Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-06-07

The man seemed 1alrly aWeu ner toHe
and manner were Recommending. so He skunk
away scowling, but cowed and beaten
Mrs. Bertram rang the bell.
"Has he gone Morris 2" she asked.
"He has gone, ma'am. If he should come
again?"
II do not think he will come again; not
Just vet, at any rate. Besides, tomorrow
morning I shall start for Walton, early.
must have change. There is something
sitting about this London house. You vii!
pack everything tonight, so that we shall
be able to start early tomorrow"
"Indeed ma 'am,y you don'tlook very WE'LL
"I'm tired, and l feel a little faint. "
"And if Sir Jasper should call to-mor-
row."
81 will leave note for Sir Jasper"
"He will be amazed to find you have left
town so suddenly"
"He must be amazed, then," said Mrs.
Bertram, coldly. 81
w.
Sir Jasper Davenport, a west-country bar
onet of middle age, was very much in love
with Mrs. Bertram. It is mistake to i'm
agine that the victims of the tender passion
are especially to be discovered among the
youthful. In the mature bosom love of:
ten strikes deep roots, thrives, grows and
strengthens, finds itself in a cOngenial soil
puts forth more and more branches, becomes
firmly fixed beyond all possibility Of extir-
patton. The young are often too devoted to
themselves to love others very constantly OF
wholly.
Middle aged Sir Jasper was a most ardent
and absolute lover. The inheritOr of num-
berless acres and prOdigious rent-roll, he
had as young man served IN the army
with some distinction. Afterwards he had
sat in Parliament as a member for his cOun-
ty. He had the reputation of being an eX-
cellent man of business; calm, shrewd, hard
headed. He never married. Some dim
story tloated in the air to the effect that
very early in life some disappointment had
befallen him, but nobody paid particular
heed to it. The same kind of story was
whispered about so many men. There
might be no sort of truth in it. At any rate
it referred to something that must have hap
pened a long time ago, to ancient history in
fact. And no one could be supposed to care
about ancient history and the things that
had happened long time ago.
1t was very clear now that the barOnet
was deeply in love with the beautiful widow
of his old friend Mr.. Bertram. He was a
handsome gentleman of pleasant address
lie wa vi ~ SGlltIOuSd lldlQlC. 14C
bore himself toward her with a sort Of chiv-
alrous devotion. She could not mistake the
extent of his admiration or the genuineness.
So when at last his love found expression in
words, and he rendered her his heart and
hand, he found his suit accepted. Sir JAS
per Davenport and Mrs. Bertram are en-
gagged to be married.
And now, suddenly and Unexpectedly,
Mrs. Bertraln's first husband, Godfrey Wen
ham, a convict, returned illegally from
trans sportation, appeared on the scene.
Sir Jasper knew little, cared to know
little, of his wjfe's early history. He was
aware that before her marriage with Mr..
Bertram she had filled the post of governess
in his family. Something, too, he had
learned to the effect that previously she had
suffered from poverty and from family dis
tress. He had not ascertained the particu-
lars of her trials and srrows however: He
was by no means an inquisitive, doubling,
or a Suspicious nature Sufficient for him
was the evil or good of the day. 1t was
enough for him to know that as the wife of
an old husband, Mrs. Bertram had behaved
perfectly; that she wasa refined, intelligent
and accomplished lady; that she was very
beautiful; that he loved her with all his
heart and soul, and that she had accepted
his suit. The future was full Of interest to
him; he was absorbed in contemplation OF
it. lie had no thought to bestow upon the
past. 1t was gone. Let it 60. What was
it to him now?
Not meeting Mrs. Bertram at Lady Van
starts, Sir John had called in CurZOn street,
late though it was, to inquire concerning
his attianced wife. He was distressed to
learn that Mrs. Bertram had received a
severe shock, that she was not very well,
that she had retired early to rest, that there
had been an accident with the carriage, a
man nearly run over, &c. In the morning
Sir Jasper called again. He was dismayed
to learn that Mrs. Bertram had left London
suddenly for her house at Walton. There
was a note for him, however:
"DEAR SIR JAsPER:-I am not ill, but some
thing has occurred greatly to distress me- Rest
and retirement are absolutely necessary to me:
Leave me to myself for little while. on snail
know all-but not yet. / cannot now bring my,
self to write fully of my troubles; but will do 50
presently. Trust me-; do not blame me even if
I have to tell you by and by very cruel news.
Believe me, always yours, atfectionately,
GERTRUDE
He read and reread this note. 1t per-
picked him greatly. What could have hap
pened ? he asked himself again and again.
What was he to do? What was the meaning
of it all? Was he to lose her? What "cruel
news" could she have to communicate?
His first impulse was to hurry down to
her at Walton forthwith. But had she not
asked him to leave her to herself for Il little
while ? Could he ignore that request or act
in defiance of it? He addressed her the fol-
lowing note:
"DEAREST-YOur note has caused Inc much
uneasiness. / cannot bear to think that you are
distressed, and that I may not be at your side to
help and comfort you, or at least to try, and 90
so. I will endeavor to obey you. will, as you
say leave you to yourself for awhile. But you
do not know how hard I find it to keep away
from you. My heart, my hopes, my love, my
lifc are all in your keeping. DO not fear that
shall ever blame you however cruel may be the
news that you have to tell me: only please DO not
keep me any longer than can be avoided in sus-
pense or in ignorance of what has happened. In
my turn ask you to trust me. Be assured that
1 love you most dearly. Yourown
"JAspER."
He waited some days for an answer. \
very brief note came at last:
"DEAR JAspER-I dare not hope that you will
forgive me. 1 would that you could forget me.
Our marriage may not, cannot be. L know this
will be to you a cruel disappointment. II you
can find any consolation in accusing me OF cap
rice of heartlessness, of wantOnly tritling with
your affections, let it be so. / may not merit all
that may be said Of my conduct, yet some pun
ishment do deserve. Believe me shall suffer
much in losing your esteem. But 1T must he as
l have said. I will ask you not to seek to know
more-not to attempt to see me again. Treat me
AS though l was dead-;is one who has forever
passed out Of your life ; yet as one who sincerely
respected and loved you, and is panied, indeed,
to write these few last lines to you, knowing how
keenly they will at1iict you. GERTRUDE
Sir Jasper turned pale as he read; his
hands trembled as he held the note. But he
felt that he could not accept his dismissal
on the instant that he could not, without
an effort, resign the most cherished hopes
of his life.
"At least | must know mOre," he said.