Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-01-27
He was about to leave the room abruptly,

He was about to leave the room abruptly
when she detained him.
"Mercy on US! Don't run off in this way,
she cried. "What am l to do with woman
in faint? She's tainted, hasn't she? And
you are as white as the wall yourself: do
tell me what has happened to you both
Something dreadful, know"
II will send servant to assist your lady.
ship" replied Cyril, and breaking from her
OBTAINING hand, he hurried off. TO stay. an
other instant-to stand as target for the
torrent of astounded inquiry and ejaculation
trembling on her lips, was morally impossi'
BILE. He met an attendant in the hall, deslr.
ed that Lady Hepburn's maid should be sent
to her instantly, then mounted his horse and
rode off:
Oh, what fever burned in his brain ! He
felt as though he must surely be going mad.
Was it horrible dream, nightmare, de-
luson of his fancy, that tortured him Could
the tale he had just listened to be true? If
so, there was but one course for him to fol-
ow-immediately to leave his present abode,
and fly somewhere, anywhere-the farther
the better, where no echo could reach him
of this record of crime and shame. But
what if it were false? What if that old woman
were really mad, as Lady Hepburn had de-.
clared, and her tale merely the fabrication OF
all unsound mind? At this thought he
checked his horse, with the impulse to turn
and rush back Was it not base, cowardly,
to desert Miriam thus, without having even
heard her vindication? But no, he could not
face her now, especially in the presence of
Lady Huugerford. He must wait-must
give himself little time to think. When
he should have somewhat recovered from the
bewilderment into which he had been thrown,
and could manage to collect bis thoughts a
little, he might be better able to decide what
to do.
At the rectory gate he was met by the
housekeeper, who had just come down the
garden walk.
I've been looking for you, Mr. Hope, and
wishing you to come back" she said. "There's
telegram come to. you, and some way I'm
always afraid when l see one. They're so
apt to bring bad news"
Without answering, Cyril dismounted and
followed her into the house. The dispatch
was lying on the parlor table, where light
was burning. He opened the envelope and
took out the enclosure. As he ran his eye
over it, low groan escaped his lips.
Louise my little Louise y
"Anything wrong at home, sir ?" anxiously
asked the housekeeper.
My youngest sister is very ill-perhaps
dying. | m.st set off for home instantly"
answered Cyril, feeling in his misery as if the
whole world were slipping away from beneath
his feet. He sat down by the table and lean
ed his head upon his two hands, the picture
of stony despair. His faculties seemed numb
ed. He hardly felt capable of rousing him
self to act
"Dear, dear I'm truly distressed for you,
sir. But maybe it's not SO bad as you fear"
said the housekeeper, with laudsble desire
to administer consolation.
"Ill pack your valise for you, Mr.. Hope, if
you'll allow me. The early train, you know,
doesn't 60 until four, so there's plenty of
time" Cyril answered her nothing, and she
went off on tiptoe to carry out her offer,
thinking how bad off the poor young gentes
man seemed, and how sorry she felt for him
in his trouble.
Louise dangerously i'll, and asking for him.
That was what the telegram said. His gen
tie, loving little sister, Her image came
over his memory like the watt of fragrant
breath from purer world. How far she
was lifted above the turmoil and. strife and
darkness in which he was struggling. And
perhaps her tender glance would never dwell
upon his face again. Perhaps, already,
her sinless spirit had taken its flight from
earth. A great sob arose in his throat, and
slifed him. Oh, if he could fly home on the
wings Of the !, ind, at once! Eight long hours
must pass be.ore he could set out. Eight
hours of harr wing anxiety and enforced in
action, JOINED to all the other torment he en-
dured. He started from his seat, and went
up stairs to his own room. He found the
housekeeper on her knees on the floor, busily
engaged in packing up his clothes.
Have you seen these letters, sir ?" she
asked, handing him two with the seals un-
broken. 81 picked 'em up under your table,
and seeing they hadn't been opened yet,
thought you mightn't know of their being
here"
The postmark on each bore date of sever
al days back. They were the same which
had arrived that afternoon, just as he was
setting out on his visit. but must have been
delayed on the way. He saw, with pang,
that one was addressed in the handwriting of
Louise, and opened that one first.
As he read it its loving phrases, its express
sions of affection, stole into his parched,
fevered soul and agitated heart like soft dew
into the thirsty earth. Poor Lou darling
Lou how fond she was of him, and how he
had neglected her of. late! "Cyril, why
don't you write, when you know how |
always long to hear from you? | hope
you are not forgetting me" she said.
Yes, he had forgotten her he had forgotten
them all, in the mad whirl of thought and
passion which had engrossed him of late. He
read through to the end. feeling sadly that
these might be the last words her hands would
ever pen and having finished, took up his
mothers letter which bore later date, and
read:
My DEAR CYRIL:-Though feeling considera-
BILE degree of anxiety at your unusual silence, |
am overwhelmed by far greater anxiety, which
1 feel it my duty to share with you. Our dear
Louise alarmed us yesterday by faintng away,
after finishing letter which she wrote you, and
over which she sat, presume, too long. 1t was
a considerable time before we could restore her
to herself, and then she swooned away again be-
fore the doctor could reach our house. On re-
covering FROM this second attack, she appeared
much prostrated, and continued very weak and
low all day. She had tolerable night and ap-
pears almost as well as usual this afternoon; hut
must not disguise from You that think her in
a critical state. The doctors strOng v recommend
a change as soon as possible, and write now to
ask you it by any means you can arrange so as
TO have her come to you for little while. If
there is room at the rectory, suppose DR.. Rex
ford would not object to your having her there