Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-04-18

from his bed and was preaching wildly to
an imaginary congregation on the sin that
hath never forgiveness. Halsey led him
to his bed and compelled him to lie
down. Then he noticed the letter, read
and concealed it. He saw that it was
mailed from way station and had been
written on the train, and therefore before
Orient had received his letter of confession.
Why had he delayed making it when'he was
with her: All regret was useless now. He
laid his hand on his friends pulse He had
no fc,n-r, and his hopes rose, but he was wildly
deliriT-ls and incoherent, and the mother
seriously alarmed by this new turn in her
sons condition, which had been pronounced
as very encouraging when tho physician last
called II think we had better summon DR..
Corcoran," she said at length; she under
stands Andrews case and cured him once be-
fore"
Halsey telegraphed at once, and anxiously
awaited the doctors coming at the country
station. The train paused and two passen-
gers alighted. That portly gentleman with
the gray whiskers he knew must be DR.. Cor
coran, and--Orient had come with him. He
stepped up qnickly, q great delight showing
rhrough the humiliation which crimsoned his
face, but Orient forestalled any explanation.
"So,,"; she exclaimed, n fine fire flashing
from her indignant eyes, ''this was q
piece of deception like the rest, and you
are not i'll with brain fever. I might
have suspected as much" She wheeled
about and was walking rapidly from him
when her father laid his hand upon her arm.
"Orient," he said, 81 thought it was An
drew Steele who was ILL.,"
"Who, then, is this impostorf' she asked,
scornfully. .....
"Did you not receive my letter." Halsey
asked, humbly. "It is true that you have
been deceived, but not by Andrew Steele"
| And once more he made his miserable confes-
sion.
Orient regarded him with keen, merciless
eyes. II do not see why you should tell me
this if it is not true" she said; "it certainly
is not complimentary to yourself" She did
not speak to him again on their way to the
house, and they all entered Andrew Steele's
room together. &
He was reading from an open Bible, and
looked up vacantly, repeating: LEST by any
means when have preached to others my
self should be q castaway." .....
Orient stepped firmly to his side, and TAX
ing Andrew Steelcs hands in both Of hers,
she said simply: Il have made a great mis-
take. l have learned that had no cause to
write YOU the letter which panied you. I am
Orient Corcoran. Can you forgive me?"
Andrew Steele regarded her with an un-
comprc!lcndng, cxprcssionless stare.
Dr.. Corcoron started violently, and leading
Mrs Steele aside, said to her: "This is worse
than had imagined. 1t is not brain fever or
nervous prostration; it is insanity" a
The poor woman uttered q sharp cry. "And
he cannot be cured?'
II did not say say so. We will talk it
over" And he called his daughter into an-
other room for n consultation.
''They will stay all night" said Mrs. Steele
to Halsey. MAY / ask you to take your
things to neiglbor Browns so that can ar
range your room for the young lady?"
eyes" he replied, "if can be Of no assist
ance." He felt that he was set aside as use
less thing, and crushed and indignant he re-
moved his effects. II will SEQ her in the
morning" he said to himself; "and make one
more appeal for myself" for now Orient was
busy with his friend talking with him, gently
and patiently trying to lead him back to the
actual. Sore of heart and utterly miserable,
he retired to his new room spending the
greater part of the night in framing excuses
and arguments which might recommend him
to mercy At last, completely worried out,
he fell asleep, and, tired nature asserting her
right, it was late the following morning
when he awoke and saw tnat travelling
wagon ssee4 before ths sseelss, ae3E' and
He hurriai across the fields and saw that DR..
Corcoran held the reins while Andrew Steele,
propped with cushions, occupied the back
seat. Orient was bidding farewell to Mrs.
Steele at the door of the house. He Joined
her. and taking her bag walked with her to
the gate. 1t was only short space, but 1t
was his last opportunity, for they were TAX
ing his friend to their OWN home, intending
to drive oil the way by easy stages
'.Orient-Miss Coccoran," he said des'
perately, the words tumbling over each other
in their eager utterance. 81 beg Of you not
to walk so fast, and to listen to one word.
We have heard a great deal lately about the
unpal donable sin; tell me in mercy has mine
been thatn'
She looked up at him with eyes that were
full Of hope and happiness. "Father is sure
that we will save him." she said; "he is con-
fident that when we get him back to my
little room, with everything arranged just as
it was during his first visit, his mind will 60
back to that time; his life will start afresh
from that point, and all this sad interim be
as nothing"
They were just behind the lilac bush now,
which shielded them from the view OF the oc-
| cupants OF the carriage. "Of course am
| glad to hear that there is hope for my friend, j"
Halsey said, 'but you cannot expect me TO
be Indifferent to my own interests. Is there
no space of repentance? Shall you always
despise me, always think Of me with detesta-
tion!'
"Oh, no." Orient replied, forcing herself
to think of him for moment, for, indeed,
all her thoughts were centered on her pa
tient. s'Do not imagine for O moment that
I shall cherish resentment, or remember
what has happened very long, for shall
probably never meet you again; and what
do 1 know of you? Not even your name!
You were only connected with my life by
this distressing experience Of MIR. Steele's
You are nothing to me-"
As Halsey saw the train start he was filled
with bitter remorse. He thought he should
always consider himself murderer if his
friend Steele should not recover his reason.
After few days, however, he plucked up
courage to call on Mrs. Steele. She received
him kindly, and lifted little of the load
from his heart by telling him that her son
had shown marked Improvement since ne
arrived at DR.. Corcoran's.
Upon Halsey's return to the city he heard
from his friends mother from time to time,
and at last, to his infinite relief, learned that
Steele had entirely recovered his reason, and
his health was otherwise much improved. e,
About year afterward appeared the an
nouncement of the marriagSof Steele and
Miss Corcoran, and shfTtly after this they
sailed as missionaries to the east. No notice
of the marriage, however, was sent to Hal
sey He was SIMPLY ignored. But he tel5
that his punishment was far less than he de-
rvcd.-American Magazine.