Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-02-12

now that he was secure about Cecilia, with
the strange perversity Of human nature, he
remained away from her until the first strain
of excitement over his discovery wore of. In
fact, before seeking her, he wished to thor.
oughly commune with his own heart, and de-
eide upon the course of conduct he would
pursue. Meanwhile, he would call at the vii.
la and fulfill his engagement there; for the
observance of punctillous etiquette was the
rule of all thorough bred gentlemen, and
Clarence Gadbury was weak on the one point
of his knowledge of social formulas.
Mcdonald did read the notice of Cecelia's
death. It said that she had died of an over
dose of chloroform but her death was not
noticed in Kentucky paper, nor located
there. On the contrary, it was purported to
have happened in Edgefeld, Connecticut.
Yes, Cecilia was dead!. There could be no
doubt of the fact. And he was to blame
He never questioned but what she had taken
the overdose on purpose. She was over-sensi-
tive; another woman would have lived and
laughed and de6ed his prosecutions. Not so,
Cecilia! She was too refined his treatment
of her had shocked her, and in a mental
stupor she had fled "anywhere-anywhere-
out of the world"
The press, on all sides, quoted the notice,
and expressed regret at the loss of so fair and
gentle lady. On the day he read the notice
he fastened to the villa. He was unshorn;
his eyes were wild and bloodshot his features
pinched and haggard. In this condition he
burst, unannounced, into the presence of Mrs.
Park Brentz. At sight Of him, the woman
could scarcely forbear shrieking aloud.
"What is the matter ?" she found scared
tones enough to utter.
"Matter? Much. You see me wreck
of my former self. Devil, it is your work. r
"My work." echoed Mrs. Park Brentz,
turning livid with rage and terror; "what
have done?"
Murdered Cecilia Fessenden |" he said,
fercely, in voice that smote her to her guilty
soul; "in her unhappiness, she took an over
dose of chloroform!'
Mrs. Park Brentz clasped her hands tight
ly, and her breath came labored and quick.
"Is it true2 Can you rely on it?" she whis-
pered through her parted lips, her eyes wide
open with amaze and horror.
"Aye it is all true," he answered; "and
you and I, fend, are alone answerable for her
deathp
"Man, you are mad |" she said, forcing
harsh, discordant laugh to her pallid lips.
"Mad? Aye, that am" said Mcdonald,
vehemently; "and you shall share death with
the beautiful and lost. You, murderess, shall
face the innocent"
So saying the crazed and despairing wretch
struck out straight from his shoulder at the
defenseless woman and felled her to the floor,
where she lay, white and speechless, as he
dropped through theopen door and was gone
like shadow, silent and swift.
A servant entering the room few moments
later, discovered the condition of Mrs. Park
Brentz, and lifting her to the sofa, applied re-
storatives. She was carried to her room and
disrobed by the girl in waiting, and put to
bed, where she lay for four or five days really
ill. On the day after she left her room, she
was surprised by visit from Clarence Cad
bury. He came to inquire about Miss Hal.
stead before he returned to Kentucky.
Mrs. Brentz listened to his kind inquiries
with a sorely throbbing heart; and when she
thought of Lide, the hard lines of her mouth
relaxed, her lips trembled and her eyes were
suffused with unhappy tears
The name of Cecilia Fessenden was not
mentioned, and after visit of half an hour,
he went away, leaving kind wishes for the la
dies, and earnest hopes for Lide's recovery.
And thus the brightness and the hope went
out of the world for two women, while the
man passed onward to the light, which, after
all, goes out in darkness.
TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.