Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-01-20
An Original Stnrg.
P8GG8@Xs.Aksse
A THRILLING STORY OF WESTERN LIFl
BY MRS. HENRY IDEAS.
CHAPTER vi.

Sen0ra, SAID flcclOla, enteripg IStueT
room, where she lay PROSTATE on her bed,
feeling almost too weak and hopeless for any
exertion, about two days after the above con.
versation, "the Senior Alasquez is below, and
desires to see you"
"Alasquez!' cried Esther, rising to her feet.
Perhaps he brings tidings. Did he tell you
anything, ask you anything of my husband p
"He asked if the Senior was at home, and
seemed surprised when told him he had not
yet returned"
The flicker of hope which had sprung up
in Esther's heart, died out. He knows moth.
ing, then" she said, mournfully. s"Why
should IJsee him p ......' T., -.'.... = e.
"Sehora, he may give you some informa-
tion-he may help you to find out" said Pic
ciola, eagerly. "Do not refuse to see him."
"Bnt I do not trust him." muttered Esther,
half below her breath, as she paused, irreso-
Lutte. e.sr"What if he misleads mes" ..
,,"Senors, it is your only chance Of help
"That is true-yet what chance! Piccio-
Ia, do you remain up here. If l want you l
will call for you"
With q mixture of anxiety and reluctance,
q lurking horror of the visitor which she could
not subdue, yet hslf:formed hope that he
might give her aid, she slowly went down
stairs. Alasquez came forward to meet her,
an expression of deep concern upon his face.
'Sefiora," he said, extending his hand (which
she barely touched with her own, 81 am as
tonished at the news which have just heard.
Is it possible that your husband has not re-
turned since the VISIT we made togetherT
Esther bent her head affrmatively. For the
moment she could not reply. ... .f,., - Z.
"Amaziugp said the Spaniard. "He left
General Ks house when did, intending to
come directly home" ~, .,
Esther grew white to the lips. "He was
not detained, thenf" she managed to articu-
late. l,a 49, .s.us 49, 4
T.. "No--we started early the morning after
we left here, and be should have arrived here
before noon. I travelled but mile or two
with him, having to turn off into a. different
road"
aatWhere was that 2" she interrupted in a
husky tone. ~ !~.. -+ :"
"tWhere did leave him? As told you
just now. a few miles this eide of the Gener-
ais temporary residence" ,..'..
"Was it dangerous road that he had to
come -.
=, "By no means-in the day time. All un-
frequented roads are dangerous at night"
.aaYou said the Generals temporary resi-
dence. Is he not living there where you
went to see him ?" .. .........
"No, he was to leave the next day-the day
following the one on which we left him."
"He may be still there. My husband may
have returned to his house. Senior Alasquez,
will Jon ha nag enide there p -
She spoke. with sudden, desperate resolu.
ton to con6de in this man-to stake her last
hopes on the one chance of his helping her in
this emergency. A singular expression
crossed his face for an instant. He looked
down, as if deliberating then raising his eyes,
answered in rather hurried manner
1T would be useless, quite useless, Sehora.
The journey would only prove fruitless one,
and il is quite too much for your strength.
You may command me, however, as your
messenger. ! will make every inquiry, use
every effort to obtain the information you de-
sire."tfg, al r,er .H ....- ..
"As far as my strength is concerned, could
stand the journey" replied Esther. "And if
there is any chance of finding my husband at
the end of it, will undertake it without hes
itation."
"But there is no chance, Sonora, believe
me. General K, am as positive as can
be of anything, would not have remained as
long as this in the locality Of which I speak.
He was called by most important business
elsewhere" ., -, i... .......
"But some message may have been left. Is
there no one there who could give you any In
formation p 80. D.. ..:.-...
1T is rude mining settlement up in the
mountains, peopled by rough, ignorant work
men-men with whom you could not come in
contact, and of whom could hope to learn
but little. But if it will be any satisfaction
to you, Sonora, will seek them out to-day
at once, and bring you what tidings can OBJ
tain" ........... &c..
Esther could not but accept the offer. 1t
seemed like clutching at straw; but still it
re-kindled spark of hope. "Since cannot
20 myself, it must be so," she faltered. "Se-
nor Alasquez, I am forced to rely upon you
there is no other human being to whom look
for help!" .......
"You may rely upon me, dear lady. l will
help you to the utmost of my ability; and if l
fail, you must impute my failure not to any
lack of endeavor on my part. will set off
Immediately, and will be back for the latest,
by noon tomorrow"
He did not offer her his hand again but
with hurried bow left the room. Esther
stood motionless, in an attitude of the deepest
detection, her hands listlessly dropping at her
side, and fixed, hopeless expression on her
pallid face; for the more earnestly she con-
sidered the matter, the more slender appeared
to her the chance ofhis meeting with any sue
cess in his expedition. And then, again, the
old mistrust, which she had, as it were, tenn
porarily forced down, crept back gradually
into her heart. Though compelled to accept
this mans offer of help, as matter of abso-
lutte necessity in her sore distress, she could
not place her faith in him. A voice seemed
whispering to her, "he may be deceiving you.
Even now, his very pretence of serving you
may be only blind. How can you be sure
that your husband has not suffered through
some treachery ofhis2"
"Oh for a friend" she moaned aloud. "a
friend in whom could confde, to whom l
could turn for help! But am alone, all
alone! Was ever an unfortunate being in so
dreadful a situation beforel Oh! Paul, if
you had but yielded to my wish, and never
left home! Then all this misery would have
been spared" .--. ~, ...-
A violent burst of tears came to her relief,
and throwing herself on sofa, she yielded,
unreservedly, to the paroxysm which for
short time completely over-mastered her, un-
til, from sheer exhaustion, her convulsive
weeping ceased, and sort of stupor, that was
half sleep, succeeded to it. In this state she
Law for some time, not striving or caring to