Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-06-29

she proposed, lest she should be unnecessarily
alarmed; directions in which the head meI
heartily concurred, for it was already tacitly
acknowledged in the village, that the ruling
spirit was that of the new proprietor OF ''rhe
Hall"
Nat Smith, who had listened carelessly tc
the foregoing, sauntered back to his office anC
for lack of other employment, fell to studying
over again the curious message sent the day
before, when the object of his speculations en-
tered the Office again, and after carelessy eX.
planning that owing to his 'lengthened stay
his business would need fresh attention, ,
wrote another curious dispatch, with the re-
quest that it be sent Immediately
The message contained but half dozen
words, among which were "fOur BELLS" and
these words Nat fell to studying us he had
the other, when suddenly, with a muttered
exclamation, he seized his hat and strobe after
his departing visitor
That night the inhabitants of Milfield slept
in peace, to be awakened at an early houl
with the astounding intelligence that Dots
husband was at that hour in Jail on the
charge of committing the robberies OF the
preceding night.
"What - "when - chow horrible" Chow
ridiculous" etc., were some of the expressions
heard on every side, and nurse Moore went
into spasms of Indignation. when the one
policeman informed them that NAT Smith
had suspected and watched DeLong, and up
on his attempting to leave privately, travelling.
bag in hand, on the four O'Clock train, had
him arrested on suspicion, and the valise was
even now in the hands of the proper authori-
ties undergoing Inspection" and he added
'sthere comes the seven express with the de-
tective on board, so this ere business will soon
be settled"
His surmise proved correct the detective
at once identified the prisoner as notorious
cracksman long known to the New York po.
lice as ''Gentleman Dick" and for whose
arrest large reward was out, which in due
course of time our friend Nat received. The
stolen property was all found in the prisoners
grip sack, and the aristocratic stranger re-
posed quietly in the strongest cell of the vii.
| lage ial awaiting trial, while the Millifeldtes
united in bewailing the unfortunate fate that
had thrown Dot under the influence OF SO fas-
cinating a man.
1T will kill my poor girl" moaned nurse
Moore. which assertion no one could galnsay
but by common consent a telegram was at
once sent, and Nat Smith set his teeth hard,
as under his skillful fingers the wires clicked
off the message, Mrs DeLong: Your hus-
band is here under arrest for burglary come
at once"
Dot could not arrive before the next day,
and so the villagers waited again, this time
| in tears and doubt, with nurse Moore ut their
head, the coming of the noon express, and as
the cars stopped and the little graceful form
sprang from the step into nurse Moore's out
stretched arms, and the tear wet face hid for
an instant on the broad motherly bosom, a
silent groan went up from every heart, then
| lifting the piquant defiant face with naughty
gesture Dot looked around and said:
"Good friends, it is all some dreadful mis-
| take my husband is from one of the oldest
and proudest families of Virginia. and am
sorry this dreadful thing has happened. l
didn't dream l was sending him, poor dear,
as lamb among lions,' here the red lips
quivered, 'but of course, you don't under
stand; it will he all explained presently" ,"
then with another defiant little nod, she de-
manded, ''take me at once to my dear Her
bert"
The procession that filed down the village
street was so different from the one of a week
before, that neither the genuine sorrow all
felt for Dot, nor the garrulous explanations
of nurse Moore, could quite hide the comlcal
side of the question. After reaching the jail,
| Dot. with nurse Moore, were admitted at once
to the prisoners cell, and after staring mo-
ment at the handsome occupant, Dot reiter;l-
ted her command of stake me to my dear
HERBERT
"Why, there he is, explained nurse Moore,
pointing to the prisoner who was viewing the
scene with a Sardonic smile.
Dot turned disdainfully, "that is not my
husband: | never saw this man before where
is Herbert, say?" but nurse Moore had col
lapsed, sank on the floor in state bordering
on insanity.
s'Do you mean to say that he is an impos-
tor ?'' she shrieked, ''that he has fooled us into
giving the best vctuals and the best bed in
| the house, while all the time he was planning
to rob and murder lis in our beds. How dare
YOU do it, sir ?' she demanded of the culprit,
who, all this time, was standing quietly with
the sartlonic smile deepening Oh his face, and
when nurse Moore broke down utterly under
the magnitude of her wrongs, he bowed polite
" to Dot, who looked slightly beWildered, and
said in the blandest manner:
"Allow me to explain, Madam, and pray ex-
cuse this masQuerading. 1t was not my fault
husband of 50 lovely "a woman," another low
bow. "In passing through this village on the
train, I stepped from the car, with others, for
the purpose of getting my dinner, when was
Immediately claimed and welcomed as Mr.. DE
Long, and thinking to enjoy "a little sport, l
did not undeceive them, as after all, the sensa-
ton of being lord of the manor for a little
while, and having wife and home made ready
to order, was rather pleasant one, and as you
may imagine the garrulity of this good woman
furnished me with all necessary particulars,
besides, y he continued, ''the situation offered
such unparalleled opportunities for the pursu-
ance of my vocation, that l could not resist
the temptation. Pray forgive me Madam, and
I abdicate in favor of my successful rival,
whom l presume was the elderly gentleman
l. ,rln ,Ibn m q
me- | discovered that his name was De Long,
from it's being tackled conspcuously Oh his
travelng-bag, and as he was reading when the
train stopped, infer that he was SO absent
minded as to forget his destination" after
which explanation, given in the most perfect
manner with the NEST fascinating smile and
another graceful bow, which Modified nurse
Moores rut1led temper, the gentlemanly thief
heaved a deep sigh and stood looking at his
fair visitor with melancholy air, until the
door closed between them.
Don't you feel uneasy about your husband,
deary. - questioned nurse Moore, when Dots
old time happy laugh rang out once more,
while explaining the mistake to the friends
who crowded around when they were once
more in the street.
s.Oh dear, no. she replied, "IIerbert is
very absent minded and Eve no doubt but he
forgot his plan of stopping until well past the
station, then concluded to go on, transact his
business and stop on his return.'
''And to think we all made sure he was youl
husband, and, oh dear, he has your diamond
ring,' said Nurse Moore, stopping short, ''ho"
did he get that, should like to know? -
"My ring % Dot repeated. ".Ah ! that ex
plains. Our boarding house was burglarizct
last week, and my ring was among the mis-
sing; am so glad it can be recovered.'
At that instant tile up-train rounded tht