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

ceeded in lodging under her eye.
"Well, show him in"
"He axed for master fust"
"Show him in, I say"
Who should appear, bowling gravely, his
soft hat under his arm, and his light hair
oiled and brushed into a cone, hut Dr.
Shaw's English master. Mr.. Saundersoa.
Mrs Strangfeld favored him with swift
courtesy, and Jenny also prettily bent her
knees, though fear made that an easier job
than stiffening them again.
"Pray, sir, take that chair" said Mrs.
strangReld, with fussy poGteness. "Do you
wish to see Mr. Strangield! He is in his
yard, and shall be called at once, if you
please. He hath much business on hand just
now-two vessels building, and an order re-
ceived for one yesterday, and likewise gal
lev for Mr.. jackson, Of Mount Zion"
With much deliberation, undisturbed by
Jenny's beauty, at which he flung several
respectful, ardent glances, Mr.. Saunderson
put his hat on the table, divided his coat
tails, and sat himself down. That he was in
no hurry was easily seen, which very con-
siderably, in Mrs. Strangf1eld's eyes,~height-
ened the mystery of his visit
~ am truly glad, madam" said he, ITO
hear of the fourishing condition of your
husbands business, and would on no account
have him summoned from his duties. You
and your charming daughter will, am sure,
be as fully competent as he to answer the
question which has occasioned my intrusion
upon you"
aIndeed, sir, we shall be glad to oblige you
in any way in our power"
GYou are most considerate. / must tell
you that Dr. Shaw, of Greystone school,
with which academy am at present asso-
ciated, is much troubled about his son, Mr..
Cuthbert, who. believe, is known to youi"
This he said interrogatively, looking first
at one and then at the other Of them Mrs
Strangfeld gave her daughter quick glance
and replied:
4Mr. Shaw is known to me by sight, sir,
but I have not the honor Of a speaking
acquaintance with him."
Mr.. Saunderson elevated his eyebrows.
"Why, then," said he, ~ have been greatly
misinformed I was told that Mr.. Shaw
visited here, and was on the most friendly
footing with your family" and he looked at
Jenny with smirk that gave large mean
ing to his words.
| "Whoever said that spoke what is en-
tirely false!" cried Mrs. Strang6eld, indig-
nantly. "Pray, sir, who gave you this piece
of news9"
"An old woman named Mead, ma'am, who
lives behind the market yonder.- was d-
rected to her as a gossip who has all facts
concerning this town at her finger ends. Says
she: If you are hunting after Mr.. Shaw go
to Michael Strangfeld's house-the wooden
house by the boatyard. If they choose to
speak they can tell you all you want to
know"
\ "Mrs. Mead is shocking false speaker and
is most unbearably impertinent to use our
name in answering you. There is no truth
in what she hath said. If YOU seek MIR. Shaw
he is not here"
"Still, ma'am, trusted that you--or you
miss-might know of his whereabouts Last
evening he left his fathers house and has not
returned If he has run away he has gone
foolishly to work-slyly and foolishly, ladies
for no man has seen him, and he has left
with no more clothes to carry than what are
OH his back 1t is idle to suppose that he is
dead. for the cliff has been searched and the
| sands under the cliff, and all about the
| country we have sent our big boys and some
men, and no sign Of him visible"
Jenny sat motionless, staring at the speak
er with unwinking eyes.
| @However," continued he, slowly taking
his hat from the table and rising, lit is plain
that he is not here, and that you know moth
ing about him His loss will be a heavy blow
to his father, who had great hopes of him;
though, for my part, cannot help thinking
that he kept him too much under, and so
| forced him, after a manner, to leave his
home"
But what is thought, sir! What doth his
| father think" exclaimed Mrs. Strangfeld,
too much interested to notice the growing
strangeaess in Jenny's eyes and the singular
blanching of her lips.
| "Why, DR.. Shaw cannot conceive what has
become of him; he is in bad way, and there
is no school kept this morning. Quite sad
ness has fallen upon the Logs. who talk to-
gether in subdued voices; for Cuthbert Shaw
was kind young gentleman, much loved by
| us all As to what has become OF him, have
my own opinion Last night, little before
nine, saw him leave the house, dressed moro
| queerly than ever I had taken notice Of In
him Shall say shabbily dressed! That
was it, ma'am He was undoubtedly annoy
ed to find me posted at the gate, and i'd
dressed me very hurriedly, and was glad to
make off. Now, I can put two and two to-
| gether as well as another; yesterday afternoon
it was that he spoke to me of being weary of
his life under his father-not precisely those
words, Mrs. Strangfeld, but his meaning.
Now, what would his disappearance repre-
sent but the true significance of his language
to me!"
Having delivered himself of which, Mr..
| Saunderson bowed low to Jenny, saluted
| az LOFT
| ing with the elder lady for coming to tho
door with him-though politeness was not so
much her reason as q resolve to favor him
with further views Of her own respecting
Mrs. Mead before she let him out
| Now, scarce had she re-entered the little
sitting room when she uttered shrek and
ran forward to her daughter. whose aspect
was one that might we'll excite a mothers
terror. She stood rocking herself at the win
| dow, with both hands upon her heart, and
her face Of the dreadful whiteness Of the
dead. Mortally wounded she looked, with
her languishing eyes.
"Oh my God! what is this, Jenny" cried
her mother, flinging her arms around her.
"Was he SO dear to thee, then!
No answer came from the pale lips for
some moments, only hard struggles for
breath, with now and again little moan
"Oh, Jenny, rest thy poor head on my
shoulder! Oh, little hands, how bitterly
cold! My lamb. my pretty one-hath he
betrayed thee! Why were you not brave to
speak out your hearts secret to mel Whis-
per now, whisper now, that 1 may comfort
| thee"
"Mother, I am his wife, the girl answered,
and with mighty effort overcame the nausea
and the darkness Of swooning, and drew
away from her mother and stood erect.
CHAPTER XII.
MR. sTRANGFIELD's CONSTRUCTION.
Mrs Strangfield started and fell back
with inimitable wildness of amazement. Her
face was puffed out with the force of her
surprise, and she drew no breath until feel
ing of suffocation made her cry out.
His wife-his ,cife, Jenny, do you say!"
she exclaimed, in tone almost as deep as a
mans, searching meanwhile her daughters
countenance for any hint to make her doubt
the truth of what she heard.
The girl fell upon her knees, with her hands
clasped above her head.
ave were married when went to Syden.
ham," she said, in voice that had lost nearly
all its sweetness. "My fear of father kept
ME silent. But Cuthbert should have come
last night to claim me before thee and him,
and-Oh! my heart-where is he now, and
why hos he left me!"
With which, and with her fearless face in