Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-08-11
CHAPTER XVII.
HUSBAND AND WIFE


keen, and tho country WITHHOLDING for it.
though there was no frost. From side TO
side Cuthbert's eyes roamed as the coach rat
tied him up the High street. but no familiar
face did he encounter Yes! one there was
an old boatman, who stood sucking pipe at
the door Of an ale house Always, when
Cuthbert went fishing. this was the man
who had rowed him out to sea- He was past
in moment and out of the High street
rolled the coach on to the level country road.
And now, by changing his seat, might Cuth'
bert have caught glimpse, on his right
hand, of the roof and chimney pots Of Grey
stone school But h, did not change his
seat. nor turn his head. nor give his father
thought That his father was we'll was news
to satisfy into silence the faint filial instinct
that stirred in him. Why, it was his own
foolish silence and the trick of a secret mar
riage that had brought the shame Of scandal
upon his wife: but. pricked by memory OF
the cold restraint that had kept him boy
when he was a man, he would have been an
angel not to refer all his own and Jenny's
sorrow to his father.
With his arms folded tightly over his
breast, and ali his heart given to violent
strife with dismaying emotion, and the terror
Of great love, wrought by expectation and
hope to the extreme point where other pas.
sions begin, Cuthbert was carried at sharp
trot along the hard road and over tue ruts
which the cold had CONCEALED into iron; past
the brown land OF fields and leafless hedge
rows, where balls Of birds perched without
futter; and the steam from the horses nos.
trils drove out from either side the coach
like throbs of an escape pipe under the ham,
mering of cylinder
At last came up a gray stone 'front.' with
green ivy flourishing upon it, and the wheels
rang out multiplied echo.
Cuthbert called to the man to stop.
"This is Winston"
"Ay, sir. "
"l'll get out here"
He alighted with his travelling bag. and
put money into the drivers hand, which set
the fellow cropping for change, until he found
the passenger walking away.
A man was standing at the door of the
GREYHOUND Inn. He touched his cap to
Cuthbert, thinking him a customer for Sally,
for this was Mr.. Walker
"Wil you please direct me to Mrs. Strans-
fields housep said Cuthbert
"You can see him from here, sir Come
vheer I stand. There's him with the top
window built out l reckon the old ladv's
seein' company to-day" exclaimed Mr.:
Walker
"Who is there9" inquired Cuthbert, quickly.
"Well, the little schoolmaster from Grey
stones there, and then there's yerself, master.
One an one maketh two, that's company for
Winston. An If it warn't for my garden
oxoaf t,o ord holm nv Ian 1lor6 ~
"Is Mrs Shaw therel"
1Ay, day an night, answered Mr. Walker,
taking close look at the speaker at this.
Cuthbert noticed the glance, and went for
ward
The house stool back from tile lane, with
q space Of twenty feet or so of garden before
it. A big and pretty country cottage, with
the old equipment Of porch and caves, anl
bay windows trenchiny upon the oval plot of
grass
When he was at the gate of it the ham,
mering of his heart confused hi' head, and
for some moments he stood unable to adj
vance, hidden by the railing AMI impene-
trable tangle of evergreen within.
Courage came to him then, and with a
swing of the body he passed through the gate
and struck the door.
1t was opened by Mrs. Strangfeld herself
He knew her instantly, and she him. But
wonderful it was to tehold in her face the
stupefaction of surprise, yielding to in
credulity and fear, then to prodigious
doubt then to light of wild rapture.
In a breathless voice: "Cuthbert Shaw!
O, Jenny o, my darling 1t is we'll with
thee at last" and her hands fell upon his
arm and she drew him in
"Where is she" he exc aimed, lowering his
voice to whisper. "Break the news to her
gently. She thinks me dead, hear. Is that
room empty! Hush l think hear her."
He drew fierce, short breath, and on tip
toe stole into a room on the left of the hall,
beckoning to Mrs. Strangtield to follow him.
The poor woman closed the door, and with
her back against it stared at him rs though
the ideas his presence gave her were not to
be mastered.
"Is she well-quite wellf' he asked
"Oh, yes Mr.. Shaw, she is well. Dear
heart; how wonderful to see thee! Ay, is
she we'll But, pretty dear one. God knows
she has suffered for thee! Truly she thinks
you dead! Were you not i'll ship that was
srnkl Alack. but minute ago you were
drowned, and now you are here! Oh, my
head! my head! Why. who is Jenny with
now, but thy very own father! Otter doth
he come to sec his daughter-for that she is
now 10 him, and so he terms her, and truly
loves her. Oh, Mr.. Shaw, what will she say
to hear of you-to see you"
Her excitement was past weeping. She
was distracted by the sight OF him, and
could not yet believe her senses.
"Mrs- Strangfeld pray go to her at once,
and tell her am here. Go, beseech YOU
cannot endure delay"
And saying this he went to the door. from
which she drew away, and held it open. and
she passed out.
Nova in the adjacent room. toast:ng his
feet at the fire, and his frill showing fro 'tlly
upon his breast in contrast with the ruby
light from the CRATE, sat DR.. Shaw, snutfbox
in hand, cozily nursing his figure in good
arm chair. Facing him sat Jenny, in deep
mourning, her pale loveiness taking from
detection and the somberness OF her apparel
a fine and unapproachable delicacy.
Her hands were upon her lap, and her
head dropping and in that pose she listened
to DR.. Shaw, who was explaining to her the
offer he had that morning received for tho
transfer Of his school.
1t was easy to see from the manner IN
which he addressed her, and the expression