Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-10-20

This is not a story Of Arctic travel, and
therefore shall not dwell upon the novel
and interesting sights which I witnessed
during our stay in the little port. Neither
the novelty nor the interest Of the thing.
however, prevented my rejoicing openly
when at last we started on our return jour-
ney. Thirty-six hours after quitting Bodo
we were at anchor in the port Of Trondhjem,
the ancient capital Of Norway.
We were not TO remain long here; but
there was time, Dr. Branksoms told me, to
see the grand old cathedral Of St Olaf, and
the other sights of the place. Accompanied
by Branksome and Fosdyke, went through
the wide streets of the quaint old city. The
first place we visited was the postoff1ce.
There was batch Of letters here for Fos-
dyke and one or two for Branksome. But
there was no further news from Great
Lorton.
@Let us 20 to the Hotel d'Angleterre," said
Fosdyke, when we had done our sightseeing
at the cathedral Suppose that we lunch
there, and have look at the newspapers"
"By all MEANS" was the simultaneous re-
ply Of Branksome and myself; and before
long we were seated in the cosily-furnished
little salon Of that we'll l-known hotel. The
friendly waiter brought the latest copy Of
The Times-six days old-to us. and Brank-
some, after courteously offering 1t to me,
began to peruse it with the hungry avidity
of man who has long been shut Off from
news of the outer world.
Fosdyke and ] turned over the old illus
trated papers which Uttered the table, and
the well-thumbed register Of visitors from
all parts Of the world, while ever and anon
Branksome gave US the particulars Of some
incident of interest recorded in the journal.
Suddenly cry Of horror startled me out OF
the placid frame Of mind in which l had
been awaiting my luncheon. 1t was Brank-
some who had uttered i. I looked up and
saw him with white, panic-stricken face,
holding the newspaper towards Fosdyke, his
hand trembling with emotion. He was ap-
parentIy incapable of speech.
an heavens name what is the matter,
Branksomes Are you illa" cried the lawyer.
"Oh, my Godl my GodI" he groaned, "read
it.! read it for yourself. Was there ever
anything so dreadful in this worlds"
Fosdyke did not seem to understand l
snatched the paper from Branksomes fingers,
and after q moments delay found the
dreadful news which had moved him SO
deeply This was the paragraph which l
read:
aSuppEN DEATH.-Our Lorton CORE
spondent telegraphs to US to say that a pro-
found sensation has bsen caused throughout
the district by the news of the sudden death
of Mr., George Mauleverer, the Australian
nf (1raQf
Lorton estate was recently announced IN our
columns 1t seems that MIR. Mauleverer was
found dead in his bed yesterday morning,
and the appearances indicate that he died
during a tit Of epilepsy, to which it Is ru-
mored that he was subject 1t is not thought
likely that any inquest will be held. Mr..
Mauleverer had only recently settled in Eng
land, his vast fortune having been accumu-
lated in Australia, where he was we'll known
as the wealthiest Of the squatter aristocracy.
He leaves behind him niece who resided
with him at Great Lorion Hall Mr.. Maui
leverer during the short period Of his resi-
dence on his Yorkshire estate had endeared
himself to his tenantry by his liberality and
kindline:s He had. however, been in ailing
health almost ever since his arrival in Eng
land. Nothing is known as yet as to the dis
position of his immense wealth."
We sat utterly paralyzed by the sudden
blow that had thus fallen upon U.s. Even I,
although had no great reason to feel drawn
towards Mauleverer, was stunned by the
greatness AMI unexpectedness Of this
calamity. Fosdyke was manifestly agitated
and incredu ous, unable to realizs what it
was that had happened As for Brank-
some, his face was ghastly. All the bright
ness had faded out Of it, and he sat with
drawn features, pallid lips and eyes wide
open, staring into space. After that muffled
cry of horror lie had seemed to be literally
incapable of speech.
u don't Lelieve it!' cried Fosdyke at last
papers. Eh, Branksome, don't you think
so, toos For Gods sake, man, don't let this
upset you! III telegraph at once" He
started up as though about to leave the room
Tor that purpose.
Branksome fe.bly raised his hand to stay
him.
"Don't CO." he said almost in a whisper,
a:or til. love Of heaven do not leave me
yet"
There was something in his tone that made
me feel that was de trop / had no right,
saw, 10 lntrude upon such grief and horror
as his. got up quietly and stole out Of the
room. went out into the street, where the
snow was lying, and walked up and down
bareheaded, regardless Of the cold, trying to
collect my thoughts and realize what 1t was
that had happened.
And my first clear idea was one Of which
at the time felt ashamed, Of which I am
even more ashamed now after the lapse Of
years forgot all about Mauleverer him
self and only grasped the idea that at last
the obstacle which stood between Daisy
and myself had been removed. There was
nothing now to prevent orr marriage.
Nothing2 Yes. I remembered myself. There
was the dark shadow of Mauleverer's gold.
Even now-from his grave felt we'll assured
that with his dead hand he would strive to
keep us asunder.
The thought Of Daisy had quickened my
intellect, and saw that there was at least
one step which ought to take. went back
to the lite room where I had left Brank-
some and Fosdyke found them engaged
in conversation of the most earnest descrip-
ton, carried on in those low tones which,
on a man. he naturally adopts. They looked
up when entered as though they scarcely
relished my intrusion. Fosdyke at all events
could scarcely conceal his impatience. 1made
a hastv apology. and seizing my coat and
hat left the room. Five minutes later l was in
the telegraph office writing message to my
darling, in which | expressed my sorrow a.
hearing the news OF her bereavement, and
my hope that within few days we might
meet again.
As waitel while the clerk checked the
message. my thou-ht, were naturally busy
with that solemn event. which had in mo-
ment robbed Mauleverer Of all his wealth
and reduced him to the common level OF our
poor mortality. He had been dead now just
a week. Probably this was the day OF his
funeral. My imagination took wings across
the storm-to ;Sed Northern sea, and l saw in
fancy the funeral procession starting from
that gloomy old hall among the Yorkshire
woidS. with one slight girlish figure, draped
in black, following the coffin of the man at
whose riches all the world had wondered. ~
my darling" / cried in my heart. "why am
not with you to hel7 you to bear your sor-
row, and to drive away that sense Of loneli-
ness which is never felt so keenly as by the
side of an open grave"
And then. like flash of lightning, there
darted through my brain the remembrance
of the words spoken to me by Gregson in the
railway carriage, and all of the sinister por-
tents that hal attended my visit to the hall.
Up to that moment had regarded the rich
mans death as anv other person would have