Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-01-25
CHAPTER TX.

: CHAPTER TX.
After the above occurrence, more cordial
understanding seemed to be established be-
tween Geraldine and the Earl, than had here
tofore existed. Neither Of them reverted
again to the subject which had so distressed
the former. The Earl, in fact, soon dismissed
it from his thoughts, though by heri was less
easily forgotten.
One cold, dreary Autumn evening, her hus-
band having ridden opt to attend parish
meeting, which would detAin him until late,
Geraldine found herself alone. An unwonted
gloom hung over her ; but this she attributed
to the influence of the weather, to which, at
all times, she was peculiarly susceptible.
The wind whistled shrilly around the old
ivied turrets of the castle, with wierd and
melancholy sound, and occasionally shower
of rain.drops psttered gustily against the
window panes. Within the warm and we'll
lighted library it was cosy and cheerful
enough. A bright fire burned in the chin
ney, and the heavy crimson curtains, closely
drawn, efFectually excluded all unwelcome
draughts. Geraldine had brought down from
her own little library upstairs, an entertain
ing book she was engaged il reading, to while
away her solitude and divert her thoughts.
But she could not fix her attention upon its
pages, though she endeavored, perseveringly,
for some time, to do so. At last she aban-
doned the attempt, and took up some needle
work instead. But this, too, proved failure.
Her stitches all went wrong. and She threw it
down impatiently, vexed at her own stupidity.
"I wonder what in the world is the matter
with me this evening" she exclaimed aloud.
II have such restless. strange feeling-a sort
of foreboding of I know not what, seems to
hang over me. wish George would come
home"
She had fallen into habit of calling him
George" when alone, and in her own
thoughts Somehow it was pleasant to her
to do it. The formal title by which she al.
ways addressed him, seemed to mark so deci-
sively the gulf between them-a gulf which
she could not overstep save in secret.
"How dreary the wind sounds How
lonely it is here! I almost have mind to
send down and ask Mrs. Malcolm to come up
and sit with me awhile; but no, I forgot, she
has her niece staying with her at present, and
probably she would not like to leave her. Oh !!
dear, wish could read, or employ myself
in some way but I can't, it's all in vain to
try. 1t is growing very cold feel chilled
all Overland yet there is good fire too
She drew nearer the fire and stirred the
already glowing logs into more ruddy blaze.
The room was, indeed, quite warm, but q
strange vapory feeling had crept over her, as if
murky cloud had enveloped her in its folds.
The lights, too, burned more dimly than be-
fore. Was it sudden freak of the atmos-
phere which had caused the change? Shiv-
eriug she took up worsted shawl that lay
near her, and wrapped it closely around her
shoulders but she derived no comfort from
its Aeecy folds. Suddenly low, long.drawn
sigh near her, almost in her ear, made her
start and look around. No one was in sight.
She sat still and listened, trembling. Again
the sigh, deep, tremulous, and prolonged, as
though uprising from the depths ofa sorrow
laden heart. Geraldine's breath came fast,
and her pulses seemed to stand still but
Judge of her increased terror, when cold,
claspng hand, clammy in touch like that of
dying person, was gently laid upon her
own!
She did not scream or cry out for help.
she sat as if paralyzed, unable to utter a
sound, or even to move. But her sensation
was one of such deadly, sickening fear, that
it seemed as if death would almost be pre-
ferable. The hand frightened its clasp-it
was drawing her, impelIing her to rise. Sud-
denly her strength returned, and she made a
frantic effort to release herself from its in Wis.,
ible hold. The icy, clinging fingers relaxed
slowly, as if against their will. The sigh
was repeated, and in low moaning whisper
came the words, family but distinctly breath
ed into her ear
Come! Come!! Come!!"
Each one was uttered with greater en-
phasis than the last, as if the mysterious
speaker were moved, by the urgency of her
desire, to press her claim each time with more
forcible earnestness than before. say her,
for The voice was woman Is voice, and the hand
was woman's hand, small and slight; but
of this Geraldine took no note. As the pres.
sure of the fingers was removed, and the
third pleading "Como!" at the same instant
died lingeringly on her ear, terror quite over
came her reasoning powers. and she tainted
away.
How long her swoon lasted, she did not
know. But when she came to herself, Lord
Desborough was bending over her, and the
room was filled with the pungent odor of
some strong restorative he had employed.
"Geraldine, what is the matter?" he ex.
claimed, with solicitude. Il came in five
minutes ago, and found you lying back insen'
sible in your chair"
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