Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-08-09

we are suddenly deprived Of the strong
arm in which we have trusted
81 thank God, too. mother, that
came, said. "though feel sure that
we shall not be deprived for long OF
dear old fathers presence"
"Oh. do you really believe it ?" she
walled. 81 have tried to-so hard, but
feel l am losing MY hope. Tell me,
my Boris. have you formed any theory
do you found your hopes upon anything
you know or have thought outH"
81 cannot form a theory, mother,
until I know the facts, " said, "but I
have a kind Of feeling that we shall
find father in Gods good time Be sure
we shall be surprised when we know it
at the simple solution of what seems so
mysterious now: we shall laugh and
say, How Is 1t we never thought of
itH'
Heaven knows-heaven knowsl /
cannot tell what to hope or believe
And did you think it thoughtless or un-
necessary in me to have sent for you
and put an end to your Oxford careerT'
"Mother, l said, 81 would not have
staid away from you for a hundred years
of Oxford Besides, when father comes
home shall be able to return. Now,
tell me all the particulars, darling. and
then we can consult quietly"
Mother dried her tears and sat up and
told me her story.
Father, it appeared, had travelled by
the private railway to Erinofka, big
moor, the shooting Of which he rented
with two other sportsmen, Russian
grand duke and an English gentleman
called Hubert. Father liked the place
principally for the excellence of its bat
tues for elk This was not the season for
elk, but he had set out on the Tuesday
morning. intending to walk the moors
for grouse and black game on the
Wednesday and to return by the mid
night train that day, but he had not
turned up at home. Mother had waited
till Thursday night, thinking that pos
sibly father might have found the birds
so plentiful that he bad decided to re-
main another day But when Friday
morning had come and still father had
not arrived mother grew anxious and
telegraphed to the head keeper at Erin.
Okla, inquiring whether father was still
there.
An answer came presently to the ef-
feet that father had left on Thursday
evening with the rest of the party.
Then mother sent man down to the
lodge, 40 miles away, to make inquiries,
but nothing had transpired excepting
that father had undoubtedly been to the
lodge and had as certainly left it again
to return to town.
"That's all, " said mother. II waited
until the Tuesday, as you know, to send
for you, my beloved. and now You have
come. At least we can bear our sorrow
together. Alas, what else Is left to US
but to bear it3''
"Oh, mother. much" I said encour-
agingly 1.-The time has not nearly ar
rived to give way to despair. Believe
me, | shall not rest until I have either
found my father or learned the secret of
his disappearance. Cheer up. my sweet.
II is not like you to give way. You are
so brave and sensible. All the world
knows that -,
81 can bear ascertained calamity"
said poor mother. when one knows
the full extent Of the trouble, it can be
borne more easily. 1t Is the uncertainty
OF this that has unnerved me. But you
are right. We ought still to hope, my
Boris l will be brave. l will hope as
you do. We will not despair until we
have done all that there is to be done.
What shall be our first mover Come,
tell me. You have done me good al