Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-08-03
gu 0rigiual. Sturg.
LOST AND FOUND ;
THE WHITE FAWN OF THE FOREST.
BY MRS. HENRY DEAS.
CHAPTER vi.

BY MRS. HENRY DEAs.
CHAPTER vi.
In darkened chamber, some fourteen years
after the occurrences recorded in the previous
chapters Of this history, an old white-haired
gentleman lay on sick-bed, talking earnest
" to handsome, dark.haired youth at his
side. The eager, intent expression of the lat
ter, as he listened to the invalid's tremulous
tones, denoted his interest in the recital he
was listening to. w
"And you never heard from them again ?"
he exclaimed, as the old man paused to rest,
and to carry glass of water with shaking
hand to his lips.
"Nevsr. God knows what their fate may
have been. The whole party were supposed to
have perished, as no information in regard to
them, except of an uncertain and unsatisfac-
tory nature, was ever obtained. l tell you,
Arthur, the wretchedness l have endured in
all these weary years since, should serve in
some degree as atonement for my conduct to
my pocr Mary! was hard man in those
days-and your aunt, God forgive her was
harder still. To her dying day she never
pardoned Mary's disobedience-never got over
the modification her marriage cost her."
"She never knew of her being lost, did she ?"
"No; that surely would have softened her.
1t was six months after we got Mary's fare
we'll letter, that she died and it was not un.
til nearly six months more that rumors con.
cerning the fate of the emigrant band were
set ahoat. All if that letter had been an
swered, our child might have been saved.
Pride, pride, has been our family curse-it
has marred my happiness in this life, and is
sending me now to my grave hopeless, heart
broken man"
"Not hopeless, uncle" said Arthur, gently.
"svhy mott Have not been guilty of the
destruction of my child3 Can hope for
pardon ?"
"It was an error" said the young man,
"but not crime you did not wilfully allow
her to perish; and in fact you have not the
proof, even, of her death. How do you know
that it ever actually occurred? She may yet
be alive"
"Alive, all these fourteen years, and never
send a word home? can not think that,
Arthur. Notwithstanding our rejection of her
overtures to US, know her gentle and forgiv-
ing nature sufficiently we'll to feel assured that
she would have sent US some tidings again, at
some time or other, from her home in the
West. to let US know of her still being alive
No, no-she must have perished, and her hus-
band and child also. Poor little child it
was girl, she wrote US. and named after your
aunt Leila. I have that farewell letter of
hers still. I have never parted with it.
Would you like to see it, Arthur"
The young man assented eagerly; and old
Mr.. Chase drew from beneath his pillow a
memorandum book, and took from between
the leaves a yellow, faded paper, which he
placed in his nephew's hand-poor Mary's
last epistle, written to her mother and him
previous to her departure from New York.
Arthur read it silently, his heart swelling
with involuntary emotion at the thought OF
the cousin, of whom he had an indistinct
shadowy remembrance, as of beautiful smil-
ing picture seen long ago, in her happy youth
ful days, when he himself was but tiny boy,
writing this final touching adieu, and going
forth without blessing or God.speed upon
that long, perilous journey, which must too
surely have ended in her death.
"If your aunt had written, or suffered me
to write, an answer to that as soon as we re.
ceived it." groaned the sick man, "Mary
would have got it in time Even then, if we
had offered to receive her husband and her.
self back, and assured her of our pardon, l
think they would willingly have changed their
plans and remained at home. But no-pride
came in the way. She has disgraced US,
said her mother, and must suffer the conse.
ouences of her folly. We have already
marked out the conduct we intended to pur-
sue, and it would be mere weakness to vacil-
late now And so we never wrote, and our
child was lost to us for ever"
81 should like" said Arthur, after short
silence, "to 90 out West and try to find out
something about the real fate of that unfor-
tunate expedition. 1t seems to me that if
one were on the very spot there would be a
better chance of learning the truth"
ut would be vain quest, my boy. Do
you not suppose that the strictest possible in
vestigation has already been carried out-that
every effort was made long ago, that possibly
could be made, to discover the proofs Of their
fate? tits almost certain that not one could
have survived, and that therefore they must
have either died from the hardships Of the
Journey, or been overtaken by some sudden
destruction for had any of the party been
spared, it must have been known to those
who made inquiry" -,
"At any rate, should like to try" said
Arthur, thoughtfully. II have always had a
sort of desire to 60 out West, and make a
great fortune there"
Fortune! Alas, in seeking fortune, you,
too, might come to an untimely end" said
Mr.. Chase. "No, no, Arthur, let me entreat
you to put aside any such scheme which you
may have formed. 1t can lead, I am con-
vinced, to no good. And now that we are on
the subject of your future life, l consider it a
fitting opportunity to say something to you
which has long occupied my thoughts. l
have now, as you are aware, no direct inherit
or for my own property, which is considera'
BILE, and I have always intended, since the loss
of my daughter and grand-child, who should
have been my heirs, to leave it all to you
provided you agree to certain wish l have
formed"
Arthur colored, and looked down. "You
are very kind, uncle, he replied, in low and
somewhat embarrassed tone. The old man
looked at him keenly, as if trying to read his
thoughts.
"Perhaps," he continued, presently, "you
may have a sort of idea of the nature of this
wish of mine, to which I have just alluded 2
"Perhaps have" said Arthur, reluctantly
then, after momentary struggle with him
self. he added, as he raised his eyes and fixed
them candidly on his uncle's face, eff my
idea is a right one, uncle, think it only fail