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

the outward form Of marriage or not, she
knew not and hardly cared. In any case,
this WiIfred was no lawful son and thinking
of this, strange feeling Of pity for him arose
in her heart. Insensibly she had been drawn
towards him. 1t was not only the likeness to
his father, so striking, so wonderful, that had
touched her; something in the young mans
manner, his sweet, bright look and winning
tones, all joined with his own utter uncon-
sciousness of shame or reproach, had appeal
ed strongly to her sympathy, and e8ectually
prevented any motion of dislike, Of aversion,
to him personally, as the witness Of her hus-
bands in6delity. Looking at him as he
stood before her, she had felt how sorrowful a
thing it was, that he should be what he was
how hard, how crushing thing it would be,
for him to know it!
"He shall never find it out" she mentally
resolved. "Never if the chances Of his doing
80 lie with me. For his own sake-for my
sake, and Ralph's also-such discovery
would be terrible. Let the secret stay bu-
ried, as it has already done so long, in OBJ
livion. 1t is better for US all"
And more than ever she resolved to pre-
vent by every means in her power, the chan.
ces of quarrel arising between Wilfred
and her son-between Ralph's two sons
Lucy McGregor's son and her own. She
had heard this Lucy McGregor mentioned
once-once by DR.. Franklin, her uncle, when
in an unguarded moment of wrath he had
betrayed to her that he knew something of
her husbands former love. But she had
never dreamed of her, until now, in any con-
nection with Ralph's after life.
She was so engrossed with all these thoughts,
that she threaded her way heedlessly through
the maze of vehicles and foot passengers on
the crossings, not noticing anything around
her; but her pre-occupation had like to have
cost her dearly, for suddenly a coupe drawn
by pair of spirited horses came dashing
around a corner, and very nearly knocked
her down. A passer by seized her arm and
drew her back; at the same instant the driver
of the coupe pulled up, and an old lady, who
was its only occupant, put her head out of
the window and anxiously asked if any one
was hurt. Seeing Mrs. Bsrstow standing
pale and trembling at the edge of the side
walk-for she had been much startled and
terrified, and could scarcely stand, for the
moment, without support-she insisted on
her entering the vehicle and allowing her.
self to be driven home. The offer was CRATE
fully accepted, and the old lady having in.
quired the number of her residence, and
given the necessary direction to the coach
man, proceeded to devote herself to the task
of soothing and composing her companion's s
nuch-shaken nerves.
This old lady, as it happened, was none 9TH
er than Madame darcy, who had been ma
king one of her usual visits to the gentleman
who had been experimenting the building OF
Wilfred's house, and also enjoying thorough
inspection of the same, now very nearly COM
pleted. On her way back, some commotion
in the street had frightened one of the horses,
which had become rather unmanageable in
consequence. Hence the unusual speed at
which they had been driven, and the difficult
ty experienced by the coachman in refining
them up in time. She explained all this to
Mrs. Barstow as they drove along, assuring
her that Stevens was always the most careful
of drivers. She blamed herself for having al.
lowed the restive horse, which had been shut
up for some days, to be driven in the coupe
without being exercised first.
"Are you perfectly sure you are not hurt,
in any way? Did not the pole Of the car
riage touch you ?" she asked, more than once.
Mrs. Barstow declared that she was not
hurt, only startled at the danger which had
unexpectedly threatened her, and which she
might easily have avoided if she had taken
more heed to her steps. She still looked SO
pale, however, when they reached her house,
that Madame darcy volunteered to 60 in
with her for little while, hearing that no
one else was there, until she should feel set.
tied again. Indeed, she was anxious to send
her man for doctor, but this Fanny would
not hear of,
"You are taking entirely too much trouble
on my account" she said, as Madame, with
her own hands, removed her bonnet and man
tie, and made her lie down on the parlor sofa.
81 shall soon be quite we'll again. Indeed, |
am not i'll now, only foolishly nervous. l
am, as you see, little lame, and ought, there
fore, to be particularly careful when 60
abroad. But this morning l have been a
good deal troubled, and my anxious thoughts,
l suppose, made me forget to be prudent"
"You should not walk alone, my dear" said
tn: Il Pa aas Sy .Ss iy"Pehsogg PPspsd no one live,
with me but my son, and he is abroad at his
business, all day. do not very often 60 out,
however"
Madame darcy, sitting beside her, gently
famed her for some moments. While thus
engaged, her eyes naturally wandered around
the little apartment, and presently rested on
one of its few ornaments, an open case, con-
tanning miniature, which stood on the man-
telpiece. As she looked, her gaze became
fixed and intent Her countenance changed,
and suddenly rising, she walked across the
room. in order to be able to examine, more
closely, the picture which had thus attracted
her.
When she again turned toward Mrs. Bars
tow, who was watching her, her face denoted
strong though suppressed emotion.
"Whose likeness is this ?" she asked abrupt
ly, almost harshly.
~ cannot tell you, Madam" replied Mrs.
Barstow, surprised at her manner. 81 have
always supposed it to be family heirloom,
but, strange to say"
"Where did you get it?" interrupted her
visitor.