Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-07-03
Au 0riaiual Stotg.
RACHEL RAYS SECRET
CHAPTER XVII.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.


All vet seems we'll and, if it end so meet,
The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet
SHAKESPEARE.
"Tell me all about Rachel, mother" said
Magdalen Gray, as she sat in the cottage par
lor on the evening of her return from the
country "Your letters have not been very
satisfactory, somehow. They have only CIV
en- me general idea of her afairs.how
strangely everything seems to have come
round !"
eyes, indeed" rejoined Mrs. Gray. "Who
could have supposed that our quiet little re-
served Rachel had such romantic history?
I have seen very little of her since her hus-
bands return. Her time has, Of course, been
entirely occupied with nursing the brother,
and 80 on"
"The brother-that is, Mr.. Vivian's broth.
err" asked Magdalen, in constrained voice.
"Yes; the unfortunate gentleman, you
know, who flung himself out of the window.
wrote you about him."
II forget what you said his name was-his
Christian name, mean" said Magdalen, in
the same constrained manner.
81 don't think I mentioned, dear. am
not sure that ever heard. If did, do not
remember it now," answered the widow. Gall
know about him is that he has long been
insane,' and is now"
"Long been insane-why, I thought quite
differently. am sure you mentioned it only
as temporary thing, interrupted Magdalen,
in quick, impatient sort of way. "And he
is quite we'll, quite sane again. you wrote"
eyes, dear, I believe so" answered the
mother, a little wondering, a little troubled at
Magdalen's tone. The girl rose from her
seat and walked to the window, stood there a
minute or two, nervously plucking at the
white fringe of the curtain, then came back
and threw herself in her chair again, with a
long, tremulous, halfsuppressed sigh.
care you unwell, love p asked Mrs. Gray,
auxiously. 1t was so unusual to see her
daughter restless orimpatient.
"No, only tired"
"Tired from your journey, no doubt. You
must 60 to bed early, DEAR
"Perhaps so Mother, is Rachel-does she
seem very, very happy?'
"Her face looked like sunbeam, in the
brief glimpses I have caught of it lately.
Notwithstanding her illness, she is wonderful
ly changed for the better, in her outward as.
pect. But, as I said, I have seen her but sell
dom, for some time past"
81 am so glad she is happy" said Magda-
len, abstractedly. 81 wonder how she could
bear such a grief as she did, and not betray
it."
"Yes, she must have wonderful self;com-
mand.'
While they were yet talking, there was a
light tap at the door, and Rachel herself en-
tered. Magdalen actually started at the
transformation in her appearance. No more
sombre draperies and melancholy looks rob-
bed her of her youthfulness and clouded the
sunny brightness of her face In light mus
lin dress, adoraed with blue ribbons, and the
greater adornment of smiles, and happy
blush mantling her still delicate cheek, she
looked like girl of sixteen. She threw her
arms around her friend, and kissed her again
and again.
II knew you were come home," she said,
"and / was too anxious to see you to wait un-
til tomorrow. So Murrell-Mr Vivian, that
is-brought me round, and will come back
for me after while"
"Why did he not come in, dear? We should
have been so pleased to see him." said Mrs.
Gray.
"He will come, very soon. But just now
he is so busy attending to his brother, who
still requires constant nursing" Rachel an
swered, with furtive glance at Magdalen as
she spoke. She saw that the latter shrank a
little, and hurriedly looked away. She had
not yet spoken word, and it was easy to per-
ceive that she was restless and discomposed.
Rachel was longing to talk to her alone, but
there was no opportunity for that yet. Good
Mrs. Gray had twenty questions to ask, and
would not be satisfied without full and par.
ticular account of many things which had not
yet been explained to her. Then Jem came
in, and the conversation became more general
Magdalen reused herself by degrees to speak
more cheerfully and like her own self; but
Rachel saw that it was an effort, and, knowing
her secret, had no difficulty in guessing the
subject of her thoughts.
The evening wore on, and feeling sure at
last that it would not be long before her hus'
band would come for her, Rachel made a
bold stroke to gain the opportunity she de-
sired.
"Magdalen, have you finished unpacking p
she asked. Because, if not, won't you lei
me help you before 60 home p
She gave her look full of meaning as she
spoke The other met and understood it
A crimson flush mounted to her face, as
murmuring some rather incoherent reply, she
Immediately rose and left the parlor, Rache
following her, and they were soon alone III
the little chamber where her trunk stooc
half emptiad of its contents