Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-12-02

blood in my veins were turned into flame
while my eyes, I am sure, burned with con-
centrated anger and scorn, "you forget to
whom you are speaking! 1fyou utter anoth'
er word in that strain my husband shall know
of your unmanly and insolent behavior. Do
not 60 with me step farther"
Twas moving off when he forcibly detained
me by catching my wrist, which he held firm
", though not roughly, in his clasp.
"Stay moment" he exclaimed, "and lis'
ten to me; I know my conduct appears un'
warrantable, and must justify it."
"You cannot justify it," / said. "Let me
20 this moment, if you call yourself gen.
tleman ! Have you no sense of honor-no
respect for me or yourself?'
"Don't speak to me of honor or self-respect
There are passions and emotions which must
find vent, or rend the soul which contains
them into thousand pieces. Mine have been
pent.up within iron walls, until they have
surged into an overwhelming flood, rising
above their barriers and sweeping down every
obstacle with resistless force! l must speak
now, if die for it You do not know me
yet-you do not know the fiery depths Of my
nature-you do not know the desperate hold
which one consuming passion has taken upon
my heart, my soul and my mind; and that
passion is my love for you! Nothing can
eradicate it-nothing! Your colduess and
disdain, and the knowledge that all my long
ings are vain, while they fill me with torture
unspeakable, only make it burn with fercer
and more unconquerable flame. You shrink,
you tremblel Rosamond, do not fear me-I
shall not hurt hair of your head. But, oh !!
have little pity on me. Speak one word of
kindness-one little word to give me a ray of
hope-just one!"
He flung himself, still holding my hand, on
the ground at my feet. His face, his voice,
were like those of maniac; his eyes blazed
like Goals of fire, and his whole frame quiv-
cred with intense excitement. All other emo
tions in my mind were now swallowed up in
terror. In spite of his assurance that he
would not hurt me, it seemed to me that he
was Just in fit mood to kill me, and in this
lonely place I could not hope for help.
Though faint and sick with fear, made one
more effort to maintain my position: ;, :,
"Should DR.. Wardlaw hear Of this" | said,
"you might answer for it with your life"
II care not" he replied. IF you still re-
iect my love, l am Indifferent as to what be-
comes of my life in the future"
"Good heavens" I cried, "do you utterly
forget that we are both married 4? Have you
lost your senses2"
81 believe l have" he replied. "But for
get nothing. What are the chains of mar
riage compared with the uncomfortable i'm
pulse which draws one soul to another? My
marriage is mockery, a miserable farce,
which 1 perpetrated chiefly in the. hope of its
being the means of bringing me nearer to you"
"But mine is not" Ianswered. "You seem
entirely to lose sight of that fact"
"You do not-cannot love that man"
"He is more to me than all in the world
besides" 1 interrupted. "The best, the no.
blest of men! And if 1 did motif we're
not married even-you know, full we'll, that
should never reciprocate your advances. Mr..
Hocombe, once for all, will you let me 60 7
This disgraceful scene has lasted quite long
enough"
Whether or not, he would have acceded to
my demand, I cannot tell. But at that in
slant, a rustling in the bushes warned him of
near, and he spraug to his feet.
"Cruel woman" he muttered between his
teeth, "the hand of retrbution will certainly
fall upon you some day, for booming me to
misery like this! Those who make others
suffer must suffer themselves, and your hour
of punishment may be nearer than you think"
He turned, and walked rapidly away. AS
he disappeared among the bushes | sank up
on log that lay on the ground near me, try
ing to collect my scattered selfpossession, and
to still the agitated beating of my heart. 1t
seemed to me an indubitable fact that Stephen
Holcombe must be crazy, at least for the time
being his looks and gestures denoted this to
be the case, and | shuddered to think how
entirely for few moments. had been at his
mercy. So completely unstrung were my
nerves, that some time elapsed before could
compose myself sufficiently to walk home. At
last mustered strength for the effort, and,
with more than one fearful glance around, l
hastened as fast as my feet would carry me in
the direction of our gates. Never was haven
of refuge more welcome to traveller encom-
passed by dangers, than the sight OF those
white gates to my anxious eyes.
NV husband was out when | reached the
house, and Barbara was busy in the store
room, 80 that had leisure for rest and rehec-
tion before encountering observation. Upon
consideration judged it best to say nothing
of the alarm 1 had suffered. l did not wish
to create feud between Arthur and Stephen,
and determined, by avoiding all risk of en-
counterirg the latter again, to preclude the
possibility of the recurrence of similar scene.
Notwithstanding my efforts, the effects OF
the excitement had gone through were still
visible in my face when DR.. Wardlaw came
home. He commented on my paleness and
nervous manner, and questioned me with So
licitude concerning the cause. 1 confessed to
feeling a little badly, and he gave me sooth-
ing mixture and sent me early to bed, where
1 presently fell asleep to dream that horri-
BILE horned monster was dragging me off in its
claws, while shrieked vainy to Arthur for
help. AS struggled and writhed, it spread
a pair of scaly wings and flew with me over an
abyss then still holding me aloft, it turned
into Stephen Holcombe, who Kissed in my
ear, Say that you love me, or l will rend
your.soul into thousand pieces" "Never"
cried valorously, and swift as lightning he
hurled me into the chasm below but at the
bottom stood Arthur, who received me safe
and sound in his open arms.
CHAPTER XVI.