Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-02-14
gu Original Sturg.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
CELESTINE.
THE STORY OF A MISTAKE
CHAPTER VIII.

THE STORY OF A MISTAKE.
CHAPTER VIII.
To return now to Celestine, with whom
we parted at the Rectory door.
Her heart, as she departed on her jour
ney, was heavy enough, but insensibly her
hopes rose as she neared her destlnatlon.
She Thought much of what she would say
in the coming interview, and it seemed to
her that if she could only represent in tit,
ting language her husbands condition anu
poor prospects, his uncle surely would not
be so unkind as to refuse his aid. AS she
pictured to herself the comfort and happi-
ness which would result from such assist
ance on his part, her timidity at the idea
of encountering him gave place to an an
ticipation that was almost cheerful. She
did not find Mr. Hill very agreeable com
panion, as he spent most of the time IN
reading newspapers, and confined his re-
marks chiefly to observations on the wealth
er. But as she preferred her own reflections
to conversation of any kind just then, she
was not'sorry to find him so taciturn.
Early on the following morning they
reached San Francisco.
"What hotel shall have you driven to,
Mrs, Warren 2" asked her escort. She nam:
ed an inexpensive one which her husband
had recommended to her, and Mr.. Hill hay
ing placed her in a coupe, and given the
driver the direction, babe her goodbye,
saving that he was not sure OF seeing her
again. as he did not know how long his
business might detain him in the city.
Having arrived at the hotel, dismissed her
conveyance, and engaged a room, she sat
down fora little while to collect her thoughts,
and arrange her plans. She would get some
breakfast, and then walk to Mr.. tranklln's
Office. 1t was not very far off, and she had
no fear of losing her way, as she had his
address written down, and was not entirely
unfamiliar with the streets of San Francisco,
having spent some weeks there lew years
before.
Accordingly, about nine o'clock she set
ont on her quest. AS she approached the
businessauarter of the city, her timidity
began to return she felt lonely and lost IN
: the hustle and noise around her, amld the
crowd of strange faces and the unusual as
pect of everything. She repeatedly con-
suited her slip of paper. containing her dl.
rectiOns. in order to avoid going wrong, but
Notwithstanding this precaution she went
considerably out of her way, and it was not
until after ten o'clock that she found herself
standing, warm, tired, and nervous, on the
marble Steps of the spacious building which
she had taken so long to find. 49,,
s'Are you looking for any place, Miss? ~
asked a good-natured-l looking woman, OBJ
serving that she did not seem to know where
to onext. Co., ,oo,, :, third floor , re-
81 want to find room ii, tnlru noor, re-
piled Celestine.
"Well, you 60 right in, and take the ele-
vator-it's tiresome climbing the stairs.
Tell the elevator man to put you out on tne
third floor, and then turn to your right. l
know all about this building, because my
husbands Office is here"
Celestine thanked her for her information,
and without any further trouble found her
wav to number II. Her timid knock was
= answered by a careless ''come ln"' and she
pushed the heavy door open and entered, IT, 10
find herself in large tight room, comtorta-
bly furnished, with only one occupant, IN the
shape of a callOw youth, seated In reVolV-
ing chair, with his heels on the table. He
had the courtesy to rise Immediately, on
perceiving the intruder to be lady, ana
came forward with a sufficiently respectful
air.
t'Is this Mr.. Franklin's office ?" asked
Celestine.
"Yes'm, this is his Office"
''Can l see him ?-is he in :"
"NO'm, he amt ln-ln TACT, mes out Vi
town at present"
cont of town ~ A sick feeling of disap-
pointment overpowered her; she began to
tremble, and leaned on a chair for support.
"Yes'm he left yesterday morning"
"And do you know when he expects to
return ?''
"Not for some weeks, guess. He's gone
to the mines, on very important business
didn't say positively how long he would be
absent. Ifthere's anything can attend to
for you-or there's Mr.. Moreton, in the next
room, who looks after his business during
his absence shall call him ,"
ind thank uOll-'
The room swan round she grasped the
back of the chair, feeling deadly faint, and
would have fallen if the youth, perceiving
how i'll she looked, had not sprung forward
to her support. He seated her in the large,
comfortable chair, and poured out glass OF
water, which he offered her with genuine
solicitude depicted on his face.
''Can't do anything for you ma'am?' he
asked anxiously, when she had swallowed a
mouthful of the water, and felt somewhat
revived.
"Nothing more-you are very kind" she
managed to answer, sitting upright with
some difficulty, for her head was still dizzy.
81 am not ill-Only rather tired-and | be-
lieve the heat has affected me-"
"Uncommon warm spell of weather for
San Francisco" responded the clerk affably,
and with manifest relief in his tone, for he
had apprehended swoon, and thought him
self very clever to have averted it by his
timely aid. "Don't be in hurry ma'am-
Pm not busy, and you'd better rest few
minutes longer"
But Celestine could not rest. She rose
almost directly, thanked him again, and
went unsteadily out of the room down the
long, winding stairs, crushed by the weight
of utter disappointment, utter uncertainty
as to what she could do next.
Here, in truth, was a disastrous ending
to her hopes she reflected with dismay on
the expense of the fruitless journey a wild
desire possessed her to do something, seek for
some occupation by which she could earn a
little money while here, so as not to return
home quite empty handed; but alas! what
was she to do? who could she find to help
her? In this large, busy, thriving city, she
was absolutely friendless and alone.
Why had she not thought of writing a
few lines to Mr.. Franklin, and leaving them
with the clerk to be forwarded to him
The idea occurred to her as she reached the
bottom of the stairs. She was about to take
the elevator to re-ascend, when she reflected
that she could write more at her ease at the
hotel, in the privacy of her own room. Re,
solving to do this, and to return to the office
with her missive later in the day, she set
out to find her way back to the hotel.
Intensely weary and heartslck, she had