Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-06-15


, twelve months before, and North had gathered
? that coldness and sepeparation had existed
/ between the welded pair but the dews OF
death were already gathering fast over the
| sick mans brow when he, Mr. North, the only
European within reach, had been called to the
bedside. and, to ease the mind of the dying
stranger had undertaken the charge Of seek
ing out his wife and imparting the intelligence
of her loss At length North was about to
> discharge the melancholy trust, and for all he
> knew the news might call forth the bitterest
regret and anguish.
MIR. North went staight to the post-office as
, the most likely in which to discover the adj
: dress of Mrs Milman. 1t was at the same
time an emporium for the sale of drapery,
, and the whole force Of the mercantile estab-
lishment, as well as the entire body of her
Majesty's officials, drew near to listen to Mr..
North's inquiries. No such person as Mrs.
: Millman was known.
'sShe was Miss Wilson, explained North,
by way of assisting the memories of these
Rushford people.
ago; went way wien her mother died.
''Do you know of any one who was intimate
with her, who could give me her present ad-
dress %
A great shaking of heads attested the gene
raj ignorance.
This is strange" muttered North, livery
strange"
But the matter had altogether very little
interest for him so giving up the quest, he
took the next train back to town, where, he
put into the hands of private inquiry office
the business of discovering the lady who had
so mysteriously disappeared.
The task was very small one for those ac-
complished gentlemen. Upon the morning
of the fourth day, as North sat at breakfast
in the coffee-room of his hotel, note was
The missing person had been traced, her past
employment and history learned, and her
present address was furnished for Mr.. North s
further purposes, in accordance with his re-
quest.
The effect of this letter upon North was
remarkable he sprang up from his chair
first, the color rushed into his face, then as
suddenly retreated leaving his countenance
pale and set and the letter almost dropped
from his nerveless fingers, while his eyes fixed
themselves upon vacancy. 1t was fortunate
that he happened to be alone in the room.
At last, calling for his bill, North made
some pretext of completing his breakfast but
his appetite was gone with his tranquility, and
five minutes later he rose and quilted the hotel
At three o'clock upon that same afternoon
he was walking up the avenue to his sisters
house at Freshfeld, trying to resolve diff
Guilty which had just presented itself to his
mind-that of accounting TO his family for
his sudden appearance again in their circle.
This was gordian knot which he utterly failed
to undo but which was cut for him in one
moment by the servant who opened the door,
master and mistress have gone from home,
sir they will not be back till sometime to-
morrow" said that functionary, in some dis
| L n,,I ifn
pecting Mr.. North to be overwhelmed with
vexation.
On the contrary, Mr.. North received the
tidings with cheerful resignation, and at once
inquired for Miss Lockhart.
s'I have sent for you because 1 have some
thing of Importance to communicate, said
| North to her, as soon as Marion had joined
him in the drawing-room.
"Something of Importance to communi-
cate !" echoed Marion, with the vague alarm
that often seized her. "Will you tell me
quickly ?"
"Sit down." said North, gently, taking her
trembling hand, and leading her to a low easy
chair; then seating himself nearly opposite to
her he resumed l only want now to ask one
of two questions. Do you mind telling me
your present name 20
She strove to answer, but for time her
quvering lips seemed as though they would
refuse their office. At length only single
word was audible.
"Millman.n
''That before ?-I mean your maiden name"
"Marion Lockhart Wilson,"
"Exactly. only wished to be sure of
making no mistake"
The sad eyes of the poor frightened girl
asked the one question her tongue could not
put his motive of making these inquiries.
North lost no time in replying to the glance
more pathetic than words.
81 have trust to fulfill when I undertook
| it thought I should have been in England
much earlier than has been the case, otherwise
l should have endeavored to attend to the
matter by other means than a personal inter-
view l must express my regret for my delay.
About twelve months ago l was up country, a
long distance from Bombay, surveying in
wild and lonesome district, when l was fetch
ed to see a sick person, an Englsman. Illness
will do it's work sharply in that climate four
and-twenty hours will often see the beginning
and the end and 1 now found this stranger at
the point of death''
Mr. North paused !; but he saw by Marion's
face that the conclusion was half-divined.
''GO on" whispered she, the breath COM
ing and going between her parted lips. That
person WaS?''
'IIenry Millman.''
North had almost expected her to faint or
fall to weeping; but Marion did neither. Her
head dropped back against the chair and she
closed her eyes for a moment in Silent thought
or prayer.
''Did he suffer much ?" she murmered at
length.
s'No doubt he had suffered great pain" an
swered North,' ever straightforward and
| truthful whatever the temptation to the con-
trary might be- "But by the time reached
him he was fast lasping into unconsciousness.
''Did he-did he speak at all abOut-reli-
gion % she asked next, hesitatingly.
''I read psalm and said prayer at his
DESIRE"
Had he no message to send me p
1.-THE power of speech was beginning to
leave him when saw him ; he took thought,
YOU perceive for the news of his death to
reach you He was just able to give me the
necessary names and one or two bare partlcu-
| lars, which at once took down in writing
In this packet" continued North, placing in
| her hands small sealed parcel 'yOu will find
one or two articles, and the precise date of
his DEATH place of burial, and so forth. BE
assured that everything was as thoroughly
attended to as his friends could possibly de-
sire,' concluded the young man, without ad-
ding that it was of his care and at his expense
that all this had been done for the destitute
| stranger.
She rose from her seat to leave the room.
North attended her to the door, and, opening
it, waited for her to pass through; but before
doing so Marion turned round, and, her graf
itutle shining out through her wet eyes, she
said simply any softly: ''Thank you for your
goodness to him, | thank you from the bot