Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-02-26
Am Original Storg. .
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
DESTINY;
OR,
HOUNDED DOWN.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
BY NELLY MARSHALL McAFEE.
CHAPTER xxx.

It was the evening after the storm. Cece:
liza stood alone in her room. She was wrapped
in a large shawl, and seemed debating wheth-
er she should 90 out of the house by back
staircase, or through the centre hall. Her
anxious eyes wandered persistently to first one
mode of egress and then the other Her prl'
vate apartment occupied the second floor OF
the main building, and commanded an exten'
sive and magnificent prospect Of the whole
country.
She finally decided in favor Of the secluded
staircase, and by this means she gained the
lawn. 1t was wide, and bright with summer
greenness. Crossing this hastily, she found
herself in the woods skirting the enclosure
Opening a gate, she passed into the wood, and
pursuinga path that led into the unfrequented
part of the void, she disapp Jared from view.
She was seeking the most solitary spot of the
Bluffs. She often went there to mediate and
rest The sun was setting. The face OF
Nature, so disturbed by the storm on yester.
day, was now tranquil and smiling in its as
pect
Cecilia walked very slowly; her head was
bent down her arms were folded over her
breast and all about her head and magnif.
cent figure was wrapt rich crimson crepe
shawl. None could have beheld her, even in
her hour of detection, without being deeply
impressed with her loveliness. Everything
about her was so singularly harmonious. Her
bright, luxuriant hair, her beautiful eyes, her
charming mouth, her pure complexion-ri-
valing the creamy whiteness OF Lamarque
roses petals.
Why was she 80 sad? What caused her to
walk with bowed head and contemplative
air? She seemed possessed of incurable mel
ancholy. 1t was in vain for her, this after
noon, that the birds sang in the branches
overhead; that the rivulet rippled and CUR
gled and sparkled and eddied down the hill
side; that the sun glded the air with long,
slanting rays of golden brightness. To the
music Of the waters, to the warbling of the
birds, to the radiant splendor of the setting
sun, to the thousand vernal perfumes that
freighted the sweet summer air, she was
blind-she was deaf-she was dumb
Ofwhat was she thinking? The past? No.
Rather were her lovely eyes scanning the Wis
tas of her future rather was she living in the
present, with the hope of the To-come warm
in her soul, than the pain of any "Might-have-
been."
Wearying of walking, she sat down on the
gnarled trunk of a fallen tree to rest, before
returning home. Suddenly, footsteps advan.
ced toward her, and looking up, she beheld
the stranger who the day previous, had seen
her stormy Interview with the mulatte, and
afterward watched her, as she leaned against
the dark facing of the window and looked out
on the storm. There they stood, confronting
each other. Neither could have been colder,
or more silent, had they been carved from
statue.stone He looked at her-she looked
at him. Her gaze showed agitation, rather
than surprise. At last he sprang forward and
knelt at her feet.
"At last! At last 1 have found you You,
whom 1 have sought so long | find you
o, I find you again."
"Oh this is folly-supreme folly" she said,
in almost inaudible tones, holding out her
hands in gesture forbidding near approach.
"Have pity r he murmured, imploringly
"treat me at least like a friend Look on
me with more kindly eyes Oh! if | could
only tell you how I have dreamed of the su,
preme happiness of this moment! Alas
Your GOODNESS makes it agony! Years-think
ofit-years have passed. and my life has been
d tol nSuV "i'h w ~ woo P'
But-are you happy' You are pale and sad
l know see-that you also have suffered y
"God knows am suffering now !'' she cried,
plaintively.
"Cecelia!"
"No, no, you are wrong. You must not
call me 'Ceeelia.' Call me by the name of
my husband. l am Mrs. Gadbury now"
ayes, yes, your marriage sealed joy from
me forever. But O l loved you so-and |
love you still !"
He remained kneeling at her feet, and once
or twice had essayed to take her hand but
she had drawn away from him with su-
premely offended gesture.
Cecilia could not listen to him. She con-
tinued to gaze about her-here, there every
whereas if fearful of intrusion.
Irving Mcdonald (for it was he) under
stood her anxiety, and glancing around, dis
covered still denser retreat not tar OF, and
one much better suited for their interview
than the one now occupied. 1t was bower,
formed by tangled briers and wild grape
vines-a bower so thick with shade, that it
had the appearance of a cool, green grotto.
A moss-covered log, lying under its shadow,
offered an inviting seat. There they could
descry danger, come as it might. Mcdonald
attracted Cecelia's attention to it, and then
led the way. Without comprehendng why
she did so, she mechanically followed his foot
steps, In the same submissive and unques-
tioning manner, she took the seat to which he
waved her. Placing himself beside her, he
continued to address her.
"Oh Cecilia, language could not express
to you all that have suffered since we parted
When you disappeared from New York, I
searched for you everywhere. Your friends
could only surmise Some said you had gone
to Europe some said to the South and others
that you had set sail for California. l was
deranged about you. At last the news of
your death reached me. For brief while l
credited it. But letter from your maid
Ola, to the serving-woman of Mrs. Harley
LEstrange opened my eyes to the fact that
you had committed the r,lse to deceive me
Anger filled my soul toward you, and l tried
to forget you. 1t is impossible. | wrote you
note through Mrs. Harley L L'Estrange some
days ago, and started Immediately West, and
here am. I traced you successfully, although
you gave me no clew to your whereabouts.
And now that am here, you will no longer
avoid me! Promise me this much, in mercy,
and say that you forgive me for my persistent
devotion. 1fmy presence pains you, reproach
me-but do not drive me from you forever"
Cecilia could not reply. A pallor, terrible
to see, had crept over her face, from chin to
temple, and she kept her handsome head per-
sisteutly bowed down. She had no strength
with which to repulse his great passion for