Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-02-24
destined as it was to be indellibly impressed
there by ensuing circumstances Of a nature
too momentous even to be lightly dwelt upon.
CHAPTER XVI.


...a .. CHAPTER XVI. " "
+ It was the second day after the storm, and
Dolores stood in front of the cave, shading
her ewes with her hand from the brightly shi
ming sun, as she gazed anxiously down the
winding path that ran for short distance
along the rocky edge of the cliff, then disap'
peared in the recesses of the wood:
"How long he stays away" she muttered
to herself, in discchtented tone. "Twelve
days since he was here, and he promised then
to return very soon. + shall die Of Loneliness
if he does not come And, besides, the food
is giving out, and and the child will starve
if he does not bring us more"
She stood for some time in the same expect.
ant attitude, until cry from the cave reach
ed her ear; and re-entering it with q heavy
sigh, she approached the bed where the baby,
having lust awakened from sleep, lay with
flushed cheeks and wide-open blue eyes, and
little fat arms extendsd4in entreaty to be ia:
ken up. Dolores lifted him in her arms and
kissed him, and wrapping shawl around
him, carried him, growing and kicking, out
into the warm sunshine. 5,.ii.n in& .-a
Little cherub p, she said. csrressingly. 81
am so glad have you to love and pet am
not half SO lonely as was before you came.
But cannot hell wishing that those to whom
you belong, and who have better right to
you than / have could get you back : Yea,
chiquo, (darling) would gladly restore you
to them, much as I should grieve to part with
you" ... .,., .ns ..........f.s .,,
The child, of whatever parentage it came
(and its fair and blooming complexion, and
light hair and eyes, showed plainly that it was
not of Spanish blood) seemed we'll pleased
with its ,olive.skinned nurse, who ,ministered
to it with as much tenderness as though it had
been her own, and when she played with it,
testified its pleasure by its merry laughter,
and dozen baby. signs of mirth and content
ment, which delighted Dolores, who, scarcely
more than a child herself, lost for the time the
recollection of her grievances in her romp
with her, little charge. ,la,'.m.a ,m, Iie,".
Suddenly, however, she was startled, by the
sound of approaching horses feet, and looking
up, she perceived at no great distance the OBJ
ject of her previous thoughts and anxiety, RI
ding rapidly toward her. l'i ~E'| .i-"I ,.Hi rs
Springing to her feet, she laid the baby
down on heap of grass and leaves, and ca
gerly advanced little way to meet the new
conner. who was none other than Esther's
dreaded enemy, Alasquez, though known to
her by ditferent name Al hj'i
"Oh! Carlos" she cried, joyfully, as soon
as he was within hearing,j"1 am so glad you
have come at last! .wss weary of looking
for you" %. .,,.! -, i Ii
''Stand out Of the way, will your he re-
Joined, in loud, surly tone, which at once
banished the glad light from her face; and
she shrank submissively aside, as he rode
earelessy past, almost brushing against her,
though she was not in the beaten track and
dismounting little farther on, proceeded to
fasten his horse to the branch of tree. -.
"Give me something to drink" he said,
without looking at her, as he strobe toward
| tha "a VA II anppose- there Ia soma Liquor
there, is there not ~ 3D. .s,F .1s... .'.'
She answered in the affirmative, and follow.
ed him to get it for him /; but he roughly de-
sired her to leave him alone, as he could wait
on himself, and with sorrowful face and slow
step she moved back to the door, and sat down
lust outside fit, out of bis sight His harsh
manner and contradictory speech made her
believe that he was not himself, and she trem.
bled to hear him pour out second glass of
brandy, after freely tossing off the first, for
she dreaded the consequences of such reckless
potations, in his already over.excited state.
Presently he called out to her, and asked
her, with an imprecation, what she was hiding
for. .....,..... -.
II am not hiding" she replied, quickly
rising, and coming inside as she spoke.
"What in the fend's name are you doing,
then?" ..,.. ..... ...
"Only waiting until you wanted me, Car
los." ...... ... ... ...
The gentleness of the answer should have
disarmed him, but it did not soften bis savage
manner, as he rejoined- .. IL
Awaiting until l wanted you, ha? Well,
wait here, in my sight. I do not choose to
have you skulking off the moment come
home. Is that your welcome to me2"
"Oh, Carlos!" said the girl, tearfully. Glow
can you talk to me so2 You would not let
me give you better welcome" And draw
ing near to him, she timidly laid her hand
upon bis shoulder. He did not repulse her,
but fixed his fierce eyes with searching, half
sneering expression upon her face. :.
"You are glad to see me, are you?" he said
with an ugly smile as he thus regarded her.
"Yes," she answered, family, for she was a
little frightened at his look and tone. ...
"You do not look particularly happy.
What are you shaking for ?"
"Nothing why do you look at me so :"
said Dolores % s. spiteously. "Are you angry with
"Angry, my dear? And why should I be
angry3". ".rla(.;.s .....a1aM
The appellative, usually employed to de-
note affection, had anything but an affection
ate sound as he uttered it; and it increased,
rather than allayed, the fears she felt. She
had found him angry, ill.tempered, difficult
to deal with, many times before had suffered
harshness, rough treatment, even cruelty, at
his hands; but she noticed something in his
manner now quite different from anything
she had seen in it at any previous time; an
inde6nable something that made her tremble,
and sent cold, nameless terror to her heart.
Her first impulse on bis arrival had been to
fly to his arms, and pour out there the JOY she
felt at his return; but that JOY had quite died
out now, and she would not have dared to Of
fer him a caress, even had she been so dis
posed. ..... ..,..s... -.
Directly he ordered her not to stay there ga:
zing at him any longer, but to stir herself, and
make up the FIRE, as it Was cold. She obeyed
him readily, glad to employ herself in any
way, and hoping by her submission and do
clity to win him into kinder mood. He did
not speak again for some time, but sat with
one hand shading his scowling brow. and his