Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-08-26
l., ment whether it has much effect or not. At

ment whether it has much effect or not A
all events it is worth trial." :.
He folded and sealed the letter, but recol
lected that he had neglected to make Virgilis
direct it.
"Pshaw how foolish I am" he muttered
"Never mind, I'll see if I can't rival Mr.
Hugh Thornton's cleverness in copying wri
ting-I have a turn that way myself, as ever.
one knows though perhaps few of my &C
quaintances are aware of the extent to which
my talent is developed"
He wrote the address in a facsimile of Vir
gilia's hand, regarded it with great satistac
ton, and then put the letter in convenien
place, to be forwarded as soon as an opportu
nifty presented itself.
81 might have done the whole thing" hi
soliloquized; "but never was as successful
with lady's hand as with any other, ane
such long composition is troublesome.
must apply myself now to the consideration O.
my next step-though there is really no grea
hurry it is rather entertaining to proceed in
this leisurely way, having the luxury of th'
final consummation still to look forward to
1 have done pretty well so far. I'll wait
little and see how matters work. 1t is fortu
nate that Virgilia's devoted relatives do moi
trouble themselves too much about her-i
would beinconvenient to have them here very
often"
When Virgilia recovered from her mes
meric trance, an hour or two later, the letter
had been despatched, and she retained no re
collection of what had transpired. She com
planned, indeed, of burning sensation in hel
eyes, and weak feeling in her right wrist
these being the usual consequences Of her ex
erting herself to write for any length of time
during her somnambulstic state but was not
even aware that she had written at all, sup
posing that she had merely been asleep.
Hugh happened to be alone with Edns
when the letter reached her. He watched hel
as she read it, and noticed her changing ex
preston and fuctuating color. She felt thai
he was observing her, and dared not raise hel
eyes to his face, until she could master herself
sufficiently to speak with composure.
"Is anything wrong, Edna p he asked, in
dreary tone. 1t did not seem to him that any
thing could matter much now, after what had
happened, unless it related, in some way, tc
their troubles.
Edna hesitated. She could not bear tc
show the communication to him, for though
she herself did not believe in the truth of it
she knew that it would add fresh keenness tc
his sufferings. On the other hand, if Claribel
had really only gone away, it was necessary
that he should at once be acquainted with the
probabilities of this fact, in order to take
fresh steps for her discovery. In any case she
felt powerless to act without guidance; and
after a brief debate with herself, she put the
letter in his hand.
"It is from Virgilia, Hugh; I cannot but
think she is entirely mistaken-in fact l am
sure she is laboring under strange delusion-
but do not feel justified in Withholding il
from you"
as it about Claribel p asked Hugh, turn
ing shade paler She made an affirmative
sign, and Withdrawing to a window, stood
there silently whilst he perused it.
at is false-utterly FALSE" he exclaimed
excitedly when he had finished, dashing the
paper from him as if it scorched his hands
81 repudiate it from beginning to end. Edna
either your sister is grossly deceived, or she
bears malice toward me, and wishes to push
me deeper into the slough than / have al
ready sank"
81 do not think she can be acting mali
cously," slowly replied Edna. She could
have no motive. Some one has poisoned her
ears with false reports; or Clarie has given
her wrong impression, by something she has
said. I am perfectly sure it cannot be true. d
But her very anxiety to reiterate this as
surance was significant of lurking doubt on
her part, which Hugh was quick to perceive
"Edna!" he cried appealingly, "for heav'
ems sake answer me truly-did Clarie ever
give you cause to suppose that her love for
me was not as deep as it had formerly been p
"No-no! Never. She never spoke to
me much about it, because-I mean, it was
not her way; but it seemed to me that there
were no evidences of her affection wanting.
"Was there ever a man tortured as
am ?" he rejoined, in an accent which pierced
her heart. "There is horrible mystery here
which must be brought to light. Edna, am
going to your sisters house. must see her
at once-at once p
TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.