Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-07-28

tOO ike OuSpIluR uoe w Adfo o
relish for the wound his son has inflicted,
and pleasure in lingering it for tie sake Of
his curiosity. Hold! you are not yet an
swerei. Do you think am to be touched by
your sneers, man? You would teach all those
with whom you have to do to look down
upon me, and such as me, as despicable men,
holding humble faith that makes your
Haunting religion keck; and that your son
had ruined and disgraced any one Of us,
should give you no more concern than the
scourging Of negro gives the white rutfian
who looks on at the whipping! Is that ita
Why, sir, be satisfied with your sons work;
but you shall not stop me from calling him
villain! You would know why? Look at my
wife yonder. Is there no answer in her facet
Look at this hand Never did it tremble as now
it does I am aged a score since yesterday,
and that is thy sons doing. Mop he shouted,
in a strange shaking voice, "Tll not put my
dishonor again into words Sir, wish you
good morning"
He rose from his chair and stood upright,
with his hand extended toward the door.
His wife sat in a crouching attitude, hugging
herself. DR.. Shaw did not offer to move. His
face was pale, but otherwise his manner was
collected. He put his snuff-box in his pocket,
and, drawing forth a pocket book, he ex-
tracted paper, which he held in his hand
while he addressed Mr. Strangfeld.
"Sir," he said, in a slow, deliberate tone,
throughout my life l have ever striven to
act the part of an upright man. resolute in
the vindication of things hold to be just
and true, but always ready to acknowledge
my error. Through haste and surprise and
disappointment which, in imitation of your
own admirable candor, shall be at no pains
to dissemble, have fallen into q grievous
error-that Of misjuding youthful folly and
calling it SIM that of repelling with rude
doubts the pleadings of helpless innocence;
that of denouncing my own flesh and blood
as O monster Of vice when he was not at
hand to justify himself. But, sir, the God
who rules over us is the Vindicator OF the
just, and last night humbled myself before
Him with gratitude and remorse. l beg you
to be seated I came to you with two items
of news. One have related and the other
l will now relate, in mercy to you who, by
desiring me to leave the house, would be en-
failing upon yourself the endurance of
grief greater, in spite of my theological
opinions, than could wish you to know"
Mr.. Strangfield continued standing, lean
ing heavily upon the back Of a chair and
looking down with scowl upon the doctor.
Mrs. Strangfeld, in half-risen posture,
supporting herself with her hand upon the
table, stretched eagerly forward, her eyes
fixed on the paper in the doctors grasp.
"Last night" continued the doctor, "after
the coastguard left me, reflected upon his
story, and felt persuaded that the riddle Of
my sons disappearance was solved. But,
though there was O melancholy satisfaction
in detecting the means by which one portion
of the mystery had been brought about, the
boys honor still remained befouled by the
charges that had been made against him by
you. It was clearly my duty to leave no
stone unturned, either to prove that he was
actually your daughters husband, or that
their connection was sinless, and the aft1rma-
tions of your daughter the delusions OF an ig-
norant loving woman. This morning should
have taken the coach to London, and remained
in that city until every vestry had been
searched by persons I should have hired for
that purpose, and every clergyman and dis
senting minister officiating called upon. But
l have been mercifully spared duty which,
at my time of life, would have made heavy
demands on my strength. Before retiring to
rest entered my sons bed room. Up to
that moment, beyond a cursory inspection OF
the room, had made no close examination
Of it. But felt that it would greatly facili-
tate my project if I could obtain some clew
to the name or neighborhood Of the church
where they were married; and l further re-
membered that he had written to me one let
ter from his lodgings, though 1 could not
find that letter and had no recollection OF the
address upon it. found his desk in drawer,
and had no difficulty in opening it by a bunch
of keys of my own. Sir, among letters OF
his mother, most tenderly preserved, and
letters signed in your daughters name,
found this document" holding it up) acare.
fully sealed in sheet of paper, on which
was written Jenny Shaw; and I also found, D."
continued the doctor, drawing from his side
pocket small sheepskin volume, "this little
diary, some passages of which, sir, I will take
the liberty to read"
There was breathless silence between hus-
band and wife while the doctor turned the
leaves in search of the entry he proposed
first to read Mr. Strangfeld never shifted
his posture nor moderated his frown; but
over his wife's face was creeping the illumi-
nation Of an expression of JOY pathetic to be-
hold, in the growing gladness Of her eyes
and the faint parting Of her lips
The doctor read:
"'APRIL 5, 1867 am bewitched by
Jenny Strangfelds beauty 1t is fort
night ago since I first addressed her, and to-
day we conyersed like old friends. Strange
that anything 20 sweet and gloriously
feminine should be found among the hard
conditions and rigors OF the sect OF whose
preiudices her father is the most acid ex-
ponent hcrcabouts.
The doctor turned the leaves slowly, skip
ping evidently much that was too personal
for himself to read aloud in the presence OF
the deacon with relish.
"'MAY oO.-To-day I told Jenny I loved
her. She believes me, and we'll she may, for
truly is she dearest Of all earthly things to
me now. "You should not love ME" she
sail, "for what would thy father say to hear
that thou art in love with Michael Strang-
fields girlT What wonderful tenderness
her voice gains from use of that quaint old
fashioned thee-ing and thou-inge"
"Why do you read such stuff, sir" cried
Mr.. Strangfield, with an air of sullen impa-
tience. you have something to prove by
producing that book. Come to it-or leave
it. if it be as I think-for you shall not
danele our dishonor in our face, sir. BY
God! your cool recital Of your sons infamy
shall not drive me mad"
His face was again dark with passion, and
we'll might the violence Of an emotion that
could force an oath from Strangfield startle
even the imperturbable DR.. Shaw.
~ must detain you another minute, said
the doctor, curling his lip while he rapidly
turned the leaves of the diary, "and then J
am done. Here is the one entry that con-
Germs you:
"JUNE 1S.-This day I was married to
Jenny Strangfeld at the church Of st. Mat
thew, Dane street, London Have l, as her
sweetheart and husband, acted wisely for
my darling by this secresys, l will have no
fear. but thank God humbly for his precious
gift. How tmid she was! All the way
from Sydenham she scarcely spoke, and her
hand was as. cold as stone i'll mine as we
went into the church-a gloomy church, in
deed, with mistiness all aE9ut the altar. as
if the fog' of winter had not had time to
escape Hoy much happier and easier to
have been married in the dear old church al
Greystone, with her father and mine to give
Us kindly word. But it is the mothers
kiss my darling must most miss Love
shall atcne, my wife. Good night
good nightr"