Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-09-14

him at once and forever | deceived my
self and him with the will-o'- -the-wisI
of friendship.
Then came the second attack on my
person, from which, as | believed, was
saved by the man whose offer of mar
riage l had more than once rejected.
Again | seemed to recognize the work Of
nv cousin. and remembered his words
Il EFF you refuse to have me, you shall
have no other mani" Terrified beyond
measure, was almost tempted to take
MIR Langford at his word and constitute
him my legal protector From this steE
l was deferred by two considerations
my own wish to retain my freedom and
Mr.. Langford's irritating pertinacity
Let me be quite frank. My feelings
toward Mr. Langford were very differ.
ent from those which l entertained fol
Mr. Blake In every possible respect
the two men were contrast to each
other My cousin, despite his good
looks, was what l have described him
to be. an untutored boy, the slave OF
low passions and coarse vices Mr..
Langford, Oh the contrary, was a per-
feet gentleman. handsome fascinating
even, and without a stain upon his char.
acter. Never, under any circumstances,
could have hesitated between these two
suitors. One of them repelled me in ev-
cry way, while the other attracted me
continually
will now, without further pream-
BILE, come to the occurrences Of the last
fortnight and to that extraordinary ad-
venture with which they eliminated
My prosecutions had ceased, my days
were gliding uneventfully along, and
had almost forgotten my cousins ex-
istence, when news was brought to me
that he had returned from long visit
to Dublin. A little nervous and anxious
to ascertain if was forgiven, l contriv-
ed to drive past the inn where he resid-
ed and to catch glimpse Of him face
! to face. His manner relieved all my
fears. He seemed light hearted and mer-
~, and I thought to myself, HE is
cured, and I shan't be troubled any
more"
That evening Mr.. Langford called
upon me, and referring incidentally to
the fact Of my cousins return again
asked me to become his wife.
"You know my decision" / replied,
land really your renewal of the subject
is little monotonous.
"Why do you still refuse to marry
me?" he asked, fixing those sad eyes Of
his upon me. do you hate me so
much?"
IF hated you, l replied, II would
not receive you here" then laughingly
I added, II really believe that my cous-
in, savage as he is, loves me better than
you do"
"Why do you say that?" he asked
gently.
"Well. he is thorough at any rate.
He does not hang after my heels and
fetch and carry He is like one Of the
old knights, who loved desperately and
tried to seize by force what he could not
win by favor. At any rate, he is ro-
mantle.
1t was foolish speech, as the issue
proved
Two days Gfterward / drove into
Westport and cashed a check at the
bank Then. as the afternoon was fine, l
determined to drive over to Ballycroy,
dine with an old friend Of mine, Mrs.
Bourne, and return home next morning.
j ! apprehended no danger and had al
most forgot that had an enemy in the
world.
The sun was low down in the western
sky when, leaving behind US the village
of Mulrany. we drove along the desolate
road which winds through the noun
tains of Mayo following the long arm
or estuary of the sea, beyond which rise
other mountains eliminating in the
highest peak of the island OF AchllL 10
our right the mountains rose precipitous-
ly into granite peaks, which shone clear
and distinct in the rosy light. Not a
sound disturbed the solitude save now
and again the cry Of a sea gull or the
faint "honk honk" of the wild goose
winging high up in the air.
Never had my heart felt lighter and
more full of peace.
Mile after mile we drove through the
solitude, and not one human being
passed us on the road. At last we came
in sight of the old bridge near Bally-
veeny, through which the river flows,
emptying itself into the salt estuary.
Its Lonesome spot, your ladyship, !"
said the driver, turning to me and touch
ing his hat. 1T was here that the boys
laid in wait fer Lord Sligo's agent.
"What happened?" asked, smiling
"Well, sure they waited under the
bridge two nights and days, and Mr.
Smith, the agent, didn't come, and on
the third night when he did come, they
were drunk as lords, and, though they
fred at the car, devil ha'porth Of har-
rum came of it. But the horse galloped
off wild MIR. Smith and the driver, and
young Mr. Smith, boy of II, jumped
off wild his little, small pea rife and
shot one of the men in the back just as
he was running over the brow Of the
hill.
WAS he killed."
"Clane, and there he lay on his face
gripping his gun till DIR. Corley came
and found him, and afterward young
Mr.. Smith had to lave the country for
fear of his own life. "
So saying, he whipped up the horses
and approached the bridge at rapid
trot
By this time it was almost dark, the
sun had gone down behind the noun.
tains of Achill, and the shadows of