unhappy.
"My dear Mr.. Stansbury," Gas Stansbury
the man had introduced himself,) "take me to
him without delay" she cried, in earnest tones.
! "And your companion also?'
"Certainly."
"Well, I have private carriage, and we
can start just as soon as you wish"
Soon they were on their way. They drove
all day, and when night came they rested at
wayside houses, and were off by day dawn
again.
"Why, Mr. Stansbury, I imagined, from
your speech, that you lived short distance
! from Richmond" said Gertrude.
"rrue; true; only few miles" he answer
ed, and waived the conversation.
At last, Gertrude became alarmed, and she
could see that Lide Halstead shared her anx-
iety, although she endeavored to disguise her
suspicious under the veil of gentle pleasantly
that whiled away the weary hours of travel.
They finally, after traversng the length Of
many and many a mile, drove into the pleas
ant and wcll-ordered grounds of Mr.. STAINS
, bury, and alighting, were escorted up a flight
of handsome stone steps, and on through
spacious hall, into drawing-room elegant in
every compartment.
Here Mr.. Stansbury excused himself to 60
and find Mr. Mcdonald and apprize him of the
arrival of the guests he was so impatient to see.
Going out, he closed the door softly after him.
Gertrude, with face all aglow with expec-
tation, but which still bore traces of anxiety,
said in a half:whisper to her silent compan-
! ion
"Lide, am so glad we are here at last. I
did not know where he was conveying us.
The whole thing seemed like terrible dream