Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-02-01

dead? If had married her, and had not
now the assurance of her death, how could l
have ventured to form another tie" }.s
"True-I beg your pardon" murmured
Geraldine "at the moment, I forgot"
II had arranged everything for our mar
riage, at certain spot on the Scottish border,
where friend, in whom con6ded, was to
meet nae and assist me in carrying out, my
plan. We. reached there in safety, but en-
countered an unexpected difficulty. The cler.
gyman, whose Offices had been engaged for
me, had been summoned away to visit a dying
person, at a considerable distance of, and
there was none other in the place. I had
just learned this, when another piece Of news
met me-my father was dangerously ill and
impatient for my return. knew not how to
act. could not take Katie with me. l
could not leave her, unprotected, in strange
place. could not send her back home, and
duty urged me to join my father without de-
lay. T owned, and still own. small, retired
place, in Essex, whittier it had been my in.
tention to carry my bride There was little
cottage there large enough to make US a tenn;
porary abode, and here I meant to establish
her, while under the necessity of keeping our
union a secret, placing her in the care of a
respectable elderly woman, whom had en-
gagged as housekeeper, and who was already
settled at her post. - il f':s
"While was revolving in my mind the
dilemma in which I was placed, my friend,
who knew Of my former arrangements, pro-
posed to me scheme which, if I would con-
sent to it, would assist in solving the difficulty.
He offered to escort Katie to Essex and place
her under the housekeeper's care, where she
would be quite sag until could join her,
which in few days would probably be able
to do. Now had the utmost confidence in
the honor and integrity of this man, and
caught eagerly at his proposal, which l at
once impaired to Katie, assuring her that it
was the best, and, indeed, only means of extri.
eating ourselves from our unfortunate scrape.
I solemnly promised to join her at the earliest
possible opportunity, and to bring with me,
when came, clergyman who would make us
man and wife. The poor girl was so bewil-
dered and distressed, so worn out by our rapid
journey, and so utterly unable, from her help
lessness. and 'inexperience, to"decice upon
anything for herself, that she meekly agreed
to do whatever might think proper, putting
as she did, unquestioning faith in my judg-
ment." '.'..."' .' ...'.'.7.. ...'.'.' ..
The Earl paused here for moment, per-
haps to recover from some softened emotion
which this memory stirred up within him.
Geraldine sat silent and motionless, her eyes
fixed upon the fire, her face expressionless
and pale. She, too, had slumbering memo
ries within her breast, which were brought in
to play as her thoughts were carried back to
those far of dsys-memories connected with
the Earl himself, but in which he seemed to
bear no conscious partl '..'..'' ..'.'. .
1--WE therefore," continued the narrator
with little sigh, decided upon this plan; !;
and placing Katie in my friends charge, I
bade her adieu and turned out Of my intend
ed course in order to proceed Immediately to
town, where my father was at that time stay.
ing. If I had had the faintest conception Of
the true character of the individual in whom
T placed such blind trust, no earthly consid
Grafton would have induced me to confde
that innocent child to his perddious keeping !!
Geraldine, he was traitor-a scoundrel Of
the deepest, darkest dye.". '...
"Did he, then. betray his trust?" she asked.
"You shall hear. I went on to London,
Joined my father, who was already recovering
from his alarming attack; and seeing him
fairly convalescent, as soon as could make
decent excuse for again leaving him, 1 started
off once more for my little Essex home.
GAS approached the house, I thought that
it looked strangely lonely and deserted. No
signs of life were anywhere visible. What if
some accident had happened to Katie on the
Journey, and she had never reached her desti-
nation? With heart beating with appre-
hension, I pushed open the door, which was
unlocked, and entered the hall. Here, i'm
mediately found token Of Katie's presence,
in the shape of large straw hat hanging
against the wall. I once more breathed free
ly. She was here, then, after all. l called
her name loudly, but she did not answer. 1
opened every door, looked into every habita.
BILE room, but neither she nor the housekeeper
could be found. I then concluded that they
must have gone out together for a little stroll,
and was about to 60 in quest Of them, when
smothered groan fellupon my ear. Istopped,
terrified, and listened. The groan was re-
peated. 1t came, apparently, from closet at
the farther end of the hall, which had not
thought of entering. rushed forward, and
tried to open the door, but it was locked, and
the key was nowhere visible. 1t did not re-
quire any great effort of strength, however, to
force the lock, which speedily. did, and en-
tering, saw a pitiful sight. Poor old Mrs.
Graves, the housekeeper, lay stretched on the
bare floor of this small, dark room, where
there was no furniture or convenience of any
kind, apparently, almost in the agonies of
death. Her face was livid, her eyes we're
sunken, and rolling wildly in their sockets,
and black lines were about her mouth. I'm
agine the astonishment and alarm felt /
Immediately lifted her from the floor, carried
her to sofa in the next room, and did what
could to restore her. 1t seemed to me that
she must have been taken with fit, or some
thing of that sort, and poured some brandy,
which had in flask in my pocket, down her