Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-01-29
"I hope you have enjoyed his visit"
He spoke sneeringly, but Maud answered

and talked as he used to do long, long ago."
''And how long, Maud, do you suppose
this wonderful change will last ?'
81 cannot tell, Edgar-but I must hope
for the BEST"
81 presume this sudden access of affection
on his part has made you more determined
than ever to stick to him ?"
"You speak as if you were angry with
me for being pleased, ''said Maud, gently
pressing his hand. "How can help feel
ing glad?" -. ,. b.. 49,, ,,,oo 49, o,,,,,
what makes you so joyful seems to post
pone my happiness more hopelessly than
ever. You know we'll enough that l can't
marry you to live under the same roof with
him-the same house could not hold us
both-and if you are still bent on casting
in your lot with him"
''My lot is already cast in with him, Ed
gar! am his own child, and his only one.
Could l forsake him."
"Well," said her lover, in cold, hard
tone, "since your filial devotion remains
unalterable, and so far OutWeighs all other
feelings, 1 don't see why I should maintain
my claims any longer, in the face OF such
difficulties. We may as well dissolve our
engagement at once"
Maud grew very pale. She looked incred-
uloOolS CT
"You don't care for me any longer, then,"
she rejoined, in broken voice.
''My caring has nothing to do with it!
Common sense must tell you that it is our
best plan. You won't do as wish, and l
can't waste my existence in pursuit of a
shadoW-for / see now that in waiting for
you to marry me, am following shadow.
There is no substance in my hopes. l did
think, for long time, that you really loved
me; but your love is not of the sort be-
lieved it to be-not of the sort that would
break through any obstacle to make me hap
py. We had much better put an end to the
whole thing"
"You are cruel-cruel" !" cried Maud, and
turning from him she burst into tears.
He did not, as formerly, try to soothe her,
but.watched her gloomily, as, with her face
hidden, she struggled with her agitation.
At last, by a strong effort, she quelled it suf-
ficiently to be able to look up and meet his
her latent pride, and gave her strength to
assume an Indifference that she was far from
feeling.
"WelI," she said with sudden resolution,
as she dried her tears, 'let it be as you say.
Since you wish our engagement ended, 1t
shall be so. From this momentyou are free. "
"You really mean it Maud? Have you
counted the cost?"
ssTo myself, you mean? That is strange
question for you to ask" An indignant
light sparkled in her eyes; for moment
her firmness was not assumed. "YOu pro-
posed our parting-far be- it from me to
oppose your wish-it is all over between us,
and you are free to 60"
her, and held out his hand. "You yourself
box cotflo1 tho nnpcfi0n / Snnn0Sp we
part friends?"
'Friends !" the word as she uttered it,
was fraught with irrepressible bitterness ;
scorn shot from her glance; his own eyes
fell beneath it, and with muttered eXcla-
nation he turned away. AS he was passing
through the door he looked back.
"It is your own fault if we part enemies"
he said and with this remark he took his
leave.
Enemies! Maud repeated the word with
sort of dreary wonder, when she found
herself alone. Was it possible that they
two could be enemies, who had been lovers
so lately? But she felt no enmity towards
him. Even her short lived anger had al
ready died away; and as sense of her desc
lation swept over her like flood, she cast
herself down and yielded without restraint
to her grief.
Observation-Disclosures SlS tllodICu. NlIs
Edgar, how I trusted you! how l trusted
you! and now you have cast me off,"
She rose presently, pushed back the hair
from her flushed and tear stained face, and
looked around. A strange chill and dark
ness seemed to have fallen upon the little
room, that had looked so bright few hours
before. She put together the scattered en-
bers of the fire, and replenished it with
fresh fuel. Then she bathed her eyes and
braided her hair, remembering that her
father might return before long, and that it
would be best for him not to see any signs
of her inward distress. The short Novem-
her day soon drew to a close. With the
twilight came warnings cfanother approach
ing storm. Black clouds swept over the
sky, and the. wind, which had been blowing
since noon, sharply from the southeast, rose
rapidly into gale. Just as she had TRIM
med and lighted the candle, there came
knock at the cabin door.
She opened it and saw a poor woman, the
wife of one of the miners, standing on the
threshold.
ooh, miss Millerm she burst FORTH" has
your father got back: They tell me he
went to Cannonville to-day"
"He did," replied Maud. 81 am expect
ing him home every moment.
my man went over too," continued the
woman, land Pm longing for news, Tor
they say there's been a row in saloon
there, and shots fired. Pm mortal afraid
Benson was in it; he's most always in
row. And 1 thoug ght if your father was
back I might hear something"
"No, he is not back" said Maud, with
tremor at her own heart. "Come in, Mrs.
Benson, we will wait for him together
don't stop here in the cold"
"Oh, Ican't, Miss Miller, dear, I've left all
the children home, and the baby with a
fever too, but was that anxious couldn't
help but run over to ask yOu-maybe I'm
fool, but when Benson's away | never can
tell what trouble he'll be getting into"
She went off with a hasty goodnight,
and Maud, creeping close to the fire, tried
to argue down her rapidly rising fears.
A row in a salOon-and her father, most
likely, involved in it. She knew Benson to
be a disorderly, disreputable fellow-she
knew that her father had quarrelled with
him repeatedly and the thought Of their
meeting on neutral ground, both probably
inAamed by liquor, and both, doubtless,
with adherents to urge them on, filled her
with dismay. But then she remembered
her fathers parting words-she remember
ed his unusual kindness to her, his appa-
rent earnestness of resolve in speaking OF
his future conduct, and the recollection
gave hera ray of hope in the gloom.
TO BE CONTINUED.
GOOD ADvICE.-Be careful of your winter