Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-05-09
An Original Storg.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
MARY EUSTACE; !;
OR,
TRUST BETRAYED.
CHAPTER XVI.

Mary was SlttlDS, III d very uoi"nenoiJ """
perplexed frame of mind, wondering what she
had better do next, when there was gentle
knock at the door, and she went to open it.
A lady, dressed in deep mourning, with a
very sweet expression Of countenance, was
standing there, and accosting Mary in gentle
tones, said
"You will pardon the intrusion of stran-
ger, Miss Eustace, but I have heard some
thing of your situation from the chambermald'
and as she informs me that you are quite
alone. 1 have come to inquire if can' IN any
way, be of service to you"
"You are very kind,' said Mary, CRATE
fully. "Won't you come inf
"Shall l not disturb you by coming in,
now2"
"Oh, no, am doing nothing at present. |
have nothing to d." sadly answered Mary.
envy expectations have been so entirely
crushed that am quite at loss to know how
to proceed next"
"You came in quest of friend whom you
expected to find in one Of the hospitals, did
you mott" asked the lady, as she accepted an
offered seat But before l ask you any
questions" she continued, "t is only right
that you should know my name. am Mrs.
Charles Stanley, the widow Of a former mem.
Der of Congress. who died just at the begin
ming of the war; My maiden name was
Randolph, and I am Virginian by birth.
NV dear and only son, Gerald Stanley, was
killed at Bull Run, and / am living, at
present, quite alone my chief occupation
being my labors among the soldiers, in
which l take the greatest interest l visit
the hospitals, and employ all my leisure
hours in making clothing, or any other neces'
sary articles. So you see you may safely
confde in me, as a friend who will help you
to the utmost of her ability"
Thus encouraged, Mary did not hesitate,
frankly, to tell her story, which was listened
to with much sympathy and interest by her
new acquaintance. She ended by saying.
mournfully-
II fear, now, that have beeu cherishing
hope in vain. If Colonel Dacre were alive,
some news of him could surely be obtained ;
but am afraid that he must have been killed,
or rather died from the effects Of his wounds,
in some obscure place, where be was not
known"
Mrs. Stanley was silent for moment then
she said, gently
81 do not wish to add to your discourage
ment, my dear, and / would gladly inspire
you with hope, if l could but it is no kind
ness to strengthen false hopes in any one.
And l must tell you, candidly, that l have
reason to believe that your fears are only too
we'll founded. 1 know something of the cir
cumstances of that engagement, and the terri
BILE confusion which ensued upon the defeat of
our troops; for have seen officers and men
who we're engaged in it, and from their &C.
counts, and those given in the papers imme'
diateIy after it, it seems immpossible to ar
rive clearly at what actually became Of many
of the poor fellows, supposed to be wounded or
killed. Our men, you know, were completely
routed, being overpowered by an immensely
superior force, who attacked them unexpect'
edly, and that, no doubt, accounts for the un'
certainty and perplexity which seems to be
in every bodys mind concerning its results.
1t is not known how many prisoners we're ta'
ken by the Yankees; but a great many Of our
wounded are believed to have fallen into their
hands,"
"And might he not have been among
those ?" asked Mary, eagerly.
Mrs Stanley hesitated again. Il believe
she replied, reluctantly, "that it would be bet
ter to hope that he did not. For it was re-
ported, that finding themselves, afterwards, on
the point of encountering portion of Lees
army, the Yankees, finding the care of the
prisoners embarrassing. made away with a
number of them, nobody knows where OF
how. At least, they mysteriously disappear
ed."
"You don't mean that they killed them !!
cried Mary, in horror.
"It is believed that they did" said Mrs
Stanley.
Mary, with low moan, dropped her face
into her hands,