Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-04-10

"You see, mother, for this wound you have
no remedy" he bitterly exclaimed. "Yor
have had your wish in finding it out, only te
be tormented by the knowledge 1T, without
having power to give relief"
"Time will heal this wound, as it has done
others as deep, and deeper" she rejoined.
"Don't offer me any of those cant phrases
of consolation, for 1 can't bear them," he ex
claimed, with violence. ut is nothing to mt
that others suffer, must suffer still, or tha
others have been and can be healed. I sup
pose, after years and years of torment, my
pain will be blunted in some degree; but il
is none the easier to bear now for that"
"No," she said, softly. 81 can we'll believe
that it is hard"
"Yes, you can believe that, of course. Yor
think you understand it, and to a certain ex
tent you may. But only those who have tel
it-who have yielded their hearts to blind
idolatrous worship, and have known it reject
ed, despised-can tell the sharpness Of such 6
pang," he retorted.
A strange, wan smile passed over his moth
er's face. Heavens! what had she not suf
fered? This boys present grief seemed
bagatelle compared to her own, past and
blunted though it now was. She felt sud
den impulse to tell him of it, to divert him
thus, perhaps, from the contemplation Of hi
trials; but she checked the impulse. She
could not tell the son of the fathers dishonor
and stamp his memory in that sons hear
with the baleful shadow Of a crime.
GAS to this adventurer, this Barstow as he
calls himself" pursued Ralph, holly, 81 don't
believe he has any right to the name at all
He has come here, nobody knows whence OF
how, and made capital of his looks and &C
complishments to pass himself off as a gen
tleman, and force himself into society. A
crazy old Frenchwoman falls in love with
him and makes him her heir; and so he rev.
els insolently in position which he has VOL
by no efforts of his own, while better mer
who slave and toll in vain must see themselves
defeated in every hope, and grind their teeth
in impotent envy at his good fortune. But
I'll keep an account with him, and see it set
tied one of these days, by"
"Ralph Ralph what madness is this ?
cried Fanny, alarmed. At that moment
madness indeed appeared to have seized him
His eyes glared, and the look of demon
rested on his face. But the next instant he
subdued himself and broke into harsh
scornful laugh.
"Don't be frightened, MOTHER" he said
turning away with assumed carelessness o.
manner. 81 shan't hurt you, at any rate"
"Nor any one else, trust" said his mother
solemnly. Remember, Ralph, this young
man has done you no wrong, He is not tt
blame if fortune has favored him in prefer
ence to you"
"Oh we'll, let him pass" said Ralph. 20
course, am fool to blame him. The fortu
nate in this world, should always be exemp
from censure."
"But you will not seek to do him any
harm?" she anxiously persisted.
"Oh! why should 1? spoke hastily just
now my words were as idle wind; the tenn
pest has blown over; forget it, mother, as
shall. In future you need fear no more such
childish displays of anger" he replied, il
something like his usual tone.
In spite of his assurances, Mrs. Barstow
was not satisfied. The outbreak of violence
she had just witnessed, had revealed to he'
the slumbering fires in his heart, which, like
a volcano, might again burst forth with des
tructive fury, at some future time. Passion
ate and revengeful she knew him to be, but Of
the extent to which his passions dominated
him, she had not been aware until nov
Never had they been thus called forth in hel
presence before.
From that evening haunted fear that he
might do Wilfred some injury, gave her nc
rest. Her thoughts, thus attracted towards
the latter (whom she had never SEEM dwell
upon him with strange persistence. She felt
fresh anxiety to discover, if possible, his ident
ity. She wanted see to him, ospeak with him
to form her own judgment concerning him
to assure herself that he was not her husbands
son. If he should prove to be what she fear
ed, what thought more appalling than that
he should suffer violence at his brothers
hands. No effort, she felt, should be spared
to avert such calamity as this.
She cast about in her mind for means by
which she could manage to confront him
without invoking the assistance, or awaken
the suspicious, of Ralph. 1t was long before
she could fall upon any feasible plan but al
last one occurred to her. She would seek
Mr.. Courtaine's Office on pretence of expect
ing to find her son there, for some reason
which she could invent; and thus, in al
probability, get an opportunity of seeing
Wilfred, who she knew was there daily
Such casual glimpse at him could do little
good, but might possibly lead to farther re
suits. At all events the experiment wal
worth trial.
She put on her bonnet, the very next morn
ing after the idea had occurred to her, anc
started for Mr. Courtaine's Office. Her hear
beat fast as she approached it. She knew the
locality perfectly, for she had taken care tt
find that out beforehand; but she almos
wished, as she ascended the marble stairs anc
knocked at the door, that she might find her
self mistaken, the errand she had undertaken
seemed such foolish one.
"Come in,' said clear, pleasant voice
She tremblinply turned the latch and enter