Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-07-14


light in his eyes, and the iron will OF his
nature hardening the curve and set of his
mouth, and inclining his head to backward
fall of half-derisive haughtiness. With both
hands he held his hat to his breast, taking no
notice of the others invitation to sit
"Sir," he said, slowly, "there is report be-
low that your son is missing. But am not
a man to heed the towns gossip. Let me
know from you that this is So"
at Is So" replied the doctor, eyeing him
keenly.
"Is this sudden leaving of you une1-
pected"
"Totally unexpected. Mr. Strangfeld, if
you have news to give concerning him, l
beg you, in the name Of humanity, not to
withhold it."
Answer me this, DR.. Shaw: Do you
know that he Is married?" said Strang-
field. breathing deeply, and speaking with
difficulty.
aMarried!" cried tho doctor, with unmis-
taxable astonishment. "Certainly not, sir
most assuredly not, indeed"
II pray you reflect before you speak, sir.
! As you answer me now, so shall you be
Judged by Almighty God. who will hold you
accountable for this action of your off,
spring. By word or look has your son Cuth-
bert ever given you reason to suspect he hath
| wife!"
"Mr. strangfeld," replied the doctor,
shocked by the energy of this adjuration, Il
have given you plain answer, and still my
reply is, No. What has put this extraordi-
nary notion into your head"
"Then your son is villain and robber the
plunderer of my child's innocence and my
name and honor! He hath enticed her into
vile wrong; he hath taught her deceit that
hell itself would rebuke, and now hath left
her to dwell alone in the disgrace and ruin
ne hath overwhelmed her with" He let tall
his hat, and buried his face in his hands
The doctor stoud petriAed
"ln Gods name, man." he cried, speak
nut, and give some meaning to your charges
Dead or living, my son is outraged by your
language, and before you leave this room you
shall name ME his offense. that may estab-
lish his innocence"
With shake of the head, as if he would
clear his brain, Strangfeld looked up.
"My daughter Jenny has this day told me
that she is secretly married to your son. Do
you heed me! That she is his wife, sir, which
you would now make out lie! Clear him
of that"
The doctor put up his hand. He was man
of decisive theories, and as bigoted at one
pole of thought as Strangfeld was at the
other So calmly confident was he his son
was not married that he would not even con-
descend to reason the matter to himself.
"Your daughter" said he, in cold voice,
us either wilfully deceiving you, or labors
under some astonishing delusion. am init
mately acquainted with my sons nature and
disposition, and do most positively assure
you that he is the last man in the world to
contract marriage clandestinely."
He spoke with a little curl of the lip, for
he was very confident on this point.
"But-" he was continuing; then stopped
and frowned, with his eyes bent on the floor
"You were about to say it," shrieked the
unhappy father. "Speak out and clear him,
in the name Of God have called him vii
lain and robber-clear him"
II must beg you to restrain your impatu-
osity," returned the doctor, haughtily. "1f
my son has acted the part of a villain, you
will not mend matters by clamoring at Inc.
| Statements have been made to you by your
| daughter, and their veriication is a simple
matter But, mark ME, she is deceiving
| YOU"
With a heavy effort Strangfeld Gained
himself, and, with a struggling face and
twitching fingers, essayed to speak reason
ably.
"You say my girl hath deceived me. This
truly has she done, be she speaking gospel or
| devils lie, in what she told her mother.
Yet you must know, sir, that up to this day
never had I a cause to doubt her as a good
! girl. She declares that she was married to
your son three weeks ago, when we had sent
her for change of air to her aunt, who lives
at Sydenham."
The doctor grew shade paler
"Three weeks ago My son was in London
then. Good heaven, sir, he surely-the i'm
neutrality-suspicious. Mr. Strangfeld kept
his glowing eyes bent on him. "For some
time past" the doctor went on, II have
noticed a change in him, and his answers
have been full Of evasion But if he were
married. he cried, in his eagerness straining
his head forward, and leaning with both
hands on the table, "would he abandon his
wife and mysteriously depart as he has now
done, leaving no hint behind him either of his
motive or his whereabouts Oh, Mr.. Strang-
field, that speaks for itself That is very
persuading argument against your daughter,
SIR"
at is that which has brought me here"
cried Strangfeld in a voice of thunder. "Has
| he gone! You answer yes. If he loved her
well enough to marry her he would not leave
her: If he had betrayed her, then have you
his reason for flying"
DR.. Shaw turned to pace the room. Light
was beginning to dawn on him. 1t was diff.
cult for him to bring his mind to believe that
Cuthbert was guilty of q mortal sin; yet
here was the father of the girl violent in
heavy charges so that the existence of the
victim at least was all established fact by
| surest proof.
GAS the husband of your daughter he would
not have left her." he said, speaking in a tone
of pain and shame, and with something like
horror in the expression of his eyes. "May
God forgive him if he has brought disgrace
upon the innocent! But, Mr.. Strangfeld,
have not you approached your conclusion
with extreme hurryi On the statement OF
your daughter, unsupported by any evidence,
you convict her and my son. She affirms
herself married; and if this be so, it is most
easy of proof. But though the marriage
cannot be proved, what impeachment should
there be in the silence of evidence, unless
you have testimony to satisfy you of their
| guilt"
Mr.. Strangfcld picked up his hat and
turned it about vacantly in his hands.
81 came here" he said, in low voice, ito
find out if your son hath truly left you, as
reported. If he be my daughters husband,
it shall be proved soon. Sir, thank you for
receiving me civilly, and bearing with me.
For forty years have dwelt in Greystone,
and for all that time no man hath ever
pointed his finger at Inc for any act of
wrong That my girl hath owned to secret
marriage is bitter disgrace upon me, who
| have ever tried to teach her the hatefulness
of deceit, as the pathway of one that forgets
the Lord. If you have news of your. son,
sir, you will please to acquaint me with it.
that may sift this business to the bottom"
And turning abruptly he left the room,
and in moment the doctor heard the hall
| door closed.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE DEACoN'S CHARITY.
"A1r. Strangfield went straight to his house,
and stood moment under the shelter of the
leaves to wipe his forehead before entering.
Elis wife, hearing his step, came out of the