Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-08-11


preston of pensive thought, such as a man
might wear in whose heart sorrow languishes
but will not die, was Of a nobler and truer
type than what it had been in the lighter
months before
When man lives bitter lifetime in a
short while his face will be mirror to re-
fleet the violent compression Of experience
BY the earnest, plaintive gaze Of the eye,
by the habitual fixity of the mouth, by the
unsevere resolution of feature, Cuthbert e1-
planned to the shallowest sight the harshness
of his ordeal, though its nature remained bis
| secret
But to this distinctive expression which
his face had taken-stamped there by lonely
contemplation by unutterable longings by
helpless chatting. by many fits OF mental
agony, by hope fallen sick and spiritless, by
such things which do really and truly of this
life make hell without participation OF
conscience, as there are sufferers to swear
was superadded, at this time, as he walked
through busy thoroughfares, painful anx-
iety so acute as TO fix upon his heart the
shadow Of physical torment
With quick steps he pressed forward
glancing on his passage at every clock, until
.,e had crossed Blackfriars bridge, and
arrived at the famous hostelry which, in
those days, was tho starting point for the
coaches to that part of the coast where
Greystone lay.
Here was the coach drawn up, and pas
sengels clambering to their places, and an
other five minutes Of fog had lost the re-
turned hero night
There was room and to spare. happily; but
no time for the hot drink which the rest
Of the travellers had slowed under their
small clothes.
Vapor was still in the sky to darken it and
leaden dullness on the massive city, but
when the horses heads were down and the
wheels spinning the sky grew light and fold
after fold of fog peeled off until the blue
heaven floated clear, and then the tune OF the
wind grew merry.
This coach was the "Rattler," and famous
for good runs At every stage did it halt
as punctually as trains at stations do now,
and for careless heart the passage was
glorious journey to make. November's yel-
low light upon the land, upon the hilltops
full toned coloring that kept distant the blue
of the sky, between the ridges masses OF
shadow, the brown Of loan and the dwelling
Of sunshine on green.
At eight of the evening the coach swung
through the streets of a halfway city OF the
road, where some relinquished tn, roof for
an inn fire and bed But Cuthbert kept
his place. so that faithfully ut the hour OF
twelve, by the deep voiced city clock. the
coach arrived at that ancient place whence
diverged the road to Greys one, and here
Cuthbert quilted the vehicle.
The suggestion Of a bed seemed like land
lords mocking of restless spirit, yet to
bed in the Old Bell inn he betook himself,
laying urgent commands upon the host that
a postchaise should be ready for him by six.
Even an hours sleep could do him no injury.
and this he got, which relieved the veins OF
his head from the fullness of the blood
poured into them by intense mental anxiety,
and toned the heart into softer beating,
so that when he was aroused he was better
prepared for the end Of his journey.
The distance to Greystone was twenty-one
miles, and this the post horses could run,
with one halt for bait At nine o'clock
the chaise wheels took the stones OF the
High street
In Greystone at last! And as in the High
street he stood, the smooth sea stretching its
gray luster to the sky from under the 'front.'
ing houses, and the keen wind whitening the
roadways- -unnoticed, for the cold, by the
few persons abroad, who hurriel past, hug
ping themselves in folds Ct frieze-a passion
ate fear came upon him and b Id him to the
pavement.
For right in his sight, Il oking now through
bare tendrils OF creepers, was the ship
wright's wooden house; and that it might
be desolate place for the want of his wife,
and tomb for the echoes of memory only to
sound in, was a dread of the awful kind that
repels the heart with horror from the de-
termination of it
He took courage presently and went for
ward slowly, with his eyes fixed upon the
house, until he was Mt the gate of it, and
then he walked quietly to the door. He
knocked and fell back a pace, that every
window might be visible to him; and while
he stood, looking first here and then there.
the door was openel, and respectfully
dressed woman stood forth
He could barely speak for the construction
in his throat. and in a quite faint voic,
asked if Mrs Strangfeld was within.
"Oh, dear no, sir. Mrs Strangfield has
been gone these three months" ans wered the
woman, looking at him with surprise.
"Wheref"
"Why, to house in Winston Do not
you klO" ueT uuSUduu U1 ued'l, uuu Sao
business sold to Mr. McAndrewP
"They were friends of mine, and I am just
returned from long journey" And in
wild, quick way, like cry overlapping de-
cision, he said "And what Of her daughter"
MRS. Shawl She lives along Wi her
mother Her husband be dead too, ye
know"
"She lives with her mother. AMI is we'll, |
hope" he said, the flush brought to his face
by the violence his question did him yielding
to deadly white.
"Quite well, l believe. sir. She's niver i
Greystone. They say she's known deal o
sorrow, and there's some shame in it that
keeps her / hiding Poor heart! A sweeter
woman there is not; truly there is not"
She looked at him hard as she said this,
the gaze growing keener and keener, the
eyebrows lifting to it, and something like an
expression Of CONSERVATION coming into her
face.
II am Mr.. Shaw" he said, anticipating
the question that was already parting her
lips 49,, ,,n
woman shrieked
With toss OF the hands he turned his
head to look up the High street
"Is it known" he said, confronting her,
"that was impressed in error by gang Of
salors9 What did my father Think Do you
know him~
"Dr. Shaw. of the school house9 Well by
name, sir. Ye know, of course, that he be
we'll, and is giving up teachin'l A man hath
come from some city i the north to buy the
school from him-so l heerd but week
SINCE" said the woman, SO fascinated, not
alone by the romance OF Cuthbert's return,
but by the beauty of his face, that she could
not lift her eyes from him.
as it known that I was impressedP he
asked again
~ cannot tell ye for sure, sir. Some talk
there was, think; but them as it went
among were but little known to ME. And
before my husband bought this business we
lived at the white house. away down by
Callow bay, which kept me out o gossip"
as Mr.. Franklin alivea or, where can /
hire coacha"
"Oh, Mr.. Franklin is nicely, sir. Will ye
shall fetch you coach as quick as iver it'll
come for tEee."
He thanked her for her offer and entered
the little parlor, never before beheld by him
and even unfamiliar to lis, now that the
quaint furniture of the Strangfelds was
gone and the simple old sea pieces.
He breathei quickly as he stool alone
looking around him. This had been his
darling's home Through the window, into
which Mr.. McAndrew had let clarified glass,
he saw the old bay tree and the shrubbery
ond prpen stufF amid which ha usod m sliD