Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-02-01


nothing. Then Raymond murmured:
"Alas, Suzanne, I love you so," and he was
gone.
Then she arose, her whole face covered
with one burning blush, and her whole being
filled with wondrously sweet happiness, and
for while, in this delicious awakening of
pure maiden's love, she forgot. Then, sud-
denly vision rose before her, and she whose
whole beautiful face but moment before
was eloquent with love, grew pale and drawn
with horror.
"What have I done! Oh, my God, what
have done! 7 have let him love me; love
him. For one little minute forgot that love
and marriage are not for me!''
All that day she battled with her heart,
and poor child, when its own pain had dead
ened her other senses, she thought she had
won.
She crept into the house and up to her
room unobserved, and when her father came
that woman's blessed boon in the wayo Of ex-
cuse, headache, pleaded for her.
The next day Nine. De Noirville came tc
see them just as they had returned from a
, drive. Julia had come with the intention, ,ot
pleading Raymonds cause in his demand for
the hand of Mile. Forney. Raymond had
driven her over, but had not attempted to
enter the house; but as NJ. Forney stepped
forward to receive Mme De Noirville, Ray
mond sprang to the side of Suzanne, who re-
ceived him with GOODNESS so marked that he
drew back in alarm. His eyes questioned her
in vain for the cause of this sudden change.
He thought:
'She must have awakened and resented
such liberty. What shall do?"
"Oh, mademoisele, pardon me, I implore." 1"
sin what have you offended that you ask
my pardony' said she, more coldly and
haughtily, if possible, than before.
81 thought feared-that was unhappy
enough to have in some way veXed you"
"You are mistaken" said she, bowling, and
leaving him speeches..
Raymond managed to make sign to his
mother, begging he: to say nothing to NJ.
Forney on the subject so near his heart, and
their conversation was therefore on ordinary
topics, and they soon took their leave.
1t would I've too much to say that Suzanne
regretted her severity, but it is very sure that
her heart ached heavily oil the time, and she
lost color and spirit, so much so as to seri-
ously disquiet her father, who feared that she
was i'll, but she declared herself pc: ectly
we'll.
"Well, do you feel contented here? Would
you like to 60 away, to Paris or any other
place? You have only to say what you wish,
you know, my child, to find me willing"
II am perfectly happy here, father" she
replied, "and like this quiet, peaceful exist
ence far better than would a gayer place.
So say no more, pray YOU"
The real reason that she did not wish to
leave her present home for Paris was that she
knew that Raymond's vacation ended very
soon, and that he then would be near her
there, following her at every turn, and here
she would be free.
Summer passed all too swiftly, and autumn
came with its gorgeous beauty of coloring
and its wealth of harvest, and October had
nearly gone Already the nights were cold
and frosty, though the days were bright and
sunny, and Suzanne wandered about their
park and even into the forest beyond, as IL
she hunted her lost peace Of mind. Her young
heart was heavy with unshed tears, but
though she knew she loved Raymond, she
had been through such awful and strange ex-
periences that she was matured far beyond
her age, and her reason and knowledge Of the
past taught her that love or marriage with
an honorable man with an untaInished name
was not for her; that fate had ordered that
her life should be passed alone.
~ One day rs she sat on fallen tree absorbed
in these thoughts, her tears fell unheeded
upon her cheeks for her withered youth and
lonely future which fathers love could
now never fill, and she thought she heard
step behind her.
She knew so we'll who was there that she
did not even turn her head, but by supreme
effort Of will conquered her agitation and her
face wore mask Of scorn and naughty dis
dain as Raymond came in front of her, and
joining his hands exclaimed:
Suzanne, Suzanne, have pity on mel"
"You can have nothing to say to me that l
wish to hear. beg, therefore, you will per-
init me to pass"
"No; this life is intolerable! You treat me
as if were the veriest wretch on earth. 1t IS
not so that an honest mans love should be
trampled upon"
~ do not know what you refer to. I simply
find your attentions distasteful, and I wish to
make you so understand. AS you seem to be
unable to understand actions I am obliged to
tell you so'
She wished to pass him, but lie stepped in
front of her, saying:
"You shall not go until you have heard
me-"
"Your action makes me but the more posi-
tive that have done right in refusing to
speak to you. Since you threaten me, re-
gard you as q coward"
$50 be it. am coward"
She recoied little before Raymond, who
seemed no longer to be able to control him
self. But behind her was the ravine, with its
abrupt and stony bank, so that she could not
escape him that way without danger. and she
turned to him, saying angrily:
"If you make one step toward me 1 shall
throw myself down."
Suzanne, I pity you"
"Me! You pity me?"
"Yes, for you must love Inc well to treat
me in this manner. You must have some
reason why you do not want-not dare ac-
cept my love, and thus try to hide your own.
I feel now what have never dared hope
you do love me-"
'sYou are utterly mistaken; do not love
you. Inever did, never shall, and your love
is an offense to me-"
Suzanne! you are very hard, very cruel.
Listen. Impose upon me any condition you
think necessary. However hard it may be l
will accept"
Still no answer.
"Then there remains but one thing for me,
and that is death. cannot live without
hope, without your love. Adieu, Suzanne.
May you be happy"
And the young man, in half demented
condition, raised the muzzle of his gun and
placed it against his heart, both barrels
loaded, and before Suzanne could speak
raised his boot to strike the triggers. Suzanne
sprang forward involuntarily and caught the
muzze. turning it slightly, so that the two
charges whizzed by her head and the powder
burned her dress.
Her heart melted. Ono second more and
he would have been lying corpse at her feet,
and, forgetting all that had seemed to her
such potent reasoning, she sank to her former
seat, powerless and faint.
CHAPTER XIII.
"Raymond," said Suzanne, in feeble,
tremulous voice, "you have frightened me. 1
will tell you something which you have
right to know I love you. have loved you
from the first. l am not ashamed to say it.
even think 1 love you truer than you do