Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-06-12


passed her hand across her forehead, trying
to recall her ideas from the confusion into
which they had been thrown. Suddenly the
recollection of what the doctor had told her
flashed across her mind, and hiding her face
with shudder, she exclaimed, "Oh ! doctor,
keep me from him take me away from here r
"Nothing shall hurt you, my child" he
soothingly replied. "You are safe under my
protection; nobody shall harm hair of your
head"
eyes, yes-he will indeed-he threatened
to kill me once," she answered, in a low. fear
full tone, with an apprehensive glance around.
"You don't know all that he said-and
how he looked"
She stopped and hid her eyes again, trem-
bling from head to foot.
"Well, we'll compose yourself, my child.
No matter what anybody said, you are quite
safe with me. Lie still and don't dwell on
exciting thoughts. Presently, if you choose,
you shall tell me what it is that you fear,
and then 1 can understand you better. Take
some of these drops they will do you good.
Mrs. Condy, leave her with ME now. If l
need you again will call you"
The housekeeper retired, and Rachel, hav'
ing swallowed quieting mixture which the
doctor offered her, lay silent for little while,
trying to master her agitation, and debating
within herself whether she should tell her
whole story now or not. Had she made this
discovery few weeks previously, it is proba'
BILE that she would have been tempted to un-
burden herself, to one who seemed so emf
nently fitted to be the recipient of her secret.
But the recollection of Magdalen-of the
picture which she had seen in her possession
restrained her. She had resolved to conhde
in the doctor only SO far as was necessary to
explain her emotion.
"I-knew this person once, of whom you
were telling me-" she said falteringly, at
length. cat least, presume it must be the
same. We've were very intimate for a
time; but he conceived sudden aversion to
me, know not why-and threatened meas
l told you. That is why have feared him
ever since"
"Have you never met him since that time p
asked the doctor. ...
"Never. I would have died rather than
meet him !" she replied with startling empha-
sis.
"And you can assign no cause for his
change of feeling toward you"
"None-none whatever. / believed" she
added, sinking her voice almost to whisper,
"that-that he cared for me; but found l
was cruelty deceived"
DR.. Snow meditated in silence. "My dear,
he said presently, with an earnest look, II am
old enough to be your father, and I take
fatherly interest in you. You can trust me
thoroughly and entirely, and the more entire
your confidence, the greater the power you
will invest me with to help you. Would you
mind telling me what was the relation be-
tween this Mr.. Vivian and yourself?"
Rachel turned her head away, her heart
throbbed painfully, and she could not find
voice enough to reply. The doctor waited
for short time, then continued, in still more
earnest tone
"Believe me, it is no idle curiosity which
prompts me to question you thus. As your
friend and physician, and the physician of
the unfortunate man whose history is, in some
manner, identified with yours, am justified
in trying to arrive at knowledge of facts
which may put it in my power to do you both
an essential service Who knows but that
you may furnish me with clue to the cause
of his malady, without which it may be diff
cult-even impossible-for me to succeed in
restoring him to sound condition of mind
No feeling of enmity which his conduct toward
you may have awakened in your heart, should
restrain you from lending me your assistance
in this matter"
"Enmityr' echoed Rachel. $50 far from
feeling enmity toward him, I would die-yes,
die to know that he was we'll and happy"
"Then you love him STILL" said the doctor.
81 think I can guess your secret now-he was
your af6anced lover, was he not ?"
Rachel shook her head.
"Not afianced2 ? Simply lover-or-stay,
my child, must hazard another conjecture
which has suddenly come into my mind. For
give me for pushing my inquiries so far
Tell me, were you-are you his ,oifef'
No answer still-but the bowed head, the
hidden face, the sudden outburst of convulsive
tears, convinced him that he had rightly
guessed. Rachel buried her face in her pill.
low and sobbed as if her heart would break
that little word, bringing back the past and
its associations so vividly before her, had
swept away the last atom Of fselfrestraint, and
she felt that longer concealment was impossi'
BILE. The overtaxed nerves had given way at
last, and she could bear her burden no more
alone
DIR. Snow judiciously allowed her to weep
for few minutes without interruption, for he
saw that these long pentup tears were doing
her good. At least, when the violence Of hel
emotion had exhausted itself, he gently urged
her to tell him all the facts of her case, ot
which, of course, he had but defined the out
line. She needed no farther pers lasion, but
in broken tones, and with many pause, she
related her story, even confessing to him that
she had reason to fear that her husband had
boon turnod ooo;pct her hv q fancy he had