Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-01-22

"
In sudden fear, he went after Miriam, and
after they had talked with one another tor
some time, they concluded it would be best to
remove their patient into their own apartment,
where for many days Stansbury bestowed upon
her every needful attention, and Miriam nurs'
ed her with the gentlest care, which, showed
that her soul was not quite dead-that out OF
the night of depravity, one star OF humanity
still shone with unquenchable beauty.
The fatigue of the rapid journey, and ex.
element of mind, had completely FRUSTRATED
the hapless wife; and it was whole month
before she was so far convalescent as to leave
the couch on which she had so long lain,
racked with pain of mind and weariness and
prostration of body. "You have quite lost
your fever, Mrs. Mcdonald" remarked Mi
riam, early one morning, as she accompanied
Gertrude in her first walks in the grounds
Gertrude being assured that the whole house
hold was lockedin sleep, and that they would
be likely to encounter no living creature save
the dogs belonging to the mansion.
Gertrude walked slowly along, with Stans-
bury's mistress by her side. Both were 81
lent; but Miriam had much to say to her
companion, and was wondering how she should
commence the tale she had to tell. Frequent
ly she moved her lips, as if about to speak ;
but feeling, intuitively, that her intelligence
would be received by Gertrude with mingled
sentiments of grief and terror, she hesitated
before she delivered to her the unwelcome
news with which her own heart was charged.
"Do you feel weak, Mrs. Mcdonald p
Miriam at length began.
eyes; so weak-so very weak, indeed,"-
Gertrude answered, as she spoke heaving a
deep.drawn sigh.
"I am very sorry for this" Miriam remarked,
uneasily "but I suppose it is natural that
ones strength should be good while in re.
turning, when one has had such an attack of
fever as uou have had, Mrs. Mcdonald"
"You are right, no doubt" said Gertrude,
wearily.
Then there was pause profound, intense
II hate to have to tell you," suddenly Mi
riam broke out, "for it will, no doubt, shock
you greatly; but Mr.. Mcdonald has been
here, and has fled, taking Lide Halstead with
him."
"My husband ?-Irving McDonald!" cried
Gertrude, pausing abruptly in her walk, and
looking, with scared expression, into the
bronze face of Miriam; "are you speaking of
him 2"
"Of whom but him-and the girl, Lide
Halstead ? They have fled together"
At this, Gertrude staggered back pace or
two, and then sank down on the ground at
the roots of some hazel bushes.
"Irvng-my husband! Lide-my friend
Fled! Impossible" she, by and by, found
power to exclaim.
Miriam shook her head very gravely.
"Ah! madam, I wish it we're so that |
could cry impossible with you; but l know
positively to the contrary"
Gertrude's countenance, rendered pale by
sickness, now assumed the pallor of death,
and she clasped her little hands over her
heart, as if to still its violent palpitations.
"Tell me all-everything," she said, after a
moments hesitation, in voice that was scarce
ly audible.
81 hate to tell you, madam, for it will grieve
you but you will know it some day-and the
sooner the better, I think-knowing, as do,
the fate that awaits you here"
"Tell on, then!'
Then Miriam proceeded to relate how Ger
trude had first fallen into the trap set for her
unwary feet; how she had been imprisoned; !;
had become ill; and how she had taken her
to nurse her back to life and health how IT.
wing Mcdonald had seen her, and looked cold
and IMPLYING; and commanded that she
should be kept in the asylum forever, that no
one living would be able to clear up the mys'
terry; and lastly, how he had disappeared,
taking Lide Halstead as the companion in his
flight.
Gertrude sat like figure of stone, while
Miriam related her tragic tale, and at its con-
cluson, she still sat, rocking her body to and
fro and moaning feebly.
Miriam watched her with an expression Of
deep sympathy upon her worldly, sin-harden-
ed face.
Gertrude was attired in one Of Miriam's
simple calico dresses, and wore altogether
very different appearance from that which
she displayed when first introduced to ourread-
er on the streets of Bristol. The elegant silk
carriage robe had disappeared, and the heavy,
magnificent hair which had once been dressed
in wavy locks and shining braids, now hung
loose upon her shoulders, thined and broken
by fever, and threaded by many silver lines OF
sorrow.
"But have not told you the worst yet, by
good deal, Mrs Mcdonald" pursued Mi
ram, dark scowl shadowing all her brow.
Gertrude lifted up her eyes with look of
alarm. "Not told the worst?' she repeated;
"for PHYS sake, say on then, and let me be at
peace in my despair"
"McDonald having deserted you, Stansbury
becomes your master. Do you understand
me, MADAME"
"Yes-yes I understand"
"Well, I heard these two men-McDonald
and Stansbury-decidng what should be done
with you, and Mcdonald said Stansbury could
take you for his own, entirely, for what he
cared and -'qe.,..,
"Oh! God. what will becpme Of fEpssei?"" cried CRIED
Gertrude, with great agitation andd, d, sue sudden