Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-08-14
CHAPTER XIX.
CONCLUSION.

Pale as death sat the falr young
countess in her dressing room. She
did not tremble now, for every nerve
had become fixed in utter despair.
"Will you not change your dress,
my mistress?" asked zenobie in a
low, tremulous tone.
"No, no. the maiden replied, and
her voice sounded strangely even in
her own ear, it was so low and hol-
low. "Why should I dress for the
sacrifice? The dumb beast may suf-
fer garlands about its neck before
being led to the heathen altar, but,
alas, God he's not given me brute's
ignorance to help me now. No, no,
Zenobie; I will not dress for the
bride"
"But the duke expects it"
'1 care not. He cannot ask Inc to
do it. He may do all he wills, for |
am helpless here, but he dare not
ask"
ooh, my dear mistressw cried the
faithful girl, throwing her arms
about the neck of her mistress and
weeping as she did so, ''would to
God that could bear this for you"
81 thank you all the same, my
best of friends" the countess re-
piled, gazing gratefully up into her
attendants face. "But it matters
not much now. I shall not suffer
long. My sorrow will soon cease"
Zenobie looked inquiringly up,
but she did not speak.
"God will soon take me home"
the wretched maiden murmured aft
er a pause. 81 feel the chill hand
upon my heart even now, and l
know that earth cannot bind my
spirit long with such a curse upon
it."
Zenobie had no more words of con-
ISOLATION to offer, so she did all she
could do. She drew the head of her
mistress upon her bosom, and there
she held it for long time. She held
it thus until the door of the apart
ment was opened and female do
mestic entered.
Lady" the newcomer said, trem-
bling perceptibly while she spoke,
"the duke babe me tell you he
awaited your coming below in the
hail."
She stopped here and seemed to
wait for an answer. But Rosalind
did not speak.
"What answer shall I give him,
lady?"
At this the countess started up,
but she sank back again without
speaking.
"Tell him we will come" inter-
posed Zenobie, who saw that the an
nouncement had taken the last pow
er of effort from her mistress.
eyes, yes" whispered the count
ess as the messenger hesitated and
gazed inquisitively into her face.
And with this the woman left the
apartment.
'My dear Mistress" spoke Zcno-
bic, now calling all her power of self
control to her aid, call means of
help and escape we have tried in
vain. The time has GOMEZ
90 God, have mercy!" groaned
the countess.
-"and we must meet it, since
there is no further hope. 1t will be
better to go down at once than to
arouse the bad mans anger by more
delay. Were there the least glim-
mer of hope, we would not 60. But
there is not. You know what l
mean."
A few moments Rosalind sat like
one dead. Then she started up, with
her hands clasped, and raised her
eyes toward heaven. She did not
speak aloud, but her lips moved,
and she surely uttered a prayer to
God, and it was none the less elo-
quent because it was silent. Then
she turned to her companion. Her
lips we're set and colorless, and
deathly look had overspread her
whole face.
"Zenobie," she said in a tone
which bore no feeling more than
the gliding of a cold, icy sound, 81
am ready. Once more, before the
last joy of earth departs from me,
let me bless thee and press thee to
my bosom. am pure now!"
She opened her arms as she spoke,
and when she closed them again Ze-
noble was within their embrace.
"Bless you, bless you ever! God
keep and guide you to the end of
life and then receive you home to
himself! Kiss me. There, | am
ready now!'
The broken hearted girl wiped the
tear from her eye, and in a moment
more she was as cold and passionless
as before.
"Lead on, Zenobie. I shall walk
without help"
Without looking around the Mos
lem maiden led the way to the hall.
She walked slowly, and she fancied