Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-06-07

Items OF news that mlgnG In any way
serve to interest him, and after that
they talked for little while, and then
Alan Stacey said that he might as well
get up as lie idling there, and Mary
went down stairs again, carrying the
paper in her hand; carrying also her
burden with her; carrying with her
the knowledge and the conviction that
he would have to be told; that she must
be the one to break the news to him;
that there must be no shirking it, no
getting out Of It; that it was a task
which lay right in front Of her, task
which she must accomplishment the
sooner the better.
Then she remembered that If she told
him Alan would naturally ask to see
the paper containing the news. But she
had burned it She felt-so strangely
are we moved by triaes in times Of
great dificulty-that she could not en-
dure to let him know that her first
thought had been to hide the truth
from him. Then how was she to ac-
count to him for having destroyed that
part of the paperH Should she send out
end get another copyf She did not like
to do that, nor did she like to 60 her.
self-it would look so strange.
And then the thought came to her:
Why tell him at all7 Why say anything
about it3 Why break up and destroy
their intense happinessf Nothing could
be wider apart than the lives led by
Edward Conway and Alan Stacey's
wife Why admit that she had seen the
news that part Of the crew of the Ari-
khama had been rescuedf Just now
when Alan was showing signs of over
work and about to take a holiday, it
would be cruel to deal him such blow.
A few weeks longer in her sunshine
would make no difference to anybody
but herself. Alan would never know
Edward Conway need never know
that she had been aware all along that
three men belonging to the Arikhama
had been rescued off an uninhabited
island in the Pacific ocean. Why should
she say anythingf Why should she not
at least let Alan finish his book-the
greatest book he had ever done-take his
holiday, and, if the blow fell then-why,
he would be the better prepared to
meet it. It would be bad enough if Ed
ward Conway discovered her and the
secret could not be kept any longer.
Having thus made up her mind to
keep the news which had reached her
to herself, she acted Immediately. She
DESTROYED the torn sheet Of the paper
and thrust the part which remained
carelessly into the rack with the other
journals, trusting to her own wit to
keep Alan from wishing to look at it
during the day. It was an off day with
the young lady who typed to her dicta-
tion, so that she was free Of any tie Of
work. She set herself to do some nee
dlework in order that she might look oc-
cupied when Alan made his appearance,
and she sat near the window stitching
industriously, while her mind went over
and over again such shreds of self
justification as she could find to salve
her conscience She told herself that 1t
was not as if she had gone into an ir-
regular union with her eyes open.
She had truly and honestly believed
herself to be Edward Conway's widow,
and her marriage with Alan was her
real marriage. What was it they saidf
"I require and charge you both, as ye
will answer a. the dreadful day Of judg-
ment, when the secrets of all hearts shall
be disclosed, if either Of you know of
any impediment why ye may not law
fully be joined together in matrimony,
ye do now confess it. " Then came these
impressive words: "Those whom God
hath joined together let no man put
asunder " Surely, surely, God had join
ed them; surely, surely, it had been by
the permission of God that such blaze
of pure and Innocent joy and glory had
come into her life; surely she would be
doing right to continue such union
The most fanatical and bigoted lover of
could never wish that
she should go back to live the life of
shame and degradation which had been
hers during those few months after her
first marriage-after that barbarous sale
of herself into which she had been driven
by circumstances absolutely beyond her
control.
Alan Stacey came down presently,
and when Mary noticed how haggard
and i'll he was looking she thanked
heaven that she had kept the news of
Edward Conway's survival to herself
She exerted herself in every possible
way to please him, coaxing him to eat
when lunchtime came and being SEEM
ingly in the gayest and brightest OF
spirits. But nothing served to rouse him
from the dull depression which seemed
to have taken possession of him.
81 believe you ought to have staid
in bed," she said at last as he sat mop
ing and shivering over the fire.
"No; I'm better up" he answered.
1.-The book is weighing on your mind.
dearest. go, :,
"Horribly, he replied, "horribly. l
feel as if 1 should never finish it,
"Oh, don't say thatl You've been
burning the candle at both ends. You
cannot do this work and 60 to fancy
dress balls at the same time. Why not
let us slip away and finish it quietly
somewhereH Supposing that we pack
up and go to some quiet little place
where we can work in peace and COM
fort, and after that we will 60 off on
our long holiday"
He caught at the suggestion eagerly.
"That's a good idea, Mary" he re-
piled; "that's very good idea. You'll
take little Miss Wilmington down with