Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-09-21
fl Marriage bu Capture.
By ROBERT BUCHANAN.
(Copyright. 1897. by Robert Buchanan.l

CHAPTER <.
Several weeks passed, and the mys-
terious affair which had so ominous a
beginning and so extraordinary ter
mination was almost forgotten Miss
Power remained in England, now and
then sending a few lines to Father
O'Donnell and receiving letter from
him in return. Wisely enough, the
worthy priest in his communication
alluded scarcely at all to the past. He
rejoiced to learn that Catherine was,
according to her own account, well and
happy, and, fearful Of opening up old
wounds, he made no mention of the in
dividual who had caused them.
But one morning in early spring
Catherine received letter from the
priest containing among other less In
teresting local gossip the following pas
sage:
had intended my dear child. never to tor
ment you with any news which might remind
you Of what you suffered when rendlng here
in Ireland Such things are best forgotten
But unfortunately | am now compelled to
break my resolution II Is only Just to you
and to the unhappy man Of whom ] write that
should do 50.
You must know, then. that few days ago.
while riding at night through the mountains
Mr. Philip Langford was shot at by some per
son or persons unknown and dangerously
wounded. His horse galloped home without
him, and his servants, taking the alarm, went
out to search for their missing master. They
discovered him at daybreak lying insensible
on the highway between Newport and Mulrany
and carried him home.
Medical assistance was sent for, and IL was
found that he had been shot in the back by
gun loaded with slugs and that his wounds
were IN all probability m.rtal.
On hearing the news could not help thinking
to myself, "This is the punishment OF God!'
Yet | could have wished that 1t had come to
lhe unhappy man in some less dreadful fash
bn
visited him yesterday, as in duty bound.
found him conscious and lying in darkened
room. He told me that he believed himself to
be dying, and he entreated me to convey to
you the assurance Of his penitence for the
great wrong he had done you. l promised to
send this message to you and besought him to
make his peace with God. At his desire he
confessed to me, and absolved him. Today /
am going to visit him again. DR. Croley as
sures me that there is little or no hope Of his
recovery.
forgot to mention that Mr.. Langford him
self has no suspicion as to his asSailant. In
deed he seems quite Indifferent on the subject,
and when interrogated By the police was un'
able to give them any information. have my
own suspicious; but, Of course, they are only
suspicious But Of one thing am certain
that if the unhappy man dies his death will
give rise to further trouble. The Conollys,
father and sons, adore Mr.. Langford, and in
expressing to me their belief that the man VINO
shot at him was your cousin, Patrick Blake
or, II not Blake himself. one Of his creatures,
they have clearly intimated that they Will re-
taliate and avenge their master. Thus. You
see, one evil deed begets another Here. in
Connaught, the peasantry still retain the saw
age spirit Of the vendetta, and dread what
may shortly happen
A week after Catherine received this
communication Philip Langford was
still living; but, tossing in fever, he
hovered between life and death. By
his bedside in the darkened room sat a
woman, dressed simply and plainly like
a hospital nurse The doctor, young,
powerful looking man, was bending
over the bed taking the PATIENTS tenn
perature.
After some minutes he left the room,
beckoning to the woman to follow.
1.-The fever's on the turn" he whis-
pered outside the door. IF his strength
keeps up, he may pull through after all. "
"Thank God" said the woman. "Oh,
Dr.. Croley, save him, save him"
"Sure, I'll do my best, answered the
doctor, but you must help me. It's
lucky, indeed, he is to have nurse like
you"
Several days later the fever had almost
passed away Langford opened his eyes
from sound sleep and encountered the
bright CLEAN of two black eyes-those
of Father John O'Donnell
You're better now, my SON, said
the good priest, gently patting the vast
ed hand which lay on the coverlet, land
soon, with Gods blessing, you will be
up and about.
The invalid shook his head sadly.
"I'm not looking for that" he said
Don't you want to liver asked the
other. Come, now, Iwrote Miss Power
your message, and, like an angel as she
is, she has sent you her forgiveness Is
not that enough to put life into your"
he added, smiling
"God bless her," said Langford, an
swering the smile sadly and wearily.
"All the time while I've been lying
here I've been thinking Of her, and
sometimes it seemed she was by me,
looking down and smiling sweetly on
me. When | am gone. father, tell her
that died blessing her couldn't help
loving her. l couldn't help loving
her"
More shame to you," exclaimed the
priest, beaming benignantly. Loves
snare, sir, and delusion. And you be-
haved like scoundrel entirely"
"God knows did, father. 1t was in
this very room that l kept her prison
er, and to be lying here. where she was
once, is like lying in the light Of heav-
en-"
You're a profane man," returned
O'Donnell, with an expression that be-
lied the rebuke, land I'm shocked at
you Will you promise to get well now
if l overlook your depravity?'
"There is nothing left to live for.
She was the light of my life the pulse
of my heart, the breath of my breath,
and loved her better than Cod May
he bless her now and forever. but I
wish to die.
AS he spoke he heard the sound of
low sob, and turning his face to the
bedside he saw a woman near him,
with her eyes fixed on his
Catherine" he murmured, gazing
at the vision like one in dream, but as