Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-12-09

and tears filled his eyes. "Miriam, for God {
sake let US be friends. This sort of life is un'
natural-unbearable. Why do you hate me
We have known each other long time. II
you cannot give me your affection, since fate
has ordained that we must live under one roof
can you not at least learn to tolerate my pres
ence ? Do not regard me as your enemy. Its
not who have wronged you. Believe me,
could I have followed my own inclinations, l
would never have brought you into this bond
age but l was powerless to save. you"
"Or to save yourself. Well, l do not blame
you. have never blamed you, have l p she
rejoined, looking away from him as she spoke.
Perhaps some womanly feeling stirred at her
heart. At any rate, he thought that he de.
tected softer look upon her face, and slight
tremor in her voice. 1t gave him courage to
touch her hand, tinidly, with his; but she
drew it away.
II don't pretend" she said, rather hurried.
ly, and still with averted gaze, "that l can
ever be reconciled to this fate. never can.
But am willing-if you wish-to try and
seem so. At least, will not avoid you-will
try to become accustomed to my surround
ings here. Will that satisfy you3"
"If it is all you can do-yes." "'
"What more should I do? You do not,
cannot, pretend to care about me. The tie
between US must be as hateful to yourself as
to me. How can it be otherwise ?"
"Have you always hated me, Miriam ?" he
sadly asked.
"No," she answered more slowly. "lf
things had been different between us, could
have liked you-even been little fond Of
you, perhaps. But as they really stood, it
was not possible for me to do otherwise than
"Than hate me?" -. ... ".
"Than regard you as smy enemy"
"And yet, I, like yourself, have been but
tool-the instrument Of others plans!"
She shrugged her shoulders. "Well, it is
useless to discuss it now. What good can
talking do? lam tired Of standing here !;
the wind blows cold"
II crave your pardon for OBTAINING you,"
he said with bitter humility in bis tone, as
she drew her shawl closer about her, and
walked on. Twilight was gathering about
them. Around their feet the decayed leaves
whirled, blown hither and thither by the
breeze. The chill of winter was still in the
air and it seemed to sink deeper and deeper
into Roland's heart. What spell had sud-
denly come over him, that he yearned for
gentle glance, loving word, from the cold
being at bis side, with an intensity of longing
that could.not have existed if only indi6er-
ence towards her occupied his heart Alas |!
Fate was becoming more cruel to him than
she had already proved herself. The burden
of loveless union was heavy one. How
much heavier did that burden grow, when
there mingled with the certainty of his wife's
dislike to him the equal certainty, revealed to
him as if by an electric fash, that sudden,
overwhelming love for her had filed his be-
ing Indifference can be borne when it is met
by corresponding Indifference but it is the
death.blow to affection; is unendurable to
a throbbing, living, loving heart.
Miriam was in wsyward mood this even
ing. At the entrance to the grounds she
turned towards her husband, and said, in a
halfreckless tone
eff you choose to show me the house now,
you may. Let US begin with the basement.
am curious to see to what those iron doors
lead"
"It is gloomy in the basement, and at this
hour must be totally dark. However, I will
procure light, if you fancy going there now.
We can pass through here. I have matches
in nv pocket, and I can get a candle from
one of the Offices"
He held open the heavy iron door, which
shut behind them with clang. They entered
stone passage, on one side of which were
the laundry and some other Offices, all desert
ed at this hour. Odd flights Of steps led here
and there. Various cross.passages came in
their way, with all sorts of doors leading in
different directions for Linton Towers was as
spacious as many q castle, and in its lower
departments as extensive as in those above.
About half an hour after they had entered
the iron doorway, Lady Hepburn emerged
from it-alone. Her face was deathly white,
as with swift and silen: tread, looking eau
tiously about her as she went, she passed out,
glided through an outer passage, rooted and
columned, that skirted this portion Of the
building, sped up side flight Of steps, and,
unseen, entered the house and reached her
own rooms.
Sir Roland Hepburn was not seen in bis
house that nj Rht, nor the next day, nor the
next No one knew what had become of him,
or whittier he had gone. Lady Hepburn
seemed as ignorant as the rest 1t was mys'
tery which no one could clear-which re-
mained uncleared, and seemed likely to con.
tinue 80.
[To BE CONTINUED.