Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-01-12
The Stury Teller.
HELEN CHURCHlLL'S LOVER.

ing itself over the landscape, rendering soft and
indistinct al familiar objects yet, even seen
by it's dim, uncertain light, he looked more
like one grown prematurely old by reason OF
hard work or whitening care than as if he had
merely passed from youth to age by the ordl-
nary gentle gradations.
His brow was lined, his hair silvered, and
there was Stoop in his shoulders which told
of hard and continuous toll ; yet, notwith'
standing these drawbacks, there were the re-
. mains of youthful beauty in the well shaped
head and clear gray eyes.
He had arrived ut the neighboring town too
late the evening before to catch the last train
to this little out-of-the-way hamlet, too late to
do aught but seek bed there but after three
OF four hours the restless craving to complete
his journey so OVerpOwered him that he rose
and pursued his way Oh foot. And now with
the delicate light of early morn silvering the
brches and dimplng the waters of the stream,
he stood at length where his feet had not rest
ed for fifteen years. But these fifteen years,
awful as they had been at. the time, seemed
but as dream now, on waking, as he stood
thus looking at each well remembered spot.
There was the quaint old-fashioned church,
where he could remember kneeling a tiny boy,
by his mothers side and listening half con-
sciously, as he stared about him, to the soft
voice repeating the responses He could see
himself, older still. gazing baShfully from the
high curtained pew across to where, beneath
marble slabs that spoke of the virtues of those
who slept beneath a golden haired maiden
knelt ; inside the church, only the narrow aisle
between them outside, all the wide dividing
space that lies between the village doctors son
and the eldest daughter of Squire Churchill.
With sigh the wayfarer brought back his
straying thoughts from past to present and
became aware that the sun had arisen the
birds were chirping forth an early song and
the dewdrops were glttering all around-on
the rose crowned hedge by which he stood, Oh
the sprays of eglantine, and on the far away
green meadows that lay between the village OF
Bytlorpe and Bythorpe Manor, halfway up
the wooded slopes opposite.
AT length am home again. then hemut-
tered : ''at length" throwing his head back
with certain joyful gesture, and stretching
out rough, toll worn hand as if in token of
greeting-"at length the years are over, the
work is accomplished, thepunishment wrought
out, and l am back to claim my prize All -
starting slightly, as avoice addressedhim with
brief Good morning."
Good morning-Sir.'' Something in the
strangers appearance apparently brought forth
that sir which had not formed part of the
original sentence, but was hastily added on as he
''1ou are about betimes,n the new conner
went on. ''It is not many of the gentry as
troubles themselves with the sight of sum
mer SUNRISE"
''They miss much,' said the stranger, brief
ly. ''ThOugh perhaps to us, whopossibly have
seen it nearly every morning of our lives, it is
common affair enough.'
The farmer looked at the speaker in some
surprise, and he added immediately
81 have not seen it myself for many years
in England. You belong to Bythorpe,n he
went on, as if anxious to divert the convers;a-
tion from any personal channels.
MAN and boy, have lived here these fifty
years. That is my farm" pointing with d
proud, possessive air in the direction whence
he had come, Manor Farm"
''Then you are" half escaped the lips OF
the other but the words passed unnoticed by
his companion.
''Dick Sisted, of the Manor Farm, - he re-
peated, ''Mne now, as it was my fathers
before me, and will, please God, be my sons
by and by"
"A perfect life, Mr.. Sisted. A home, a wife
and little ones. What could man require
more.''
you do not possess them ?nquestioned the
farmer, looking up, surprised at the energy IL
the strangers voice.
Il am not married." he replied, briefly
"But," he hastened to add, fearing his repl,
might have been abrupt, ''yOu know the place
you say !; then perhaps you can tell me to whom
belongs yonder house." pointing toward thu
distant towers of Bythorpe Manor. 'But i
may be am OBTAINING you -
''No, no. replied Mr.. Sisted, courteously
I'm not pressed for time. Yonder house be
longs to Squire Churchill. The young squire
we calls him mostly about here, seeing tina
his father is dead not so long sincc.'
"IIe is dead 20
SAY, surely: and young Mr.. Edward ha
come into the place and married a bonny wife
he has
The old squire had daughter, had h
not 80
''Two.. You know them -
II knew of thcm,' the stranger replied
evasivcly. And then, pointing To Il smal
white house that was visible through the trees
'.And to whom does that bclong?''
THAT Why, to Mrs. Sutton, poor body.
''-\nd why do you pity her -
''You must be a stranger indeed, sir, to as
why"
Then enlightcn me. Tell me the story
They had reached the stile now, throug
which the farmer had first appeared upon til
scene. and he paused at the strangers word
and rested his arms upon 1t.
''>tory 1t is Il queer story. Almost to
sad to call by such name She was the doc
tors wife, a sweet, pretty woman as ever saw