Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-01-15

but she curbed herself with awful resolution.
"Oh ! Irving, my own, my very own J! MUIR
INJURED Cecilia, in an imploring voice; IL was
importunate because 1 knew your danger.
You have ruined Vaughn Fessenden, and he
has sworn an awful oath to be avenged. |
would save you from his cruelty! l am will
ing to bear anything-only save yourself
for if you are harmed, it will kill me. You
are my life, my love-my one hope on earth
Fly! Do not delay a moment There is
safety for you only in immediate flight"
"Will you 90 with me- Cecilia {"
She wrung her hands and cried piteousl y
"Go-go-gop
"Not without you" he answered, firmly.
"You will lose your life if you linger!
1T is not worth saving without you are
mine !" and he pressed her to his breast.with
passionate vehemence.
20, Mcdonald! You are cruel to tempt
me in an hour like this lam wJe! You
are a husband! Fly, fly, while there is yet
time to save your precious life !"
Mrs. Vaughn Fcssenden no longer attempt
ed to control herself She fell upon her knees
and sobbing aloud hid her tear-blotted face in
her trembling hands
"Come with me then-if you would save
mew said Mcdonald, attempting to raise her
from the floor
"You ruined my husband" she moaned-
let that suffice! Spare my soul Were you
the same man I once knew and adored, you
would never seek to drag me to the depths of
infamy for one hours passion, and as recon-
pense give me whole lifetime of despair.
Oh listen to me- Restore to Fessenden the
money you have won and Ay-ay for your
life, while yet there is chance to save it!'
Mcdonald laughed scornfully, and whirled
off on his heel.
Cecilia sprang to her feet. Her face was
white as marble her eyes dilated; her nos
trils quivering-herlips trembling, with emo
ton. "McDonald, doubt me not! You are
betrayed. Vaughn Fessenden-I-the whole
world-has unmasked you at last Every
body has learned, in the last hour, what you
are i"
Her voice was impressive; her pronuncia-
ton of every word slow, distinct, incontro-
vertible.
Irving Mcdonald staggered back, as though
he had been shot but regaining himself in a
moment, he advanced close to her and said
bitterly and haughtily, striking his hand on
his breast as he spoke
"Know me, then, for what / am | have
not a bush-not regret-for my course! l
am what yoo made me! All men are what
women make them You wanted wealth;
went out to seek it-if not to win it by honest
labor, to gain it by magnificent fraud. Ifit
was the crime for which 1 will yet suffer
death, you, and you alone, are accountable for
the blood that will be spilled! I have been
counterfeiter for years. I have triumphed ;
have held the good, the great, the brave, the
beautiful, at my feet. l have lived like
king I can die like one!"
90, God 10, God !" cried voice, in an
guish. The velvet hangings rustled-there
was fall, and Gertrude Mcdonald lay prone
at her husbands feet
He looked down upon her, as, white and
still, she lay in Cecelia's arms, who sprang
forward when she tainted. His face was cor
rugated with pain his eyes terrible, in their
darkness and fire, as he uttered
"She loved me better than her life; but l
was ungrateful. Inever appreciated her-do
not noaO-and yet to lose her, causes me a
pang; for she is the truest friend-the faith
fullest love-my wretched life has ever
known!"
STOPPING, he kissed her, and with a
reproachful glance at the face of Cecilia,
passed out of the room.
"Nota word Of farewell! And yet 1 loved
him-madly -passionately y-must love him
80 forever!" Cecilia exclaimed, softly putting
Gertrude from her arms to the floor, and ris-
ing to ring the bell for assistance.
When the servant appeared, she pointed to
his mistress and left the apartment. He fled
for Mrs. Mcdonald, senior, who came in,
flushed and anxious. She did not compre-
hend the scene; but then was not the time to
ask questions-it was the time for immediate
action.
An hour later, when restored to conscious
ness, Gertrude lay quietly sleeping the dead,
dreamless sleep of exhaustion and excitement,
a servant brought the old lady note from
her son. It contained only few words:
"Gertrude knows everything. flee for my
life! Destroy every proof--every line-every pa
per. I sleep tonight in the vault, where the en-
graved plates will be buried. Guard Gertrude
against saying word. by her love for me, ask
it. Act quietly and promptly. Trust the rest to
me- K''0w nothing. Resent everything.
This was all; but it was enough. Calm,
impenetrable and imposing, this wicked old
woman, whose love for her unworthy child
raised her above ordinary mortals, sat there,
awaiting the issue Of events, ready to die if
need be- in defense of her son and his proper
ty. She sat there stern, naughty, repellant,
and mysterious as the sphynx that glares, un-
moved, across Coptic sands at the vastness of
Eternity.
CHAPTER XII.
After Irving Mcdonald left Mrs. Vaughn
I