Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-04-17

her command, to prevent the consummation
she had so much dreaded. Of the effect they
would have on any one but the person to
whom they were addressed, she had not
thought; but, with the reflection, came the
fear that she had been fatally imprudent and
unwise, and that she was more than likely to
be speedily called on for an account which
she had no desire to render.
As soon, therefore, as she saw Wilfred, she
felt assured of his object in coming. He, on
his part, at once entered upon the matter
which was uppermost in his mind.
"Mrs. Barstow," he began, after hurried
greeting, "you cannot, think, be surprised
at seeing me; though perhaps ought to
apologize for my intrusion at such an unto
ward hour. I have called to ask the mean
ing of the words you spoke this morning,
when you interrupted the encounter between
your son and myself"
"Ought to be called to account for words
spoken at such moment?" she rejoined
evasively. "Consider the distress-the excite
ment-I was under; I had been suffering, ever
since my departure from this house, from the
terrible apprehension that I would arrive too
late to be of use; how could know what
said ?"
Wilfred looked at her keenly. 81 think
you are trying to mislead me, for some pur.
pose which cannot understand" he exclaim'
ed. 81 feel there is a mystery implied, and
have come here to request you to explain it.
1t seems credidible-absolutely Incredible
that you could really have spoken the truth
when you said that was your sons brother,
and yet, if it was untrue, why did you sayit?"
Oh! how like his father he looked at that
moment The flashing eyes, the eager, I'M
petuous tones, were just those Of the elder
Ralph as she remembered him in one Of his
imperious, resolute moods, when nothing had
been suffered to cross his will. Never had
she seen stronger resemblance. 1t wrought
upon her with strange, bewildering power.
She felt like one under spell.
"Wilfred, oh! Wilfred!' she cried in be-
seeching tones, "forgive me, and pity me!
Have pity on yourself!''
"Tell me first what I have to forgive
what have to pity" he replied. "Do not
torment me by this suspense. Believe me, l
shall not leave here until know all that is
to be known"
She saw that he meant what he said. She
knew that no evasion was possible for her.
Besides, had not her own son already learned
her secret?" How could she hope to keep it
from him whom it most nearly concerned?
Still, she was silent. She could not make
up her mind to speak.
"Was it true?" he urged and there was q
gathering sterness in his voice, his eye, as his
glance seemed to pierce her shrinking, tremb'
ling form. "Answer me that, entreat-1
command Have I not right to know?"
"You will hate me-" she moaned. "You
will say I am the curse of your life. Spare
me-ask another.
"Whom can I-ask but yourself2 Not your
son. We are not on terms to enter into any
discussion. 1t is not enough that he should
unprovoked have goaded me into quarrel
which he hoped would result fatally for me-
without your adding this confusion and dis
tracing doubt, to the conflict of my feelings
What have 1 done to you both, that you
should plot against my peace thus?"
"You wrong me- Far from plotting against
you, my whole anxiety has been to ensure
your happiness-not destroy it. As soon as
1 heard of your quarrel, and guessed, from
chance word Raj phi had dropped, the object
of his early, and, as he thought, secret depart
ure this morning, did 1 not exert myself to
the utmost to follow him and save you :
Ralph is sure, fatal shot, My whole anx'
iety was for you"
"If this be the case, you surely will not re-
fuse ME the satisfaction I demand. Again |
ask you-did you speak the truth?"
She silently bowed her head. Wilfred's
breath came quick and short. Vague and
stormy doubts surged through his soul.
"Explain," was all he said.
"Your father and Ralph's father we're one
He was my husband -frst-before he mar
ried your mother. He deceived and deserted
me. I never knew what became of him
never heard of him afterward. He sinned
grievousy against me. But that matters not
now. 1t is of you alone that think. God
knows would change it all if could. II
would have been far, far better, if had died
then-at the first"
Wilfred heard, but only half understood
He looked at her vaguely. He could not re-
alize all that she meant. A tremor-a faint
ness-passed through him, and he sat down.
"Go on--tell me again." he said, in low
tone.
"My poor boy-don't you comprehend
Your fathers second marriage was no mar
riage-your mother"
Stop" he cried out, suddenly. my
mother was-and is-an angel. Not word
not a breath will hear against her. She was
the purest being that ever lived"
"Have I said aught against her, Wilfred
I never saw her-never knew her-but be-
lieve that she was as cruelty deceived as
was. What she did, she did blindly, limo
Gently, trustingly. Thank God on your knees
that she died ignorant of the truth, if, indeed
it was in ignorance that she died"
Wilfred made no answer. His head was
bowed upon his hands; his thoughts had
flown back to the past-to many circum
stances, half forgotten until now, which seem
ed to offer confirmation of this grievous tale