Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-05-29
YORKVILLE S. O., THURSDAY, MAY %, 1884,

she was not tall and stately and talented !;
and she ought to have known pity wasn't
love, only It had seemed so like it,"
"If he had known years ago things might
have been so different" Might they not
still ? What if she were to 60 away that
very night and never trouble him again
She had not friend in the world except her
to her and beg her take her in and let her
teach the little children. And perhaps she
might die soon, and Harry could be happy
with the woman he had always loved.
Nesta felt as if death wouldn't be long in
coming, she felt so i'll now.
She got up to fetch timetable. Yes, the
mail train passed through Middlehampton
at one o'clock it was only twelve now, and
though she couldn't very we'll understand
the puzzling figures, she thought it must
stop at the little station just the other side
of the park. @
She drew her blotting-book to her and be-
gan to write fast. A big tear or two splash
ed down on the paper, but she wiped them
patiently away !; it must be clear, that Har-
ry might read it.
pity, she wrote 81 might have guessed
it, my darling, but you were so good to me
that never, never did. I can't make you
free again but it is better for US never to
see each other any more, and perhaps l
may die, and you can 60 back to the woman
they say you have always loved. Isawyou
Just now when you kissed her hand and
said things might have been so different il
you had seen her years ago. Yes, they
would have been different for US all. God
bless you, my poor, good boy you were
not to blame"
She paused and looked up.
"What shall I sign it ?" she said II am
not his wife any more, for only love really
makes marriage"
Her eye fell on her little wedding ring,
it's brightness scarcely tarnshed yet. She
stopped and pressed her lips to it, gently,
solemnly.
"Oh, Harry-my Harry !" she whispered
eff it had only been love-not pity !"
She rose and slipped off the golden satin
gown and put on dark warm dress instead
II must even 60 away from him in the
things he gave me-" she said, as she fasten.
ed her long cloak with its silver clasps. "l
haven't a single gown that was mine when
I knew him. He has even dressed me out
of charity. His pity has been more gener-
Gus than other peoples love-"
She opened the French window in her
dressing room and stepped out on the balco-
ny, whence flight of steps led down to the
terrace below. She glanced back at the
pretty room, with it's Japanese cabinets and
blue and white china, and the ebony table,
where the letter to Harry lay, with the
it. Then she shut the easement sharply be-
hind her and resolutely turned away.
The moon was bright with fitful bright
ness-now almost as light as day, now
hidden behind hurrying clouds-that it
was bitterly cold. Nesta drew her cloak
tightly around her, and tried to walk fast,
but she was desperately weary and could
only stumble along. Somehow the way to
the little gate had never seemed so incon-
prehensibIy long. Surely she could not
have missed her way? The moon and the
clouds were playing such pranks that one
could not be sure, and her heart had been
too full to notice all the turns. 1t was as
black as Erebus now a darkness that might
be felt Nesta took few steps forward,
then stopped short, by some mysterious in.
stinct, just as the moon shone out clear and
bright once more, its golden sparkles reflect
ed as by a thousand broken mirrors in the wa
ter of the lake which slumbered at her feet.
A strange, sharp pain shot through her heart
as she saw the very rushes Harry and she
had been gathering yesterday. Yesterday
A thousand years ago when she was happy.
A wild thought flashed across her brain ;
she had wished to die; would it not be
better for Harry and herself, yes, and for
that other woman, too, if she were lying
under those cold, smiling waters in a dream
less sleep? 1t was ouly moment, her soul
was too white and too brave for more she
recoiled with a start of horror; but, an
the bank was worn and smooth ; her little
feet slipped on the edge; she threw out her
hands to stop herself, but the frozen grass
slid through her fingers; there was one
short, sharp cry and pale, sweet face lay
still among the rushes in the moonlight.
It was dark and warm and deliclOusly
restful when she knew anything again.
She heard Harry's low voice before she ever
opened her eyes, and felt his clasp of her
hand-Harry's hand clasp, there was no
other like it anywhere-and thought it
must be heaven, and was glad she had done
with earth, since this was so much better.
and so she slept again.
And when next she woke she knew that
the clouds she seemed to lie on, clouds soft
and billoWy, were her own bed, nothing
more ethereal and she was aware it must
be earth still, but feltit did not matter since
it would be so much like heaven, for Har-
ry's voice and Harry's hand were there
still and she slept again, smiling gently.
But the next time she woke the hand and
voice were missing, and only Harry's back
was visible in the room beyond as she raised
herself on her pillows. And as she rose she
caught sight of herself in the long Psyche
glass opposite and started at the reflection.
For all her tangle Of brown hair was cut
short, and there was no pink and white pref
tiness now, only great dark eyes and small
white face. And as she fell back on her pill
lows, halffrom surprises and half from weak
ness, for she was very feeble, the bells burst
out clear and sweet and mystical in aperfect
carol of eXultant Joy.
"Christmas bells! Is it Christmas ?' she
said. "Why, it was November when l
diedW
And as Harry turned and hurried to her
side, she smiled up at him, and asked again
"Christmas? Is it really Christmas, Har-
ry?" but he only bent to catch her in his
arms.
She yielded to his kisses; then suddenly
she tried to push him from her. "Harry,
you must notm she said.
He saw the troubled look in her eyes,
and knew that memory was coming back.
eyes, I must" he said, "my little darling,
my blessing, my life The doctor says may
tell you all about it, for the worry will hurt
you more than the talking and, oh how l
have waited for this time to come! 1t has
been one long nightmare since the minute
heard you scream, and ran up just in time
to see you sink"
"Then it was you who found me? Oh,
Harry"
eyes, YOU must hear it all. I came to
your room five minutes after you must have
left, and there was the timetable open, and