Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-09-17


All my thought was how to escape from
this man, for whom l felt an ever i'll
creasing terror
My poor Catherinel" he said, and
| saw that his eyes were dim with tears
IF you knew how my heart has bled
for you. if you knew how | have cursed
myself for seeming so unkind to what
love so dearlyl Can you forgive me aft
er all!''
"Yes, yes, /" I murmured eagerly. 81
will forglve-l will forget-only lot
me go. l am sure you do not wish TO
harm ME You have been mad, but it
is over uow-and-and'
My voice died away in sobs as lie
said, bending down and kissing me on
the forehead:
"You are right l have been mad,
but am mad still. and l feel sometimes
as if | should never be sane again. Yet
l love you. l love you
think he would have lifted me and
folded me in his arms. but rose quick
ly and drew myself away
"You will do as wish?" | cried
II cannot" he replied. IF did
that, should lose you forever. "
do not speak of that, but do as en-
treat, as | command You have done
evil enough already. Do not add to it.
Do not make me hate you even more. "
He turned from me and paced the
room in gloomy thought l watched
him anxiously. At last he turned to me
again, saying:
will YOU promise to become my
wife?"
IL will not promise what J. can never
perform, was my reply.
"You said you hated me. Is that
true!"
IL don't know can only think Of
one thing--how to leave this dreadful
place. Don t torture me. Prove your
love and set me free.
"You must remain little longer, !"
he said at last. my mind is swept this
way and that, and cannot decide. You
shall hear from me tonight.
He left abruptly, and l still remained
prisoner,
The day passed, and saw no more of
Mr. Langford. BY this time | had made
up my mind that escape was impossible,
but feeling convinced that no further
violence would be attempted l resigned
myself to my captivity Still eager for
some means of evading my Jailers |
conversed freely with the old crone and
even at her request partook Of little
food. Most of her talk consisted OF
warm panegyrics on her master, whom
she regarded as the greatest and best Of
human beings
Her name, found, was Mamie Co
molly The old man was her husband,
and the two younger men whom l had
seen were her sons All Of them were
devoted to their master, as was clearly
shown, indeed. by the risks they had
/ run IN exposing themselves 10 the pun
ishment of the law.
Just after nightfall Mamie brought
me a letter,
1t was written by MIR Langford and
ran as follows:
will not visit you tonight, for 1t Is torture
tor tne to refuse you anything. loathe my
self for what have DONE but am like ship
without hem or sail. driven along helplessly
at the mercy Of the storm II Is right you
should know that the police have arrested Pat
rick Blake on suspicion Of being concerned IN
your disappearance The man Is a worthless
ruttian. but IN this respect, as you know, he Is
quite innocent What coward you will think
me to stand by silently and hear another man
accused of my crlmel Do not Judge me too
harshly. however No harm shall come to him
through me- although cannot yet make TIP
my mind now to act +.
This communication only served to
deepen my sense OF shame and horror
sent message to the writer, demanding
to see him Immediately, bat he refused
to come All my anxiety now was for
nv unfortunate cousin could not bear
to think that be should be suffering 10
unJustly
The night passed. and for the first
time | slept soundly. though my sleep
was troubled with feverish dreams.
Why enter into the dismal partio-
ulars OF the rest Of my captivity! AS ev-
cry one now knows l was kept at