Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-12-18

sented to chem that, though well
enough 70 leave the hospital, he was
still so weak that if confined in cell
he would probably not survive. Thus
she succeeded in having him paroled.
So there was opportunity for them tc
meet and exchange loving VOWS, al
though they conducted matters so adroit'
" that I, who was present all the time
! in the home, never suspected the true
state of affairs.
"At last came the end Of the war,
and, stricken at heart by the outcome
thereof, my father returned home.
Moreover, he had been severely wound
ed, and his wound, not having re-
ceived proper attention, had never thor
oughly healed. Great care was neces-
sary to insure its not giving more
trouble. Meanwhile it transpired that
during the latter part Of 1864 Marvel
| had lured my sister into a secret mar
riage, pitfall into which so many i'll
nocent and inexperienced women fall,
forgetting that their parents have their
interests at heart, and therefore are ell
titled at least to advise about so I'M
portant a step. She would have con-
fessed to my father OH his arrival were
it not for his weakened physical condi-
tion and the danger which any great
excitement might entail.
$50 time passed until at length it be-
came imperative that she should make
the disclosure. She was just about to
confide her story to my father when un-
fortunately he discovered it himself.
He questioned ber and was at first re-
lieved to hear that at least she was q
married woman, out when he learned
that her husband was detested YAM
kee his rage was simply terrific. He
stormed and ragged until his strength
was exhausted, and he fell to the floor
in swoon.
my sister screamed for help, and the
servants rushed in and picked up their
master. They bore him up to his own
chamber and laid him on his bed, but
an ominous train of blood marked their
progress from the room below, and
when, in response to hasty summons,
the doctor arrived he found that the
wound had opened and was bleeding
dangerously. Other surgeons were sum-
moned, and after great difficulty the
flow was stopped, but the loss of blood
in his already weakened condition left
him scarcely any strength. Besides, his
mental trouble, occasioned by the news
which he had that day heard, made his
condition critical indeed.
"When the doctors had made him as
comfortable as they could, and there
was moment to spare to other consid-
erations, thought of my sister and
sought fer her, but one of the servants
informed me that she had left the house.
| suspected at once that she had gone to
her husband, and, knowing where he re-
sided, | hurried thither. rushed into
the house, and was Mortified to find the
apparently lifeless body of my sister
stretched on the parlor floor. Assistance
was summoned, and, as soon as it was
safe to do so, she was removed to our
own home. 1t was not until months aft.
er that I learned the events which led
up to this last catastrophe. 1t seems that
she had, as l had supposed, sought for
the villain who should have been ready
and anxious to care for her. When he
heard that her father had refused to ac-
knowledge the marriage, he coolly told
her that, in that case, it wofld be best
to part, that he would not separate a
girl from her father, and other things
equally heartless. Then he left her.
lit was not surprising that my SIS
ter's little girl should have been prema-
turely hurried into the world by these
exciting scenes. 'Afterward the mother
improved slowly, but surely, day by
day With my father it was different.
For months he lay between life and
death. When my sister had sufficiently
recovered her own health, she divided
her time between her baby and her ia
ther, and her experience as nurse now
became invaluable At last there came
a change, and one morning my father
awokc apparently better.
Matilda, my sister, was at the mo-
ment having her breakfast and was out
of the room. taking her place for the
time. Father spoke to me, asking me
to relate all that had occurred. l tried
to answer evasively, but he Immediate
ly showed signs of excitement, insisting
on reply to his inquiries. Under the
circumstances deemed it best to tell
him the truth. He listened without
comment until told how her husband
had deserted her, at which he gritted
his teeth as he muttered, The villainp
When told him of the little stranger
in the house, his expression softened,
him. AS left the room to obey he
said:
Tell her to bring little Virginia
with her.
II must say here that as yet no name
had been chosen for the baby, but Vir-
ginia is our native state, and as father
called the little one by that name Ma
tilda would never call her by any other
name in the years that came after.
''The interview between my father
and Matilda was touching in the ex.
treme. She avowcd her contrition fol
the deception which she had practiced,
while he asked forgiveness for his
harshness.
ITO think. said he, that I should
have endangered the life of this deal
little blessingr And, stretching out
his arms, he took her child and kissed
it, whereupon my sister dropped upol
her knees, buried her face in the bee
clothing and wcpt like child. My
| f,tbo, co,thn1 how ond 6no,,,ip., i