Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-05-22
Copyright 1901, by Thomas P. Montfort
CHAPTER XIX.
LOUISA.

When Sim did not appear at break
fast next morning, she went up to his
room to see If he was there. 1t was
then she discovered the little pile OF
money and the papers he had left on
the table. With premonition Of what
was to come she pushed the money
aside and eagerly took up the first pa
per and unfolded it. 1t was the poor
little note Sim had written to her. She
read 1t through. then sank into chair
and. pillowing her head on the table,
burst into tears.
1t would have been hard heart that
would not have been affected by the
simple pathos Of Sims words. and Lou
lisa was not hard hearted. She was
touched, deeply touched. by the manly,
generous manner in which he absolVed
her from all blame and bravely took 1t
all on his own shoulders. That note
presented him to her in new and
far more favorable light than she had
ever seen him. 1t showed how truly he
could love, how good and generous bis
heart was and how grand and noble his
nature.
She realized now that in losing him
she had lost one of the purest and tru-
est souls that ever lived. and she re-
pretted, deeply and sincerely. that she
could not love him.
"But | tried" she told herself. "God
knows tried, to love him and wanted
to love him, but couldn't Yet l was
not worthy of such a man or or such
love as he gave me-"
Presently she took up the deeds anu
read them over. The tears started
afresh to her eyes.
"More of his goodness" she thought
"No other man would have done such a
thing. Oh. Sim! Poor. heartbroken
Sim! How pity you!
Later in the day she went out ana
stood BY the gate, looking down to-
ward the wood. the way she had seen
Sim 20 the previous evening. Her
heart was heavy, and her thoughts
were all Of him. Before he went she
had always thought she could never be
happy except with Frank Shelton. but
now she felt that she could never be
happy again under any circumstances.
Presently Mary Mann came down
the street on her way home from the
store, where she had gone to view Mel
wins remains and to learn all the news
about the tragedy. Louisa had not
been from home all day, and no one
had visited her, so she was entirely ig.
norant of all that had transpired to set
the community in a tumult Of excite
ment. Mary Mann knew this. and,
glad Of an opportunity to tell the news
and at the same time inflict q cruel
wound on one she hated. she stopped
when she reached Mrs. Banks and ac-
costed her sweeuy, very, very sweetly,
with:
"Howdy. Loueesy? I'm right glad
to see you. You rale well|
"I'm very we'll Mrs. Manu." Louisa
replied coldly without looking up.
I'm glad to hear it." Mrs. Mann said
in her suavest tones, ignoring Louisa's
coldness. I'm rale glad to hear it.
Loueesy. but l must say you amt
a.lookin very WE'LL"
I'm very we'll, thank you"
"Yes? And Sim Il suppose he's
WE'LL?
II presume So"
"Is he at home today2"
"No."
"Where Is he. LoueesyW
Mrs. Banks. remembering all she had
heard Of the relationship existing be.
tween this woman and Sim. flashed an.
cry In an instant.
81 don't know" she replied sco-nful-
ly, that it's particularly any OF your
business where he Is"
Mrs. Mann did not allow her feelings
to be ruftied by this curt answer. Her
time to deal deadly thrust was COM
ing. and then her revenge would be so
full that she could well afford to wait.
Quietly she said:
"Oh. you feel that way bout it, do
you"
81 do"
"Waal. l s'pose it's nat'ral, Loueesy,
that you should. l reckon it's even
nat'ral that you should feel that 1t
amt nobody's business"
whether it's natural or not, Mrs
Mann, that Is just how feel"
Jest so. But, for all that, Loueesy,
there's many as will feel different
bout it. There's heap Of people, an
specially the officers. who will think
it's right smart of their business"
Louisa raised her head and gave Mrs.
Mann look Of scOrn.
Il know Of no reason why they
should" she replied, nor do presume
you know Of any"
La! Is that so? Then you've not
heard bout all that's been goin on to-
day."
Il have heard nothing"
Now had the time Of Mrs. Mann's
revenge arrived-revenge for the loss
of Sim and all she had suffered in con-
sequence of it. Bluntly. almost brutal
ly. she said:
"Then you didn't know that your low
er, James Melvin. had been found dead
with bullet hole through his heart.
1t was a cruel blow cruelty dealt,
and Louisa staggered under 1t. Her
ewes opened wide, her face became
deathly white, and for moment her
heart stopped beating. She reeled and
would have fallen had she not clung to
the fence for support. Her lips moved
as If in speech, but no sound escaped
them.