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


"that if anything farther occurs to startle
you, shall be within call. Take my advice,
however, and have Meredith near by. Good
night, now, and try to Danish all uneasy
thoughts. I trust you will rest undisturbed
until morning" He expressed her hand kindly,
and was gone.
In spite of all her efforts, Geraldine could
not. Sleep Long after she had retired to bed
she tossed and turned uneasily on her pillow,
her overstrung nerves painfully on the alert,
while her unconscious Abigail snored peace
fully in the adjoining apartment, where, at
her mistress desire, she had settled herself on
couch for the night. Hour after hour
chimed, and still in vain did Geraldine court
repose. At last a sound fell distinctly, unmis-
takably, upon her ear-the sound of foot
steps, measured and regular, softly pacing the
corridor outside. She sat up in bed, pressing
her hand to her beating. heart, and listened.
Yes, it was certainly not imagination. Some
one, or something, was walking there. What
was it3 What could it bei She was about
to call for Meredith, but checked herself
After all, what good could shs do her? After
hesitating for short time, she determined to
rise and find ont whence the sound proceeded.
Anything was better than lying there, or cit
ting up, and listening to that mysterious pace,
pace, which, after all, was not likely to be q
spiritual tread, since spirits were noiseless in
their movements least, so her experience
had taught her. She rose hastily, lest her
resolution might fail her, threw on silk
wrapper that lay at hand, and lighting can
die, softly opened her door and looked out
A faint glimmer, proceeding from cross pas
sage near by, attracted her thither, and as she
approached it the footsteps sounded still more
plainly. She paused, irresolute. Could it be
possible that thief had made his way into
the house? But no thief would spend bis
time marching up and down the passage ways,
even were it possible for one to force his en-
trance through the securely fastened doors
below. As she stood uncertain whether or
not to 90 on, figure suddenly appeared at
the corner where the larger and smaller cor
ridors crossed at right angles. 1t was Lord
Desborough himself, who, arrsyed in dressing
gown and slippers, was slowly pacing to and
fro, by the light of shaded lamp, placed on
. t,hlo a. ammo diatonca off ....
As he perceived her, he came forward
quickly to meet her, while an exclamation Of
astonishmentrose to her lips. "Geraldine, is
anything the matter ?" he eagerly asked.
"Nothing, except that heard footsteps,
and came to find out whose they were," she
replied, more relieved than she could ex-
press. "But why are you here, my lord, at
such an hour?'
II feared you might be disturbed, and
would not 90 to my room" ," said the Earl.
"Do you not remember that promised to re-
main within call, should you need me%
"surely," rejoined Geraldine, "you have
not been in this passage all nigbt?"
Eyes, have spent my time partly in walk.
ing up and down, partly in lounging on that
sofa yonder; but felt not the slightest incli-
nation to sleep. Had l known that my steps
disturbed you, I should not have moved a.
bout at all, but I fancied that with my slip.
pers on you could not hear me-"
Geraldine, greatly touched by this proof Of
his consideration, could scarcely frame re-
ply. II do not know how to thank you" she
said, in low tone, cor express my apprecia-
tiop of your kindness. only regret having
been the cause of your suffering so much in
convenience"
"It was no such terrible inconvenience" he
answered, smiling. II was quite willing to
lose nights rest, with such an object in
view. But it is not wise in you to stand 80
long in this chilly passage, Geraldine, lightly
clad as you are. Go back to your room at
once, or you will surely take cold"
He spoke with authority, but she fingered
a moment longer. II entreat you to 60 also
and take some rest" she exclaimed, earnestly.
"To.morrow you are going on a journey, and
will be quite worn out. 1 shall be really un-
happy if you remain up any longer on my ac-
count"
Something in her look and tone-an invol'
untary softening of the one, tremor in the
other-struck him. He looked fxedly at her
and seemed as though on the point Of making
some earnest reply, but checked himself as
the words rose to bis lips.
"Do not be unhappy, then," he said, in a
gentle voice. II will do as you wish, though
1 assure you I am not at all the worse for my
vigil. 0::ce more, goodnight, and sleep we'll
until morning. You need not rise earlier
than usual, as we shall not set cut before nine
o'clock"
Geraldine accepted this as her dismissal,
and with murmured goodnight" slowly re-
turned to her room, where, having again
sought her pillow, she presently fell asleep,
and Numbered undisturbed until it was time
to rise. The morning dawned clear and
bright, and at the appointed hour they set of
in q travelling carriage with Judson, the valet,
and Alice, the little chambermaid, in atten.
dance on their journey.
TO BE CONTINUED.
SPOILED HIS PiETY.-Horace Greeley used