Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-02-28
gu 0rigiual Storg.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
CELESTINE.
THE STORY OF A MISTAKE.
CHAPTER X.

Il
CHAPTER X.
Celestine sat upright, pressing her hand to
her heart. A crimson spot burned in her
cheeks, and an eager light glittered in her
eyes, as with parted lips she gazed toward
the door.
Mrs. Brainerd went out quickly into the
hall, closing the sitting-room door after her.
Christiana remained standing by the couch,
her hand instinctively extended toward her
charge, as if to support her under any un-
wOnted agitation. .f
In a moment Mrs. Brainerd re-entered,
and said in quiet, matter-of-fact tone to
Celestine, my dear, the friend to whom
wrote has come to see you"
ssMiss Latimerv' said Celestine. Per-
haps she had cherished a different hope.
At all events, the light faded little out OF
her face, as she sank back on her pillows
but a smile of affectionate greeting met her
old friend, as she came hurrying in and
sank on her knees beside the couch.
"My poor lamb" was ali she said, as she
kissed the shadowy face bent toward hers.
She had been warned against exciting Ce-
lestine, but in spite of her utmost efforts at
self-control, few tears stole down her
cheeks, which she quickly brushed away.
81 would have come to you sooner" she
managed to say, at last, elf you had let me
know how sick you were. Why didn't you
send me word long ago."
81 thought had better not" quietly re,
piled Celestine. Then glancing around and
finding that they were alone, she added
softly, "I thought it might vex him, If ne
knew. Miss Latimer, tell me of him-is he
we'll now, quite we'll and strong" :,
"Pretty well again, my, dear not quite
as he used to be, perhaps, but able to attend
to his duties" replied Miss Latimer, gently
stroking her hand, and glancing furtively
towards the door.
"Do you keep house for him now:" Tell
me all about home-my dear cid home.
Does everything look as it used to? 1t
seems to me as if nothing can be the same,
but suppose that is because I myself am
changed"
Miss Latimer marvelled at the calmness
with which she spoke.
"It looks about the same as it did long ago,
my dear, when used to keep house there
not as it did afterwards"
'And tell me-you see him often, l
kUOW-uOeS llc-uo y oo ViiiiN iiS is'' H'>A
forgiven me-"
Eyes, I know he has," said Miss Latimer
quickly. 81 am quite sure of it. And l
am sure he wants you to know that ne
has"
"Why do you look around at the door ?''
asked Celestine interrupting her, and un-
easily following her glance.
"I oh :-nothing-listen to me, and I will
tell you what he bid me say" soothingly
answered her friend. "When l told him ol
your message to me-"
"Ah, YOU told him, then ="
"Yes-was not right? He bid me say
that the past was all wiped out-that he
would come himself, very soon, and
"He has come now" cried Celestinee,
starting up." / see it in your face. On tell
me, tell me at once, is he here ?"
'He is here" said Miss Latimer, rising,
as the door was gently opened, and another
figure came in. She heard the convulsive
cry of JOY, followed by hysterical sobs, as
Celestine's husband took her in his arms,
but did not stop to hear or see more she
knew they ought to be left to themselves,
in that moment of mingled agony and JOY.
The agony was all his; there was nothing
but happiness unutterable, divine, illumi-
mating Celestine's pale face, as she held
her husbands bowed head against her heart,
and kissed the temples around which the
thickly clustering hair had whitened strange
lX since she had seen it last.
"Look atme Silas-my love! look into my
eyes and let me read in your face that you
still love me-" she said tenderly. He knelt
before her shaken as by a tempest, stricken
down by the consciousness that 1T was too
late to retract, to save her by any avowal OF
the affection which would have come as
healing dew to her parched and suffering
co,,l bod II ooDoa in time
"Too late-too late" he groaned, as he
raised his blanched face and met her eyes,
full of yearning love. "Celestine, forgive
me. It is Iwho have brought you to this
1, who would die now TO blot out my own
wrong doing-I, who hold you dearer than
the whole earth beside"
She smiled brightly on him. "My dear
est, don't wish anything changed nov-oh
am so happy, SO blest, l can wish for moth:
ing more. God has heard my prayers and
will let me die in your arms"
He strained her again to his heart there
was slight gurgling sound, and a crimson
stream flowed from her lips: He laid hel
down and called for help, and soon the two
women of the house and Miss Latimer were
busy applying restoratives, which present
ly had effect, and she was lying quietly
again on her pillows, quite still and tran
quill, but deadly white and with look they
had not seen before gathering about hel
mouth and brow. They knew then that ii
was the last change stealing over her, and
that the end was very near.
1t came just at midnight, as the clock
was tolling the hour. Slowly, one by one,
the strokes rang out TO the last, her eyes
never wavered from their rapt gaze upon
her husbands face; to the last, her hand
clung to his. AS the echo of the twelfth
stroke died away, a faint, celestial smile,
like the reflex of light caught from above,
quivered on her lips, as she tried to mur-
mur his name. 1t fingered there still, when
that parting breath was hushed, and the
futtering heart was at rest.
She was at peace at tlast-and it was Christ,
mas Eve.
X
In retired village, far from the scene OF
his former labors, Silas Warren lives and
works. Five years have passed away since
his wife's death; judging from his worn
features and silver locks, you would quad
rupla that number