Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-01-15
u how much I have dared to come to see

you how much I have dared to come to see
your
90! Cecilia, Cecilia |" moaned Mcdonald,
in voice of passionate tenderness.
She knelt down by the bed, and put her
white hand on his feverish forehead, while she
murmured piteously-
II was the unwilling cause Of all your trou-
ble-all your pain-1 will tell you some day.
in atonement, why married Colonel Fessen-
den. believe now that he lied to me, to
ALLEVIATE me from you. His mad jealousy has
almost killed you. o! Irving, Irving, ca"
you forgive me? VII you pardon me for all
the pain and sorrow have brought upon you? :?
Answer-for Gods sake, answer me!
"My darling, my darling" groaned McDon-
aid, Il have nothing to forgive"
And worn out with anguish of soul and
WEAKNESS of body, he hid his face upon her
shoulder and sobbed, with her, like little
child.
Fearing his agitation would cause relapse,
Gertrude rose with gasp; and drawing aside
the velvet hangings that covered the arched
window, she stood silent, immovable, fully
exposed to the two weeping occupants OF the
apartment. She stood there like an avenglng
angel. Not a word passed her lips; not
sign-only she stood thers-statuesque, impos-
ing, grand-unapproachable At her unex-
pected appearance, Mrs. Vaughn Fessenden
drew the heavy cloak and hood around her
head and person with which she had disguised
herself, previous to her entrance, and in an in-
stant had disappeared.
"I am sorry frightened away your visit
or" said Gertrude, with fixed eyes on the
door through which Mrs. Fessenden had
passed. Her voice was soft and calm, and
after she spoke, she advanced toward the
couch.
Irving, expecting to be overwhelmed with
reproaches, vouch-safed no reply; but turning
his face to the wall, pretended to be sleepy.
He was mistaken. He had never dealt with
woman of the spirit and character of Ger
trude Fairleigh. She had no intention of
troubling him with single question, or dis
turbiDg his repose by one unkind remark. 1t
was her husbands request, in the early days
of his illness, that not guest should leave
his house and so they all remained, enjoying
in quieter way than was usual
among them, accustomed as they were, to BAN
quoting and dancing. But beyond this change
in their entertainment at Mcdonald Manor,
everything went on as it did before the fatal
shot was fired at their gracious host; and
Gertrude, at times, when she could leave her
appeared among the company, smil-
ing-as afable and hosptable as ever. She
was magnificent actress, and upon the boards
she would have met with the most signal sue.
cess.
A few days after Mrs. Vaughn Fessenden's
visit, Gertrude sat in her boudoir with her
queer mother-in. law, who was full Of asperity
and experience as usual. Gertrude was very
much perplexed with this persistence of her
husbands in keeping the house full of COM
pany, and especially Vaughn Fessenden and
his wife, and through all his illness never
once allowing a physician to enter his apart
ment. She finally determined to question her
81 cannot understand all Irving's whims
about these people, madame" she said "can
you explain to me? fancy we're I an in
valid, their presence would greatly trouble
me-"
Mrs. Mcdonald flushed and shrugged her
shoulders. She was we'll aware why they re-
mained there, but she had no idea of telling
Gertrude, or any one else.
81 know nothing about the matter" she
said, when Gertrude persisted in receiving
reply to her question; eff you are curious
and want explanations you had better address
yourself to Irving. You are his wife and
have right to know all about him that you
desire to know"
"No," said Gertrude, with sorrowful 81 gh,
"you are mistaken, madame, have no rights
as wife. You prophesied truly to me,
months ago. Irving no longer loves me we
are divided in heart and life, and will never
be bound again. Mrs Vaughn Fessenden is
mistress of his affections. That fact is clear
enough to me now"
did jealousy open your eyes, child? If
not how came you to see at last ?"
"No matter how I learned I am wiser than
was wont to be. I can never be blindfolded
again. know more than you dream I do"
Mrs. Mcdonald started, and visibly pallid,
asked eagerly
"Do you mean about your husband ?"
eyes; about my husband"
"What have you learned of him ?"
"That is the fact do not intend divulgng
to you, or any one else, at present"
Mrs. Mcdonald frowned ominously and
fastened questioning gaze upon Gertrudes
quiet face, as though she wanted to read her
very soul. But the young wife bore the scru-
tiny dauntlessly, and the mother-in-law was
left in the dark as to the extent of her suspi-
cions or of her knowledge.
Gertrude's heart was slowly breaking but
no one noted her misery or even suspected it.
The crowning pang came soon, and complete
ly crushed her. One day she saw Mrs. Vaughn
Fessenden slip note into the hand of one of
her household servants, with sign which she
interpreted as Masonic between them.
Horace" she said, deliberately advancing
toward them, "come to my boudoif;;" and
there she stood waiting his attendance Moth
ing was left for Mrs Vaughn Fessenden to do
but pass quietly into the drawiug-room. Hor-
ace had deftly concealed the note entrusted to