Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-04-08
blue gown-it is his favorite-and wait
up for him. Ihave never done it before.
He will be pleased.

blue gown-it is his favorite-and walt
up for him. Ihave never done it before.
He will be pleased"
Then came an entry without date. It
read thus:
81 am perfectly calm and dispassion-
ate now. I am absolutely alone in the
world, and my love is dead. 1t died
that night, killed by one blow. It is five
months since wrote those words that
seem to mock me-five months since !
dressed to please him. He came and
with him friend He seemed sorry I
had waited up. His friend would not
go to bed. He was going on by the down
train in few hours. Twas about to ex-
cuse myself and retire when the man
turned to me:
Well, Mrs. Durant, you may con-
gratulate yourself on having your hus-
band back tonight. Last nights was
the toughest job we have had for long
time. We were lucky in just catching
the last train, or we should surely have
been taken. l don't believe there is a
square inch in the village that has not
been secured before this.
GAS he spoke Arthur made step for
ward as though to interrupt him. But
he stopped short suddenly and allowed
him to continue. But when the man
emptied handful of jewelry out Of his
pocket Arthur put his hand over it with
ali OATH A ring rolled across the table.
I knew it in a moment-papa's signet
ring, which had never been off his fin
ger within my memory.
"'How did you become possessed Of
that ring?' I gasped in a voice which I
scarcely recognized az my own.
"The man picked it up, slipped 1t on
his finger and turned his hand about to
chow it to advantage.
"'Yes, it's valuable, isn't it, but
not negotiable. The old dukes game
9Shut up, you foolr cried Arthur.
The ground seemed to rock. 1 caught a
chair to steady myself. Arthur's face
was suffused with deadly rage; his
hands were clinched; he started for
ward as though he would have struck
the man who had betrayed him.. Then
he folded his arms and stood as il wait
ing for me to speak.
"'And you, Arthur-you, my hus-
band, a common theft l cried. 'Ohl I
cannot, cannot believe it. Tell me am
dreaming. Tell me l am mad-any-
thing but that and went to him and
seized his hand. He turned his face
away and did not speak. sank to the
floor in my shame, and the love l had
borne him lay dead and in its place was
born a passionate hate. My voice was
low when spoke: Then your specula
tions were burglaries. Your last infamy
the robbery and perhaps murder of my
father! May I never see you again
never hear your name-never remember
that ever met you! Tonight l leave
you, and I will never again willingly
let my eyes rest on your
my wedding ring I flung from me.
Its touch was pollution.
would have passed out Of the house
as was without cloak or hat, but he
barred my way. Not so fast, Florence.
You married me for better and for
worse, and you shall not leave me. Till
the gray dawn crept in he argued,
prayed, besought, threatened. His COM
panion had long since SUNK away. At
last, in answer to burst Of threats, /
said, with all the determination Of q
desperate woman: The up train goes
from the junction at 8 o'clock. If you
do not let me leave by that train, l will
arouse the house and denounce you
both. You will be taken red handed.
You have reminded me that a wife can
not give evidence against hel husband,
but those things will be enough to con-
denim you In vain be implored me to
stay and told ME of his undying love.
'Lovel' / cried. Such love as yours Is
worse than hate. Words cannot tell you
how l despise and loathe you.
"'All right madam, he hissed
between his teeth. You have said
quite enough. You have your turn
today. Mine will come before long,
and then you'll repent what you've said
tonight.
1.-The 1850 train carried me to London.
Arthur Durant stood on the platform.
hat in hand. Oh, the ghastliness of the
farce! His face wore look so diabolic-
al that had 1 not been past all fear 1t
would have terrified me.
"By the newspapers l learned that
both Glenmore and Abbinghall had
been broken into and large amount of
valuables carried away. The Duke of
Lundy, who was disturbed and attempt
ed capture, was hurt in the scutfie.
Mr.. Durant was away from home at the
time, but returned the next day. The
police had no clew Oh, the bitter irony
of j, all .: ,:..,o ,o.o ..
Hammersmith, and for weeks l was i'll.
My landlady was kind, and when my
money was nearly all spent she made
arrangements for me to do fancy work
for her sisters shop "
The further entries Of that year dealt
with her uneventful life in the Ham,
mersmith lodgings. Then came others
that Mabel read eagerly: