Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-06-18


thrown off her bonnet and shawl, she locked
the door, and sat down to examine afresh the
bottle of Instantaneous Death"
1t seemed to possess curious fascination
for her. She turned it about, examined the
stopper, and read and re-read the directions
pasted around it, They were very simple and
explicit, ending with warning, in italics, to
use the contents with the utmost caution, for
fear of disastrous results, and especially ad-
vising purchasers to keep it out of the way OF
all children and ignorant or inexperienced
persons, as a small quantity would prove fatal
to any one who swallowed it. For clearing a
house of troublesome insects it was declared
to be invaluable.
"I've taken the first STEP" she murmured,
at length, as she rose from her chair. "But
this is the easiest-how shall 1 go ons'
She looked around for safe place in which
to deposit it, and finally selected the upper
shelf of a closet, where it would be safe from
observation.
"Even if any one should see it, it would tell
no tales" she remarked, as she carefully de-
stroyed the piece of paper which had the word
"Poison" scribbled upon it. "And if my
secret should be found out efterward, it will
not matter to me; 1 shall not be here to
know"
She put away her things, smoothed her
hair, put on the silk apron she usually wore,
and unlocking her door, proceeded quietly to
her patients room. She found him in good
spirits, laughing and chatting with Col. Hol-
lingwood, who had been sitting with him most
of the afternoon.
$50 you ran off and left me, Mrs. Norton,
he said, pleasantly, when she entered. 81
haven't missed you, though, never fear"
II am glad to hear it, sir; thought l
might be spared for an hour or two
She did not look at him when she spoke,
but busted herself putting some little things
to rights on a table near the bed.
"Indeed, wish you would 60 out oftener !;
I hate to keep any body prisoner-it's bad
enough to be condemned to it myself"
He did not recollect, or perhaps was igno-
rant of the fact that he was generally unwill-
ing to be left alone, and always liked some
one to be within call, even if he did not re-
ouire their immediate attention. Charity
had testified to his being an easy-tempered
gentleman to wait upon but she might have
added that he was apt to be cross, if she ab-
sented herself longer than he thought proper,
from his room.
"By the way" said Col. Hollingwood,
"Scipio, who brought the mail, just now, said
that while he was waiting at the post-of6ce, he
saw your friend, Mr.. Russell, among the new
ly arrived passengers. I asked him if he was
coming on here; but he could not tell. He
thinks, however, that he carried his valise
into the hotel.
Sydney's face clouded slightly at this unex-
pected information He had reasons of his
own for not particularly desiring to see his
friend just at present.
Mrs. Norton gave little start at the men
ton of RusselIs name, and glass and spoon
she held in her hand rang nervously against
each other. She soon made some pretext for
leaving the room, and returned hastily to her
own apartment.
"Russell here, too !" she exclaimed. "Can
it bet must be-the same! How strange,
how mysterious, that both these men should
be brought again at the same time within my
reach2 Is it for double purpose? Oh,
heaven! T see nothing but blackness before
me! Yet must go on! l am led by an in
exorable Fate!''
She sank upon the foor and clasping her
hands together, unused long and fixedly.
"Now that the time is at hand-and 1 can
not, dare not, retract-for have not made a
solemn vow ?-I feel as though I longed for
some power stronger than myself to draw me
back!
"And yet, must I not fulfill my duty
Duty! Is duty? Yes, for the dead must
be avenged. have sworn it have sworn
it! My oath is recorded in Heaven. I can
not perjure myself And yet which is worse
that, Or
She shuddered and hid her face
"This is weakness-imbeciity," she ex'
claimed, presently, sprnging up and COM
mencing to pace, excitedly, up and down,
while a strange, wild light cleaned in her
eyes. "Have not weighed my resolution
again and again-have l not gone over my
reasons sufficiently often to convince me of the
justice of my purpose ? 1t is not who am
doing this 1t is strong power which uses
me as an instrument. have placed myself
under its guidance, and it forces me, irresisti
bly,, onward Did 1 say l wished yet strong
er power to draw me back? Forgive me, my
mother but the time is not come for your
forgiveness get. have not earned it have
not earned it have not fulfilled my vow
Have not waited all these years for fitting
opportunity-and now that it has come, could
l be weak enough to shirk it"
Presently the wild CLEAN faded from her
eyes, and softer look stole over her face.
"He loved me once" she murmured. "In
those happy days, when we used to meet by
the dear old mill-and afterward, too, though
not for long-what tender words he used tc
speak How indulgent he was-how kind
How patient with my ignorance-my fail
ings! And how he praised my beauty-he
used to stroke my curls and call me his little
Elsiev And now he does not even kno,t
me. And he will not-on this side of the
p,uo,1 = wo NOV ho tooather eoon