Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-07-21
CHAPTER XVIII.


room, and had but row, at this hour of ten,
which was even tolling, said goodnight to
her mother, parting with her after a long
and close embrace, and with prayer that
God would bless her for her love. Thenr>d did
she lock her door, and sit and listen; and
presently heard both father and mother
come to their bedroom, and the murmur Of
their voices.
In those old times there used to be in
fashion little travelling box, light to carry,
with q strap across the lid that the arm
might sling it, and much used by country
folk
One Of these boxes stood on the floor, and
the packing Of it, with many long halt for
a sobbing fit, and active protest and hopeful
reinsurance, had been Mrs Strangfeld's oc-
cupation for a part Of the evening. Pres.
emily rising, Jenny went to the box and
tried its weight Light enough it was-with
a single change Of apparel only; yet she took
O turn with it about the room threading on
tiptoe) as if to make sure that it was not a
burden above her strength.
She was restless and could not remain
quiet. Now she would draw out her purse
and count the money that it held; now
she would approach the glass and gaze at
the spectral, mournful beauty Of her white
face; anon, and with no more sound than a
mouse creeping, she would pace tho room;
until the fever in her waned, and the passion
ate squirting of thought ceased 10 lacerate
and drive Whereupon she extinguished the
light and took place at the window, and
surrendered herself to contemplation Of the
stars
Manifestly she meant to take no rest that
night, or was very long in going to it.
One would have had no need for sharp eyes
to look at Jenny's face and know her as
girl on the eve of some wild business. To
morrow morning was she to be carried a long
and sorrowful journey by her father, and
when in London, from church to church they
were to wander; and all the while her heart
was to burn in tho fire Of his wrath, and her
sacred purity to be blackened by his thoughts
of it. Her ignorance of matters which, had
she but foreseen all this, would have been
ensy to learn and remember, was so deep
that even her mother had groaned over her
that evening. The very neighborhood
wherein Cuthbert had hired lodgings during
his holiday in London she did not know; she
had never had occasion to write to him. He
had come to Sydenham and met her by an
appointment planned before they left Grey
stone, and all their arrangements were YER
bally concerted with never hitch Of weather
to disappoint them, and that was why no let
tiers had passed.
So, then, the London parish in whose
church they were united was unknown to
her. No light could she give, beyond taking
Gods holy name in witness that she spoke the
truth, which only her mother believed
But the usclessness OF the journey, and the
fear of her fathers anger if failure should
attend their search, were not ths first causes
Of her present resolution.
That night, she resolved, would be the last
she should ever pass in the old wooden house.
Call her mad if you please-and few such
desperate resolves but have madness at
bottom; but there was courage, too a Vlrtu'
GUS audacity, and Of most womanly sort,
acting without reflection; that is; influenced
by the present that was driving her, and
taking no thought of the future upon which
she wns rushing.
The church clock was striking the half
hour after eleven, when with shiver she rose
from her chair at the open window, and,
stealing to the bedroom door, opened it noise
the adjacent apartment where her parents
lay, the fall of an ember in the kitchen CRATE,
the loud ticking of clock, were the only
sounds audible.
Leaving the door ajar, she put OH her hat,
to which veil was attached, threw shawl
over her shoulders, and raised the little
trunk. There was clear moonlight abroad
now, and light enough reflected to give dis
| II Ill., l,N tin
toe she descended the staircase. and, the bet
ter to make her exit soundess, went through
the kitchen. In few moments she had
lightly drawn the bolts of the back door, and
stood in the moonlight.
TO BE CONTINUED.
[Tlis story was commenced in No. 26.
Back numbers will be ful lnished at five
cents per copy.