Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-02-17

"Yes; l suppose she's the one. Gan you
bring her to me? want to see her."
IF can find her, my lady. don't right
ly know where her room is. Will 60 look
for her now?'
Eyes, now. want to speak to her at
once"
Shiveringly snd reluctantly-for the night
was chilly, and the lounge, with its wool
en- rugs, very CONFERENCE.-The. Netherby
wrapped shawl about herself aud started
on her quest. Following, as we'll as she
could, the direction she had taken on the
night when she had gone to bring Lady Hep
burn back to her room, she managed, after
several false turnings, to reach the corridor
leading to old Priscilla's room. AS she ap.
preached the latter she saw, to her surprise,
through the crack Of the door, that light
was still burning and when she knocked her
summons was Immediately answered by the
old woman herself
"Is your name Priscilla ?" asked the nurse.
"Aye, it is that What do you want Of me. I"
Lady Hepburn is asking for you"
"For mes" rejoined Priscilla, incredu.
lously.
"Yes; she wants you to come her at once" ="
The Lord preserve us! Is she in her right
mind ?"
"To be sure she is" answered the nurse,
testify; for she had not forgotten the lecture
the old woman had bestowed on her on the
occasion of Lady Hepburn's sscapade, and
was disposed to be resentful. Il can't stay
here talking all night. Shall tell her you
are coming, or not p
"You needn't trouble yourself to tell her
anything. I'll be there before you have time
to talk much" was Priscilla's grim retort.
Mrs. Netherby hurried back, and informed
Lady Hepburn that the old woman would be
there directly.
"Stay," said Miriam. "When she comes, |
wish to speak TO her alone-quite alone. L
have something Of Importance to ask her."
Certainly, my lady,"
"You will please 60 into the next room,
and lock the door; and when / want you
again will ring the little bell that stands on
the table near me"
certainly, my lady"
you'll find sofa in there. You can lie
down and rest yourself until you hear ME
ring"
Every we'll, my lady, and thank you
This arrangement was scarcely completed,
ere Priscilla arrived Mrs. Netherby duly
retired, and Miriam, fipding that she and
Priscilla were alone, signed to the latter to
come near the bed.
"You know" she began, when the latter,
obeying the sign, had drawn close to her,
"you know that have always hated you,
and that you have hated me as we'll. Is not
this true?'
"Aye, my lady," was the brief reply.
"Well it is not from any love toward you
that have sent for you now. But l have
been very i'll ately-at the point of death
and have had strange doubts which want
you to clear up"
"If l. can, my lady,"
ado you swear to me, whatever | shall ask
you, to answer me only the truth ?"
II have never yet told lie, Lady Hep
burn. 1t would shrivel my lips now to utter
one," was the lofty reply, as the old woman
drew her bent figure up.
"St down." said Miriam, pointing to
chair. You are too old to stand"
"No, my lady, I'm not too old to stand, if
you please" :,
DO as you like. Answer me now-and
remember, before God, you are not to deceive
me-do you know what happened to my hus-
band, Sir Roland Hepburn, over ten years
ago--when he Disappeared" ?"
II do know unhesitatingly answered
Priscilla.
Miriam shuddered. "How do you know"
II was there at the time, and saw"
"Do YOU know whether he lived or died Z
81 d."
"Is he living now?'
"He is"
"Where is hep
Priscilla paused before replying.
II cannot tell you that" she presently said.
"Why not p
Because I've sworn not to-"
"You know where he is, then ?"
Again the old dame was silent.
81 see that you do Well, you must take
message to him from me. One night had
strange vision. thought l was walking
about somewhere, in this house, and came to
a room that I had never been in before; and
there saw him sitting beside table reading
He turned round and looked at me, full in the
face don't know what followed but his
image has Leen present to my mind ever since.
I know, at the time, | thought it was his
ghost; but now think differently. | believe
that it was my husband himself, actually,
whom saw and l believe he is IN this house.
I cannot rest until | see him again"
"What do you want of him, my LADY,"
A doubt, a suspicion, which she could not
resist, made itself apparent in Priscilla's look
and tone.
Miriam laughed-a short, bitter laugh.
DO you think / would try to injure him
nows Look at me. Look at these hands, y
and she lifted her wasted, trembling fingers,
which dropped again at her side. "Is there
strength enough in them, do you suppose, to
harm any one, even if | chose to try? Be-
sides, let me tell you, old woman, since saw
YOU last l have been in torment-aye, the
torments of the damned. The memory of
the past has consumed me like fierce, never
dying flame. 1t still consumes me. 1t is
destroying my life, and will destroy my
reason beforehand, if can't atone in some
way. | want t, see my husband, to assure
myself that he really alive and we'll, and
and-to ask his forgiveness"
The last wor spoken with all effort, was
barely audible; and Miriam, exhausted from
talking as muci as she had done, turned aside
her head and ls ] with closed eyes in silence
Odd changes, odd contortions, passed in
rapid succession over the old woman's wrink'
led features. Whether caused by doubt, sat
isfaction, amazement at what she had heard
or disbelief that she had heard rightly, i,
would not be easy to decide. She muttered
something to herself, at the same time raising
her eyes and crossing herself on the breast