Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-04-29
= &omaufe Ut the Rerolntiom.
ELLEN CAMPBELL;
KINGS MOUNTAIN.
BY MRS. MARY A. EWART.


"We must understand each other," sht
replied. "You ask love and happiness.
might give content but never happiness"
"You wrong yourself: You wrong me by
such thought-you who are so htted 1o'
domestic felicity. You, who possess an en-
thusiastic tenderness and an earnest devotion
And my affections and opinions shall be
moulded in yours; and if ardent, devoted
love can make you happy, you Will be oles'
indeed.
us it not possible that you do not compre
hend me cannot love you as you ought
to be loved. I esteem you more than any
man I have ever seen, but can never regard
you otherwise than as valued friend"
"May I not hope ?" said he, much agitated,
"that time-my future conduct, your uncle's
influence"
"Forgive me, Graham. do not willing
ly distress you; but better the disappolnt,
ment now, than that you should hereafter dis
cover that my silence had deceived you"
"And you would tell me you cannot love
me?" replied he. passionately. She was
silent, unwilling to pain, by repetition, the
heart she had already wounded so deeply.
ELLEN, tell me; have you preference tor
another?'
The crimson tide bathed neck and brow.
"Our birth is equal, our fortunes favorable,
our tastes similar. Tell me, Ellen, what is
between me and happiness p
She clasped her hand and said:
"You have every right to exact such a
mark of my esteem and confidence. Would
l could meet you in the same generous spirit
but, alas! my lips are sealed"
"Ah," cried Graham, misunderstanding
her allusion ut is because stand against
you as an enemy, that you think me unwor-
thy of your encouragement and favor. Next
to my honor, Ellen, you are dear. Its call
is sacred even were it a summons to the tents:
Would you have me sacrifice all for love, and
think it we'll lost?" .
"God forbid" said she. "Much as would
like to see every man of honor enlisted in our
cause, l would not wish to influence you.
Nay, for such weakness, would despise you" 4"
my noble Ellen, l knew it," said he,
much relieved "Then, what is it, Ellen
Do not plead warmly enough ?" and flying
off the reserve he had evidently been chafing
against, with all the warmth of his passionate
nature, he poured out his love.
Startled at his fiery vehemence, she strove
to check him, but in vain. The warm blood
of his Italian nature was reused and swept
like a torrent over the cold barriers OF an
English training.
"Ellen," said he, "you must be mine My
love will not brook il refusal. Do not tell
me you cannot love me. My soul must find
in you its supply; or, failing Of its fountain,
it will burst its wretched tenement in despair.
Look at me, Ellen. Give me your hand and
count, if you can the, beatings of my pulse,
and your woman heart will not so condemn
me. Ellen, Elen,'' said he, in tones of pas
sion's tenderest cadence ; and unable longer to
restrain the impetuosity of his fervid nature,
he threw his arm around her, and pressing her
for an instant wildly to his breast, whispered,
in rapid utterance, "To hold you thus, as
wie-the intoxication maddens me-" He
snatched burning kiss from her flushed face,
and ere she could utter the indignant words
that rose to her tongue, he had left her.
Unable longer to control the emotions OF
his nature, and fearing her coldness might
tempt him to be guilty Of some strange, wild
impulse that would forever frighten her cold.
er spirit, he sought refuge in solitude. While
struggling for calmness that was almost un-
attsinable, he met Mr.. Willoughby.
How have you succeeded ?" said he, anx.
iously.
Il do not know" replied he impetuously.
81 fear my violence has startled her calm ma
ture to an indignation she will never subdue." !"
"What do you mean, Graham?' said Mr..
Willoughby, frightened at the flushed face
and excited manner of his young friend.
81 mean this" said he: Better have my
brains blown out and be rid of this misery at
once, than suffer this torture longer"
"Good heavens, Graham, don't speak so
wildly" said Mr. Willoughby, shuddering.
Speak mildly! You should see my heart
you should feel these bursting temples. Why
was | ever cursed with this fervid nature, if
it entails such suffering as this p And he
struck his clenched hand against his brow.
"For Gods sake, be calm, Graham. can
not bear, indeed l cannot bear this agony"
and the old man burst into tears. "Oh what
fate is this that follows my wretched life p
"Had you told me Ellen could never be my
wife, would have guarded myself against
this sorrow" said Graham, moved by the
tokens of such sympathy, from his wild pas
sion, to more wretched despair. "But you
encouraged me. You were never happy but
when we were together. You learnt me to
see in her every quality to make life happy,
and you still curse me by encouraging me to
grasp what you know can never be mine.
Fool, fool, fool that was to be so deceived,
and doubly double fool yet to trust in it,
"Hold, Graham, ere you kill me" said Mr..
Willoughby. gasping for breath. "God help
me, this is terrible" and he staggered to seat.
"And if it is terrible to you, who in caprice
of friendship would give this peerless treasure
to my keeping, think what it is to me, who,
having it held out to me painting to grasp it,
should, in the very moment Of fruition, have
it snatched from me by an indifference that
chils and fires my soul ?"
Graham, be patient" said Mr.. Willough'
by, trembling like an aspen leaf "Be pa
tent, and -"
"Patient, patient. By Heavens, sir, you
drive ME mad Bid an avalanche stop its
laundering career bid the torrent rest on its
giddy height, nor suffer one mad wave to fall
Then stop, if you can, these burning pulses
still this bounding heart. No, cursed in the
day of my birth cursed in the mother that
bore me, giving me, in these mad passions, a
heritage of woe-cursed in the father that
begat me-"
"Hold, rash boy. What would you say
For Gods sake, hold one moment, be calm
and swear by the Heavens above US. Ellen
will be to you all you wish. Nay, more, hel
own lips shall declare it.
"You would again deceive me" said Ora
ham, incredulously.
"Give me your hand, boy. Now, before