The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-05-11
@rigiual Sturg.
BERKLEY HALL.
BY aLA CAROLINE"
BY Ella CAROLINE"
CHAPTER XVII.

CdAfItn ANl1.
aAnd some that smile have in their hearts, fear,
Millions Of mischief"
More than two years had passed away
since the incidents related in the last
chapter. Mrs. Maham's health having
daily become more feeble, she now never
left her chamber. The sorrow lines were
more deeply marked upon the sweet face
of Marion, and poor Harry's wore an
unaltered look of care and discomfort.
Maj. Egan, ever smiling and afable, was
still constant visitor at the Hall, and
people said he was afianced to the much
admired Miss Maham. April had nearly
passed away with her ftful moods of
smiles and tears. The jessamine and
dogwood. flowers had lived out their short
existence and given place to the more
tender and not less attractive floral beau
ties of the advancing Spring. The air
was ladened with their richest fragrance,
and the gardens and woodlands. of Berk-
ley could boast each morning of some
fresh loYeliness.
- It was the last week of the month, and
one of the brightest days of the week,
that we again introduce our reader into
the old parlor at Berkley Hall. By one
of the open windows, and the only in
mate of the room, sat little Jessie Fer
guson. Upon her lap lay some freshly
gathered roses, which she was idly pull
ing to pieces. From her long, black
lashes one large tear after another
dropped slowly upon the rudely handled
flowers.
d A short time elapsed; light footstep
entered the room, and loving arm was
around the sorrowing girl: 20, Jessie,
what is the matter? are You sickw
Bodily, no; but, oh! Marion, SO sick
at heart" And Jessie, burying her face
in her friends lap, found relief for her
long pent up grief in her sweet sympa-
thy.
'The possessor of Harry's love, what
great ache can your heart haveT' said
Marion, smoothing fondly with her hand
the tangled curls. of the beautiful head.
Marion, is it possible that you have
not observed the great change in Harry?
o. he. is not the Harry of the happy,
happy ypastl If I believed in wizards
and those kind Of things, I would think
some wicked geni had transformed him.
He avoids being alone with me, and even
speaks angrily sometimes. But after one
of those bursts of anger, he looks so very
much distressed and so humble. Poor,
poor Harry! / know he has some great
trouble! 0, Marion what ought we to
de7"
"Leaye him alone, and pray for him."
said Marion, sadly.
'LeaYe him to suffer alone! that
seems 80 cruelw exclaimed Jessie, re-
proachfully.
"I think he would prefer it, Jessie.
When Harry, wants our sympathy he
will seek it, for he knows well enough
how much we love him. But Jessie, do
you know that think a real evil spirit
not a mythical being, not wicked geni
has found its way into our Eden. But
jess, we must remember that we are eau
toned to be wise as serpents' as well as
Harmless as doves Then, let us keep
our own counsel and always meet dear
Harry with cheerfulness and love-"
Jessie raised her head while Marion
was speaking, and when she finished she
exclaimed: "Does eur wicked geni wear
the form of -?" but needing Marion's
cautioning look, the name was whispered
in her friends ear. Marion bowed her
head in grave acquiescence. A long
silence followed, broken again by Jessie:
Everybody and everything seems to
be doing and getting wrong! I feel an
itching desire to pitch in and straighten
all out, but I don't know where to begin,
for everybody's actions, or rather the
spring of their actions, are enveloped in
mystery. There is Arthur, he must go
to Louisville instead of staying in
Charleston to study medicine. Well, he
graduated with flying colors, and just
when we, as proud and happy as we
could have been, were looking for him
to come home, uncle received an elo-
quent letter of thanks for the gift of his
profession, and also the liberal check he
had sent him. "A part of the check
he writes, I have invested in horse
called 'Santee,' and will start in a few
days for the Great West to look out tor
spot to locate and put up my shingle."
The naming Of his horse was the only
thing in the whole letter which expressed
lingering fondness of home and home
scenes. really think going West is a
perfect humbugl and Arthur must have
found it so, too, for he has been gone
more than a year, and has not located
vet. and 'Santee' and himself have trod
the soil of every State and Territory
from the great Father of Waters to the
Pacific coast, and from the northern
limits of the United States of America
to the Gulf of Mexico"
"Have you heard from Arthur recent
ly?" asked Marion.
"About three weeks ago he wrote that
he intended making his way home some
time this spring or summer. So, I sup
pose, he may pop in on us at any time.