Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-01-25
CHAPTER. I'LL

No one visited the church. line DOy VINO
had happened near Oh the first night OF its Oc-
cupancy, and who had seen and heard such
dreadful things, told his story we'll, enlarging
upon it as the Importance of the subject de-
served. Several of the villagers had passed
fickerng lights and heard low voices fOrtu-
nately for Dolly and Rayne, not attempting
to inquire further The wonder was COM
plete; the church was haunted Henceforth
it was Stunned by every one, and the SICK
man rested there in safety.
For the first few days Rayne had seemed to
improve in health, and Dolly's cup of happi-
ness was filled to the brim. 1t was not often
that she could visit him, but once every day,
at the least, she brought him food and drink.
At those times she talked to him I; joyously,
gravely, confidingly, as the mood seized her
making many plans for the future. She Won
dered that he should listen with such grave,
sad smile, not attempting to reply to her ; but
she accounted for it by his sickness. She
would find him in better spirits by and by, SHE
said to herself and so was content.
But there came time when she cOuld no
longer hope; when she was forced to believe
that her lover would soon be taken from her
she had sat beside him for an hour, talking
gaily of the day-soon to come-when they
WOulu ~ lutO WILL III Va
how they would work to prove his innocence
of the dreadful crime which had been charged
on him; and then how happy they would be
together! He had heard her at first, lying
calmly silent, though she marked a look OF
pain upon his face but, as she talked Oh, final.
ly, half vexed, appealing to him to decide some
trivial question, his manner changed. His
eyes fixed themselves on hers in mute, sorrow.
full questioning ; he gaZed moment, ptiful'
ly, at her happy face then great wave OF
feeling came, and he cried. "Don'tl ~ as one
might who feels sword against his breast
She dropped her work and laid her cool hand
upon his forehead. 81 have wearied you ~
she said with ready self reproach Ego to
sleep now and rest, and will stay here"
The momentary feeling had passed, and he
was quite tranquil as he took her hand in his.
My little girl must be brave ~ he said ten
derly. ''else she will make it very hard fol
me to go ~
The truth dawned on her in an instant, and
she flung herself at his side in a passion OF
break my heart ~
II have known it all the time" he contin-
ued, as if resolved to prepare her for the worst
"When came here, was sure that death was
very near to me- have shrunk from telling
you, but it must be done now. 1t is hard for
me to give up life and you," he murmured
with sob, "but it is all-for-the-best p
She raised her head quickly as he ended
while gleam of hope shone in her face. lie
knew what she would ask, and replied to the
unspOken question
''It is of no use human skill cannot save
me. l could not be safely carried from this
place, even if 1 wished and l want to die
here, here in the old church where you first
told me that you loved me. 1t has become
very dear to me in these days of waiting !
found my life here let me meet death within
these walls ~
Her face took on look of settled determi
nation, which had in it something of happ
ness. 81 will die with you - she said and
went out into the twilight, towards her home
The days went slowly by thereafter, bring
ing to both of the watchers in the old church &
kind of quiet peace. Rayne grew weaker ev
cry hour he seemed, Dolly thought somewhat
bitterly, to be most happy as he drew nearer
death. AS for her, she had given up all at
tempts at concealment; nearly all her time
was spent with her lover. Her uncle knew
where she was the village heard and wonder
ed, but forbore to interfere.
| She had left Rayne alone for moment, ont
glorious Autumn afternoon, and stood outside
of the church drinking in the beauty OF tht
scene. A haze hung over the mountain tops
and fingered lovingly upon the bosom of th'
river. which wound through the fields. Tht
trees were showering down their leaves upol
| the ground, and the shrulbery which grew