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


dence, silence again reigned in the festive
halls.
Col. Vaughn Fessenden was the only guest
who absented himself; and he leaving his wife
as hostage for his return, had driven into
Bristol, for Mcdonald MAJOR was over
mile in the suburbs of the town. He had
been absent two or three hours, when old Mrs.
Mcdonald, leaving the apartment of her
daughter-in.law and carefully locking the
door after her, wended her way through intrl-
cate passages and down numerous flights OF
stairs, into the basement of the house, and
from thence to still another story underground,
and finding herself in dark, narrow hall,
she closd the door after her, through which
she had passed last, and striking match, lit
small dark-lantern, which she had hitherto
carried concealed in the ample folds Of her
dress. Going along this hall, she paused at a
low stone.door, and made three distinct raps
upon it with an iron wedge that was lying
near, when, after few moments delay, it
was pushed aside, and Irving McDonald's
stern, pale face confronted his mothers anx-
ious eyes. She stepped in, trembling as she
moved, her agitation rendering her almost
breathless.
"Irving, my son." she said, "you must fly
from here through the secret passage. Re-
member, when warn, you are in danger, and
must not resist me !'
Instinctively, he thrust his hands behind
him and drew from his pockets two magnfi-
cent slver.mounted revolvers. 81 can defend
myself pretty we'll with these friends on either
hand" he said, with cruel smile"
"They will help you most when you turn
them against yourself; for if you do not obey
me, you will be lost. Fessenden has gone to
Bristol, and I know he has Comet to betray you :!
The whole town will come against you in
force, and the very people you brought here,
who have grown fat on your generous hospi-
tality, when they find you are down., will
trample on you-stab you to the heart-mur-
der you! Obey me. I must return to Ger
trude."
"About Gertrude, mother; can she be
trusted?" he asked, earnestly.
"She loves you, my son" she replied.
II am answered but she knows that l love
Cecelia," said he.
"a woman never goes back for reasons
when she loves. Gertrude has concentrated
her soul upon you," answered his mother.
"Might trust her to join me? Or do you
believe Cecilia loves me we'll enough to share
my fortunes, good or i'll ?" questioned Irving,
anxiously.
Mrs. McDonald's lip curled scornfully.
"Cecelia cares too much for the world and
its good opinions. Had she not cared, she
would never have wed Vaughn Fessenden.
He betrayed you to her, and it was that in
formation that turned her against you Do
not expect her constancy, therefore, in an
hour like this. She, even yet, does not know
that at one time he was implicated with you.
I have withheld that vengeance for the last
grand stroke! p
"How? What mean you ?"
eff he betrays you, he betrays me; and 1
will turn States evidence, and he shall fall
with usr" said the mother, setting her teeth
hard.
Irving was silent for some moments and
then answered her in positive voice
II will never consent to it. Cecilia shall
never feel pang of sorrow through me or
mine. If she cares more for the world and
the worlds opinions than for my love, have
no wish to live" His voice lostits firmness,
and the sentence was finished in whisper
Just then continued blows were heard on
the hall door, which Mrs. Mcdonald had SO
carefully closed and before the heavy stone
could be pushed against the aperture that led
into the vault they occupied, crowd of men
rushed into the hall and pressed about the
entrance. Not man dared enter. The old
mother had thrown Up her arms despairingly,
and staggered back against the wall, over
come with sickness of soul that seemed like
death itself.
But Irving Mcdonald stood confronting the
newcomers, firm and hard as rock. In each
hand he held a revolver, their glittering silver
shining in the light the company
carried, to show the way. They never imag-
ined he would be prepared to resist them; but
thought he had sought the cellar of the house
in which he was hiding, like the criminal he
was, afraid of the light Of day and the voice
of Justice But here he stood, naughty and
undaunted as ever, in the hour of peril.
Vaughn Fessenden had gone in search of
sheriff; had betrayed Mcdonald, and return.
ed with the officer to arrest the criminal but
now that he was here with nearly fifty men at
his back, he dared not fulfill his duty.
Mcdonald had no idea of being trapped
like frightened and timid hare At the
first rap on the door, he had drawn his revol-
vers, and held them levelled, but did not fire
at the entrance around which the excited
crowd had gathered. He had infinite tact,
and saw, in moment, the drift of the people
opposing him.
There were no arms visible. The sheriff
and Vaughn Fessenden led the van. Nc
Donald fixed his eyes upon them, and cried
out in ringing voice:
"The first man who dares to draw weapon
on me, I will shoot him down like dog"
They all heard the ominous click Of the
triggers, and stood appalled,. His eyes were
blazing; his mouth resolute !; his hands firm
his wrists like iron; and the very position in
which he stood, imbued him with more than
ordinary strength, desperation, and courage.