Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-01-13

I refrain the curse of Heaven will light upoI
me. Lady Hepburn, wife of Sir Rolant
Hepburn, you dare not take to yourself an
other husband"
Half fainting with emotion, overcome BY
terror which she could mot resist, and which
was all the more overpowering because o
the mystery surrounding the warning sen
tences that fell from Priscilla's lips, Miriam
sank into chair, pressing one hand upor
her wildly-beating hear, while she vainly
tried to recover her composure, or preserve a
least its outward semblance. Her eyes, i'm
PEELED by strange fascination, fastened them
selves upon the old woman's face. At las
she managed, in faltering voice, to gasE
forth
II cannot understand by what right you
use such expressions to me, or what reason
you can assign for assuming any control over
my actions. I am at liberty to act according
to my own wishes in this and every other
respect"
''It's true, then? You admit that you
mean to marry again ?" -
Il admit nothing" replied her mistress
with faint effort to maintain her dignity
though the effort was futile one, for under
the influence of Priscilla's bailisk gaze, every
vestige of her self possession seemed to melt
away.
"Aye, but you don't deny it. You can't
deny it p' was Priscilla's triumphant rejoin.
der. "I've not lived four score years in this
world without learning to use my judgment
as we'll as my eyes, and understand what
goes on before me. Do you think I've been
ignorant of your lovers visit's-the young
minister, with his smooth picture-face, and his
heart, I'll dare swear, as white and fresh as a
boys? He looks like little more than a boy,
God help him! It's an evil chance that set
his feet into such snare as he's fallen into
here Haven't I seen how his eyes feast
upon your face, and how he hangs upon your
words as if they were jewels falling from your
lips? Haven't I watched and listened to
you both, when you thought I was a mile or
more away, and seen the destruction coming
upon you? And with the knowledge of
all this, shall I hold my tongue and not warn
you in time?'
$50 you have dared so play the spy!" ex-
claimed Miriam, anger again gaining mo-
mentary victory over her other feelings.
"Aye, my lady. I've dared to play the
spy, because of the end l have in view. l
tell you now, once for all, if you marry that
young minister, you'll commit one Of the
foulest sins that ever blackened a mortal's
soul. Sin against God, sin against your hus.
band, sin against your lover, sin against your
conscience, your soul, against every law of
Heaven that bids you live just and moral
life."
"Why do you speak of my husband ?" ask
ed Miriam in all agitated voice. Chow can
l sin against him by marrying again, when |
have been widow for ten years?'
"And how can you prove yourselfa widow,
Lady Hepburn? Did you ever lay eyes on
your husbands face after his death, or see
him cofined and buried? Can you show me
his grave, or tell me where he lics?"
"You know as we'll as do" answered her
mistress, speaking rapidly and looking away
from her, "that his disappearance was mys:
terious; but-what solution can be offered
for it, except his sudden death? Has it not
been an accepted fact-accepted by the
worldly every one who has ever heard
anything regarding it? Is it reasonable to
believe, after all these years, that be can
ever be found alive?'
"Yes," answered Priscilla with startling
emphasis. "It is reasonable to believe it. |
tell you I believe it. tell you solemnly that
believe if you marry Mr.. Cyril Hope
you'll be the wife of two husbands, and that
your second marriage will be no marriage
at all. 1 believe this, Lady Hepburn, as
truly as believe that 1 see you standing be-
fore me now."
"Then," cried Miriam, springing from her
chair, and pacing up and down the room in
sort of frenzy, "then, if you believe all this,
I've found out the true cause of your conduct
You are mad, for none but a madwoman
could cherish such belief. Roland Hepburn
alive! 1t is false-false as the basest lie that
ever was invented. l laugh at your asser-
tions. l scorn and defy your attempts to make
me change my course Of action. Fool that
I have been to listen to you as long as have
done! You are in your dotage, old woman.
Your are not even fit mark for my resent
ment, for you are not responsible for what
you say or do"
She had cast aside her weakness and her
terror now. A fictitious courage had seized
her, and blazed in her eyes and on her crimson
cheeks AS she finished speaking she stood
still, and laughed discordant and defiant
laugh Old Priscilla gazed upon her. Weird
ly, 6xedly, she scanned that beautiful face,
marred by the fierce conflict of passionate
emotions surging within Miriam's breast.
$50 you call me mad" she slowly said at
last, nodding her grey head as if to give en-
phasis to her words. so you call me mad !
Lady Hepburn, you do not mean what you
say, when you say this. You don't think
truly that am mad"
81 believe you are in your dotage, as l said
just now. confess you startled me when
first you spoke. l was taken by surprise,
and childish. enough to attach some import
ance to your wild words. But see my folly
now, and laugh at it, and at you. Come,
old dame, get you gone out of my presence.
l am weary Of you. 1t is growing late, and
I want to be alone"
"Is it weary of me you are? Weary of
listening to the truth-the truth which must
write itself, sooner or later, upon your sinful
heart? Aye, Lady Hepburn, write itself
there in letters of living flame! You may
try in vain to shut your eyes or stop yourears
against it. It's still small voice will make it.
self heard You can't escape from what it
shall tell you Listen to its warnings in
time-in time, sinful woman, in time! For
the night is far spent-the night of silence
and concealuaent, and of the covering of your
crime The day is at hand which will show
you fully as you are, and hold you up to the
condemnation of the world. If you do not
shrink from your Makers wrath, you will
shrink at least, when the finger of scorn is
pointed at you-when everybodys tongue
sL Ill ,,ttor .onr nama In dnrision Ave