Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-03-31

One day, While sitting IN my once, m.
perplexing thoughts overcame me, and pen
ned the letter which you received from me
I could keep still no longer without telling
some one of the weight that oppressed me
l took the letter to the office myself and a
l felt that solitude would only render mi
more miserable, | did not return, but KEEP
along through the streets. Involuntarily
almost, so directed my steps as to take th'
street which contained the secret that wa'
tormenting me. | selected the door at thu
distance of block and my heart sank with
in me as saw gentleman taking leave of 6
lady upon the steps, They could have been
they were-no other than my wife ane
the miscreant Benton. There was no lady
with her. | could see that they were laugh
ing merrily.
had revolver in my pocket, loaded and
capped, and my hand sought it and was G lued
to it as I approached the spot. But Jane
did not see me, and tripped off in the oppo
site direction. Benton remained in the door
way, and with an eye fixed madly on him, !
approached him. He did not shrink from
my look, but returned it with smile that
puzzled me- | know not what it was, but
there was something in the mild, pleasant
eye of the man; and in his unruffled and un'
suspecting look, that disarmed me- The
nearer l approached him, the more dscon-
certed | became, but as I had evidently
aimed at him in my progress, felt that |
could not avoid him and determined more
over that could and would bear the suspense
no longer.
"Good morning, Mr.. Kennedy" said Ben
ton.
My voice was startlingy husky to myself,
as | returned the salutation.
"You are just too late to see very beau
tiful woman" said the man with just the
slightest tremor in his voice.
My blood took fire at once. "Sir," said |
6ercely, ::you are a scoundrel"
"What-c n-you-mean,- 2 inquired
the man, opening his eyes with wonder.
"You are damnable villain, sir that is
what l mean-an Internal, smooth tongued
hypocrite. have found you out, and before
I.part with you, you shall in some way give
me satisfaction.
The mans eyes actually filled with tears.
He trembled from head to foot and | thought
he would fall. l saw guilt in every look
and movement, and saw that | had him, and
believed that | could do what | chose with
him.
"Have you room in this building, sir ?
l demanded.
81 have"
LEAD me to it."
There was hesitation in his look, and re-
peated my demand with an oath. He stood
irresolute for a moment, and then said if |
would wait moment until he had adjusted
some affairs in his room, he would comply
with my demand. This added new food to
my suspicious, and cursed him for his art
fulness. He could not deceive me, and |
reiterated my demand that he should show
ME the room at once.
/ did not think that up to this time the
shameful nature of my suspicious had really
been apprehended by him. When these
dawned upon him, there was fire in his eye
and a quick, painful swelling of his veins
and muscles which l pray God | may never
see again. Pain, indignation and determina-
ton were all there, and | felt in moment
that | had reused nature whose depth and
strength l had failed hitherto to measure.
With great selfcontrol however, he said,
"Mr. Kennedy you are unjust to woman
whose happiness, fear is dearer to me than
to you. Did l feel at liberty to disregard
her peace, would sooner hug dagger to
my heart than to yield for moment to your
insolence. Even now you can only enter my
room on my conditions. Stand here for
moment and will call you."
"Take your own course" l ddggedly re-
piled.
He passed up the stairs, and I, to avoid
suspicion, looked up at the sky. 1t was one
of those calm winter days that show a heaven.
as pure and blue as if storm had never
stained it. had stood thus hardly ten sec.
onds, when Mr.. Benton descended few
steps and spoke my name. followed him
up the stairs through dim passage into
room chaste in its appointments, but filed
with light as soft and pure as if even the
glorious day without had been refined by pas
sage through some rare medium. In my
state of mind | could hardly comprehend
the objects before me at glance. But
knew that was in an artists studio. Ben
ton was silent, but my eye selected at once
the prominent painting of the apartment.
| looked and was struck with fit of shver-
ing. 1t was the portrait Of my bride-my
darling Jane; ! was dumb. could not have
spoken had it been to save my life.
have no idea how long stood thus, when
Mr.. Benton approached me and took my un-
resisting hand.
"Mr. Kennedy" said he, with a choking
sound in his throat, 81 knew Of no proper
way for me to contribute to the happiness of
one whom l have loved as can never love
another except by doing pleasure to the
man whom she has honored with her love. |
thought it would be pleasant to you to have
portrait of your wife as she appeared in her
bridal attire, and at my solicitation she has
been here number Of times to sit for her
picture. Her friend, Miss Stephens, has been
here with her, and your servant had just
passed from sight when you came up, with
the package containing her dress. If have
done wrong, forgive me; but / thought it
would make you all so happy"
As he closed these words uttered with hon.
est emotion, every one Of which went like
dagger to my heart, | found strength to lift
my eyes to his. The big tears were hanging
to his evelds, and his face, in that exquisite
light. was as beautiful as if it had been the
face of an angel We looked at one another
moment, and then, moved by "a common i'm.
pulse, threw ourselves into one another's arms,
and cried, sir-cried like two babies.
o, my Gud, Tom! that was the hardest
thing that ever happened to me- was killed
killed by magnunimty too great for my
mean heart to fathom | seized him by the
arm at last, led him down stairs and took the
way to my own house: You know my i'm: