Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-04-09

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! celia sat near her old uncle-in-law reading the
newspaper to him.
Any one, to glance in on the sweet domes'
tic picture, would have concluded that every
heart was at peace with itself and the world.
Cecilia showed no difference in her bearing
from what she did the day before she was al
ways more or less melancholy; and now, al
though her face was very sad, there was
bright flush on either cheek, showing that her
blood burned with feverish anxiety and her
eyes shone with luminous light, appalling
as it was beautiful. She felt that any mo-
ment she might die. The tense nerves could
not hold out long. The fatal news was all
that she needed to kill her utterly.
Think of it-as she sat there, reading OF
the crops, the railroads, the telegraphic news,
the rise and fall in stocks-the man to whom
she belonged and the man whom she knew too
late that she mady loved, were pitted against
each other and one must die!
Whatever might be her widowhood-
of heart or of hand-she felt, instinctively,
that it would be brief-very brief.
1t is true she was young, and she was beau
tiful, surrounded by the favors of fortune;
but all! life walled itself in before her, and
left open to her feet, only blood-stained path
through which she must tread if she would
pass onward
For some time the three occupants of the
sitting-room kept silent Cecilia had ceased
reading, and sat there with her hands folded
helplessly in her lap. Old Mr.. Gadbury
ceased stroking the silky fur Of his great tor
toise-shell cat, and Docia, out of patience
with the pattern she had begun for the third
time, suddenly rose and approached Cecilia.
Since the discussion in the library over "Da-
mar" there had been decided coldness be-
tween the two ladies. Docia certainly suf-
fered most from the constraint, and after
waiting vainly for Cecilia to make the first
advance toward her, she now attempted it
herself.
II wish brother Clary would come home
with his company. I am lonely"
Cecilia looked up and shuddered with
vague dread, and then dropped her head on
her hands.
At the sound of Docia's voice old Mr.. Cad
bury reused up and listened.
As Cecilia seemed but little inclined to
converse, Docia went over to guitar-case, in
the corner, and taking out the instrument,
commenced drumming on it.
"Have little mercy on US, Miss Docia,"
cried her uncle, petulantly.
At this Docia banged the instrument back
in the case, and returned to her seat by the
window.
Silence reigned everywhere.
Cecilia sat there shivering perceptibly, and
sighing and listening for sounds of approach
ing footsteps.
"What is the matter with you, Cecilia ?"
said the old man, for the first time noticing
her agitation and the wild expression in her
great, lustrous eyes.
"Nothing," she murmured in reply, "unless
I am going to have a chill; l feel SO cold"
When she said this, Doca took an afghan
off the sofa and wrapt it about Cecelas
shoulder, and then took her hand and counted
her pulse.
"How strangep' she said, "your hands are
like fire, and your pulse is very quick; your
head and throat are hot, and yet you are sha-
king with a chill"
Suddenly, Cecilia started to her feet with
loud and awful shrek.
Docia drew back in alarm, half believing
her sister-in-law was ,lemented.
"Cecelia Ceceia!" cried old Gadbury,
wringing his hands, "Cecelia, are you going
mad Pare you going mad!'
ooh! don't you hear? Don't you hear ?"
she cried, in accents of terror, impossible to
describe II have felt it all day! l felt it !!
1 felt it p'
She rushed to the door, as if she would 60
out to meet what she dreaded, and then came
running back, in freuzied manner, and fell
upon her knees, burying her awe-strcken face
in the sofas sombre green cushions.
The old man stood near her crying like a
child, believing she had lost her senses, and he
loved her as he had never loved living thing
before
! Docia ran out Of the room to call for help.
The noise of tramping feet was heard in
the lower hall, as she opened the door. A
moment after, a piercing cry rose above the
heavy steps, and Docia came running back,
and throwing herself on the floor beside c.
celia, clasped her with convulsve energy.
Old Mr.. Gadbury caught Docia by the shoul-
der and cried hoarsely-
"What is the matter? For Gods sake
tell me y
"Brothcr Clary-oh uncle, brother Clary
is dead! They are bringing up his body
welterng with bloodn' moancd and faltered
Docia.
! Cecilia rose to her feet, looked wildly about
her, and sank prostrate amid the sofa cush
ions. Her first feeling was that of great joy
at not hearing that Mcdonald was killed.
She kept her face hidden, and lay there
! breathing heavily.
The noise Of confused voices and of mems
feet heard in the vestibule, came nearer, and
great commotion seemed to exist among the
new arrivals
Several persons now entered the room, and
with them the neighbors who had so gaily set
out with Gadbury and Mcdonald for a days
sport.
Don't be frightened be calm, ladies-be
calm," said one, in an excited manner; "there
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