Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-05-11
CHAPTER XIV

Sometime now elapsed, unmarked by any
unusual event. Olive seemed more cheerful
than before. My own mind, toe, was set at rest,
and I began to think I had suffered useless
selftorment, in the vague fears and appre,
tensions which I had allowed for time to
get dominion over me.
A crisis, however, was near at hand. ..........
My mind to-day is feverish, unsettled, and
wanders continually from the point. can
not write connectedly as 1 would.
think my strength is failing now very fast.......
I must jot down, as best I can, one or two
scenes that, are still present. to my memory.
stepping. stones, as it were, to the final event.
But oh, this fever that consumes my brain
I must force myself to think steadily and con-
nectedly for a brief space. This confession,
in the torture it inficts on me to write it, is a
sort of expiation for my sin; at least, fain
would believe so..................
One day letter came-a letter from Ru-
dolph, containing an enclosure to Olive. This
enclosure-which appeared to be only short
note-sbe oddly enough, refrained from show
ing to me, or alluding to in any way; but after
reading it, folded it and put it aside without
comment. Selwyn was present at the time,
and l noticed that he gave her a peculiar
glance-a glance I did not like. 1t was both
searching and critical. 1 felt angry, injured,
I scarcely knew why; and holding out my
hand toward Olive, I said, with feigned care.
lessness-
"Let me see what Rudolph says to you,
Olive-and you may read his letter to me if
you like"
She colored deeply, and gave me an entreat-
ing glance.
"There is nothing interesting in his note,
Phillip-but you shall see it presently, if you
desire to do 80"
I was violently angry; but not for worlds
would l have betrayed the agitation I felt,
for Selwyn's eyes we're upon me. I pretended
to laugh, made some remark about commu.
nication of vast Importance, entailing 30 much
caution on the part of its recipient, and then
took up my hat and went out. was walking
hastily up and down in the open air to cool
the heat of my temper, when Selwyn joined
me. He took my arm, looking at me so Sc
riously that I burst out laughing, and asked
him what was the matter.
II have come to ask you that question,
Phil" he quietly replied. "You are dread
fully excited, and all about trihe-the mer-
est trihe in the world"
"Excited p echoed, instantly resuming
my gravity. Who says I am excited, and
about what? Explain yourself, Selwyn."
"My dear Phil! You are poor actor-you
are too generous and sincere to dissimulate.
But am sure you do your own frank nature
injustice if you allow any feeling or suspicion
of jealousy to poison your mind for so slight
cause"
burst out in sort Of frenzy and asked
him what be meant. My blood was fairly
boiling now. His words-yes, his, my dear
est friends-ah, the serpent! The black
traitor! What more did he say? What did
I reply? I cannot tell. My memory fails me
again 1 only know that in this interview,
sought out by him with fixed and devilish
purpose, were sowed in my too suscepti-
BILE mind the seeds of a fatal passion which
was to consume me with its fame, and lure
me to my own destruction. So hel p me Heav-
en-, did not of my own impulse conceive the
suspicion which, by faint hints and inuendoes,
was then awakened within me. No direct &C.
cusation-no openly expressed opinion-only
covert sympathy, an insidious pity, mani
tested rather by looks than words-dropping
like sparks of fire on dried stubble, there to
shoulder brief while until sudden breath
should blow them into hame Jealousy
jealousy of him whose name and blood were
mine-of the brother who had never wronged
me from infancy. Jealousy of his fondness
for Olive-still more of her fondness for him
A thousand memories seemed to start up and
confront me in corroboration of my suspicion
A thousand convincing proofs, as l msdly
thought, of the correctness of my fears. l went
over in my mind every sign of partiality she
had shown him, from the time when we we're
boys and girls together. These, and her cold
ness to me-her strange behavior-her anx
iety to leave Lyndon after becoming my wife