Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-10-27
CHAPTER xxi.

~c~---
Mr.. Adams, as he entered the Man.
sion.
That is indeed joyful tidings," re-
piled Ellen, with sparkling eyes
Have you had direct news from our
friends?"
mo: nothing definite" he replied
but the country is full Of 1t. .Tarle-
toms dragons are flying, for dear hfe'
to the main army"
1--WE shall hear today. God grant
our friends are SAFE" said Ellen.
Eyes, think so. I shall not go
home till I hear the particulars"
But the day passed, and yet anoth-
er, without tidings. Ellen was grow
ing intensely anxious. when, at the
close Of the second day, a couple OF
horsemen were seen advancing, and
Ellen could scarcely recognize In the
pale and haggard face Of the elder
her uncle, Mr.. Willoughby. Davie, too
was fearfully pale, and the broad
black patch on his brow betrayed the
cause of his feeble and faltering gait.
"Mr. Adams!-the one Of all others,
I wished to see. This is kind" said
Mr.. Willoughby, feebly dismounting
from his horse.
Henry, you are wounded" cried
Ellen, as ghastly pale he sank upon
seat.
Not seriously" said he. striving to
reassure her by a smile. "Only sa-
bre stroke, and a long ride has weak
ened me-"
An expression of intense anguish
crossed Mr.. Willoughby's face, as he
watched Ellen performing those Of
fees for Davie she had so recently per-
formed for the noble Graham. A few
whispered words from Davie told her
the startling circumstances Of his
death, and Davie forgave the tears
that dropped so gently over the mem
ory Of the high souled chivalric Eng
lishman. Mr.. Willoughby never held
up his head again. His heart was in
deed broken, and the remorse Of years
took speedy revenge on his feeble
frame. A few mornings after his re-
turn he entered the room where Davie
and Ellen were sitting. Giving them
an open packet and a miniature, he
said In touchingly tender tones
Read this, my children, and If you
can, forgive one whose sins have been
only equaled by his sufferings. AS ev-
idence OF your pardon. 1 ask you to
grant me but one request ere death
closes my life of misery and the
grave hides forever this burning mem
ory." He turned and left the room.
And Davie, opening the miniature,
disclosed the counterpart Of the pic
ture Graham wore in his bosom. A
secret spring had been opened, and
another face. in youthful manhood
looked out upon them. 1t was the
facsimile of the portrait Of Mr.. Will
loughby, which hung on the wall
taken years ago in England. A tress
Of wavy hair, black as night, slowly
unwound like a long dark memory,
surprising them with its fabulous
length.
This is not the picture Graham
had" said Ellen. 1.-The hair there was
brown and curling"
NO" replied Davie, that was bur-
led with him. Mr.. Willoughby said he
was unworthy to remove 1t. He open
ed 1t, however, and showed me sep
arate case like this. with his own like
ness and Herbert engraved in golden
letters beneath. 1t was very cunningly
contrived. No one would have ever
suspected there was a second likeness;
and poor Graham carried that next
his heart, perhaps for years, and new
er knew how slight an accident divid-
ed him from the knowledge of his
father"
The manuscript was broken by
much that was irrelevant to the sim
gle history, and had evidently" been
prepared since the discovery Of Gra-
ham as his child. There were prayers
of thankfulness, passionate bursts OF
grief, solemn vows to permit neither
memory or affection, life or death, to
stand between him and the love Of his
neglected child; and Ellen read that
she was to be sacrificed to this dar-
ing scheme. Here then was the secret
of all his madness, and Davie told her
of the stormy interview they had on
the day of his capture. The old man
had met him with a dogged stubborn
ness, which Davie, in vain, tried to
overcome. Finding his persuasions
only seemed to exasperate Mr.. Will
loughby, Davie told him firmly and
plainly his determination. Mr.. Will
loughby flew into a stormy passion
and swore Ellen should be cut of
from all expectation from him. Davie
coolly replied he had enough for both
and was quite willing to assume the
responsibility, then and there, of her
future fortunes. Mr.. Willoughby then
tried to frighten him with his curse
which not intimidating the fearless
soldier as II had Ellen's gentler ma
ture, he implored him by every SOL
emn prayer TO deSiSt MS suit, ana In
moment of earnest entreaty, and
agonized terror, confessed the relation
in which Graham stood towards to-
ward him. Davie was kind, respectful
and sympathizing, but as firm and de-
termined as ever, and plainly told him
that to expect Ellen to make the
atonement for his sin, was as cruel a:
1t was unjust. and he would forbid Il
were it at the very altar. The old mar
wept and stormed and supplicated ir
vain, entreating Davie not to mentor
his suit to Ellen. To which Davie re-
piled he had and would, and he lacked
but her consent to put forever anC
Immediately out Of his power, this
cruel and continued persecution. Anc
so they parted-the one bent on hi
cherished scheme Of restitution; the
other, II possible, more firmly resolv
ed at once to relieve Ellen from these
trials. How each was disappointed VIZ
have seen. The manuscript concluded
in words of most hopeless misery
praying forgiveness for all the sorrow