Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-02-24


Whatever comment and wonderment had
arisen in consequence of Sir Roland's sudden
appearance in the flesh, after the many years
during which the world had thought him
numbered among the denizens of another
sphere, (and these were rife in the parish) no
whisper of them reached the quiet chamber
in which Lady Hepburn's convalescence
passed; and as soon as her strength was sufh
ciently restored, her husband and herself,
without open preparation or warning, quietly
left their home, disappearing forever from the
spot where they we're known.
Shortly LITER their departure, Mrs. Hope
received this note, written by Miriam, after
much reflection and perplexed thought, and
submitted to her husbands approval before it
was sent.
| To CYRIL HoPE's MOTHER: "Feeling, as do,
almost unworthy to address you, as one most
nearly concerned in the welfare ofa person whom
| I have deeply injured, cannot, nevertheless.
refrain from writing you these few lines to crave
your forgiveness, and ask your lntercesslon III
obtaining his, for having been the cause OF SO
much unhappiness. In my folly and madness, |
would have involved myself and him in total
ruin but that dreadful result has, at least, been
averted. My husband, in the nobility of his soul,
and with unequaled and unexampled generosity,
| has accorded me his pardon for the wrong dld
him. If, during the remainder of my lite can
atone by penitence and humility, for my many
| sins, such atonenent shall be made Think OF
ME, therefore, as one who has been very wicked,
but repents deeply; and pray for me, that such
repentance be not in vain. When this reaches
you, shall have left this country forever. My
peace of mind can be only maintained in some
spot far away from the scene of my past wrong.
doings, where nothing shall remind Inc that
am a fitting object for the scorn and detestation
| of mankind. MIRIAM HEPBURN.
1t was long ere Mrs. Hope, with all her
Chistian charity, could bring herself to think
forgivingly of the woman who had darkened
Cyrils life. Her mother-heart, wrung by
his sorrow, could find no palliation for her
fault. But by degrees, as she saw the cloud
which had settled upon him begin gradually
to tighten; as she noted some return OF his
old interest in the duties of life, she tried to
overcome her resentment, and to accord to
the offender the forgivness she had craved,
and which she knew was enjoined by that
good Book from which she gathered the
daily teachings that ruled her conduct, and
instructed her to do unto other even as
she would have them do unto her.
As to Cyril, his sufferings for time were
great; but as his passionate love for Lady
Hepburn had sprung up suddenly and swift.
", and the time in which he could indulge
it had been Of 40 short duration, it was per-
haps more easily uprooted from his heart
than had it been of slower growth, and more
prolonged in its existence. Like a fierce
flame, it seemed for time almost to consume
him, but all the more quickly, from its very
intensity, burned itself out, leaving only the
ashes of a dead hope behind. Other thoughts,
other aims, engrossed him. He was soon
called to a parish in another part of the coun.
try where he found much to interest and
absorb him, and his duties left him little
leisure for vain repinng or regrets. Here
he had pleasant, comfortable home with
his mother and Mary, his salary enabling
them to live in more ease than they had
known for many years. Leila married her
young barrister, who took her to reside in the
city, where he pursued his profession with
success. Of Lou-gentle, loving Lou-only
a tender memory remained but though her
dream of making one Of the household in her
beloved Cyril's own home was unfultilled, the
shadow of her presence was not wanting
to hallow its walls. Her name was almost
as frequently on The lips of those who loved
her, as if she had still been among them
and while in the softening twilight their tears
would sometimes fall as they recalled her
sweet looks and ways, they felt with one &C.
cord that God had dealt wisely in taking her
thus early and lovingly to His care, and never
wished her her back again on earth.
After some years, when Mary was married
and gone away, and only Mrs. Hope remain.
ed with her son at the Parsonage, Cyril took
to himself wife a gentle young girl, the
only child of one of his Pensioners, whose
religious training and lovely disposition emf
pently fitted her for the position in which he
placed her. Very different was the deep but
tranquil love he bore her from the feverish
passion of his early youth The one had ex.
cited him, made him restless, untitled him
for his daily duties, had been less of pleas
ure than pain; the other filled his heart
with new, abundant joy, tranquillizing
and ennobling in its influence, and giving
him new ardor and new strength for the per.
formance of his work.
In calm, secluded vale, over which the
blue sky of Italy bends, Sir Roland and Mi.
riam made their home. Far removed from
the world and it's tumult of strangers to all
around them, their life flowed on in an even
unbroken current, and the repose was equally
grateful to them both. The master hand
that had always controlled the most powerful
emotions of Rolands soul, still kept in check
the one deep feeling that absorbed him; and
while ministering with unfailing vigilance
and devotion to every desire of her he loved,
while toiling with unceasing solicitude for her
IL Lo h,,, ,rl do
demonstration of the vain longing which con.
sumed him, the longing, deep as his love, to
win one answering sign Of love from her in
return. What prayers assembled, in his silent
chamber, from his overcharged heart, night
and morn-what tears of bitter dsappoint.
ment sometimes bedewed his pillow-none
could know or guess. Grateful she was for his
tenderness and care Meek and yielding
now, her words we're always gentle, and her
manner kind. She was glad to have him
near her, glad TO know herself the object of
so much affection, while deeply conscious of
its being undeserved. But gratitude he did
not want. One spontaneous word of love,
one caress springing from the heart, would
have been worth more to him than everything
else-and these she never gave.
Years rolled by, and change came over
him. She did not notice it at first; but by
degrees it came to her observation that his
cheek was paler and his step more languid
than of old. When she questioned him, he
smiled-it was nothing. The climate, the
heat, had affected him he was not really un-
we'll. But when the cool weather returned,
it brought no returning strength. She en-
treated him then to consult physician, and
so.,o bo ,3il co Ho w,e cd