Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-01-20
An Original Storg.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
THE LADY OF LINTON.
CHAPTER X.
BY WALTER MORGAN.

ne OlOOQ WHICH lldu ueSu dllNCu w Ah'i
ans heart by her recent overwhelming aglta'
ton, surged back in rich tide to her cheeks
at the sight of Cyril. Her brilliant color,
her unusual dress, so greatly enhanced her
beauty that her lover was transported with a
new admiration. Trembling, excited, half
overcome by the emotions which made his
heart throb almost to suffocation, the young
man scarcely dared approach the object of
his devotion but stood for moment with
outstretched hands, gazing with mute worship
upon her face. Then, as she came forward,
placing her own hands in his, he seemed sud-
denly to break the spell which bound him,
and drawing her close to him, he pressed her,
for the first time, to his breast in passionate
embrace and kissed her quivering lips.
"Miriam !" he exclaimed, "it is true, then !!
You do love me-you have consented to my
prayer?"
She bowed her head upon his shoulder.
Her whole frame trembled violently, and he
now perceived that her hands were as cold as
ice. His rapture changed to sudden appre-
hension. In changed voice, he asked
Miriam, has anything happened? Are
you ?'
II have suffered-oh how much!' she
brokenly answered, without looking up. 81
dare not tell you how much"
Suffered When? How? Not for my
sake, Miriam"
"You must ask me nothing she replied,
with shudder. "RememLer that told you
the other day Of the existence of u secret
which must ever stand between you and me." !"
"But not between our love. Never between
our love, our happiness, my own one!'
"Happiness Oh, Cyril, that is vain
dream. For me the world contains no hap.
piness l can find it nowhere-nowhere."
"Not in my love-my devotion, which will
labor only to make you happy?"
"Your labor can never be crowned with
success. Go, Cyril have deluded myself
with the belief that might cancel the past
and begin life anew, but see that it cannot
be. Go-forget-"
Her voice, which had grown fainter, sud
denly faltered and broke down utterly, and
she burst into passion of tears. Like
tempest, her sobs surged up from her strug-
Cling heart. Her self control was for the time
completely lost, and Cyril, absolutely fright
ened by the violence of her agitation, could
find no words which seemed potent to soothe
it. What was this mysterious, inexplicable
grief which enveloped her with its eternal
shade This wound which bled ever fresh
ly in her bosom? Was there no balm in
Gilead for such pain? Had love-his love,
which, in its breadth and depth, seemed to
him must be all powerful, no influence to
chase away the baleful phantom which stalk
ed forever in her footsteps and kept all joy
and hopefulness at BAY?
"Mriam,' he said despairingly, at last,
"what can | do Since it is impossible, as you
say, for you to reveal to me this secret which
oppresses you. am powerless to offer you
any consolation. In Heavens name, do not
weep so. You will drive me crazy! Don't
you know that it is agony to me to see you
suffer and not be able to relieve you?"
Did not tell you that your love could
bring you nothing but misery?' she reolned,
in a stihed voice. 81 must suffer always.
You would be condemned, if you married me,
to he hopeless witness Of pain which you
could not alleviate There could be no joy
in such union
And was it to tell me this, and this only,
that you sent for me this EVENING"" he asked,
with involuntary anger in his tone. "How
cruelty have | been deceived | did not
dream that you would triAe with me. |
thought your nature too lofty, too noble, to
suffer you to act thus"
II have not triaed with you, Cyril. What
have done? ?"
IF you sent for me, intending to reject
me" he replied with warmth, "why assume
this dress, making yourself doubly beautiful,
in order to excite my admiration Why did
you meet me cordially-yes, even allow me to
kiss you, as only an accepted lover should 2
Could l Judge, from such beginning to our
interview, that it was to end only in the bit
terest disappontment-th utter ruin of my
hopes ?" Oh, Miriam, must think you
finished false coquette?"
"No, no, no!' she vehemently exclaimed
Il have acted solely from the pressure OF
events. When l sent for you, it was with the
intention of-of-"
"Of accepting me as your affianced hus
banh?' he eagerly broke in, again clasplng
her hand.
Yes. On my sacred word, that was my
resolve"
".And what changed it? Or has it changed
Miriam, dear, dearest Miriam-d dearer to me
than the whole world-dearer to me than my
life-tell me that you will not revoke tina
decision, on which my whole earthly welfare
depends! Burdened with sorrow as you are
fettHed by secret which you must not Gl
vulge-come to me and let me share you
grief, even if cannot understand it. Th'
task will be light one. if | am blessed will
the knowledge Of your love-