Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-09-15
OR


to the chamber. Bessie was again
moving in restless slumber. Her cheek
was crimsoned to the deepest damasR
as she tossed her white arms and
moaned in agony. Suddenly starting
wide awake, she uttered a most apall-
ing cry Of terror, as she clasped heI
hands above her head and cried
Save me, save me; oh! God, save
me- Father, where are you? They will
murder your Bessie; OH" she cried
covering under the bed clothes and
clutching them around her person
Spare me, for Gods sake spare me;
or kill me-though so young, am not
afraid to die. In mercy kill me, and
God will bless you. Ellick, Ellick, oh
God, your Bessie, Elick! Is there no
mercy! mercy! mercy!" and shrek af-
ter shrek followed in startling peals'
till Ellen, perfectly unnerved. throws
herself upon the bed in bitter and pas
sionate grief, while poor Mr.. Willough-
by, with tears streaming down his
cheeks, In vain tried to onsole her. In
suffering, scarcely less intense than
poor Bessie, Bowen stood by her side.
She did not know him. nor did she
know any one. In fearless silence he
watched the delirious struggle till ma
ture relieved the sufferer, and again the
blood gushed from her lips. He
thought she was dying, and his livid
face was now contracted to greater
endurance. But Ellen quickly arose,
and with her gentle woman's hand,
wiped the oozing life blood, as she
whispered to Bowen, that 1t was not
yet death. The hemorrhage ceased
feet exhaustion. Bessie's white face
now rested on the pillow, She exhibit
ed no surprise as she opened her eyes
and gazed long and earnestly at Bow
en-. At length STOPPING to kiss her
damp brow, he whispered
do you know me, Bessie? She
smiled, and clasping his hand, whisper
ed In almost inaudible tones
II knew you would come" Draw
ing him down toward her, she stroked
the brown hair from the face that was
almost as white as her own, and smiled
In sweet childish trust. But gradually
her face became troubled. Memory,
that had been hushed for a moment to
rest, again claimed its power; she
moved restlessly. Again the fever
burned her cheek and Guickened her
pulses. She looked uneasily around.
Father is sleeping, Ellick," she said,
but I'll go and rouse him directly.
He's no we'll. but he'll he better the
morn, he says" Unconsciously, she
used much of the Scotch dialect Of her
childhood, which. with the plaintive
tones OF her voice. made II doubly
touching. Her eager glance sought out
every object in the room. Her mind
was evidently working in rapid thought,
her lips opened to speak then as II i'm
patient at some inward consciousness,
closed again, only to move once more
In restless eagerness.
"Ellick!" at length she cried "who
says cannot be your wife? Do you
not love your little Bessie?" And with
out waiting for a reply, she continues:
IF / smiled on other lads 1t was ma
that loved you less; but that loved
to see you follow me with your eyes
in Jealous fear, lest Bessie should think
more Of another. How often 1 smiled
In other faces for the dear delight of
winning you, by simple word, to for
give your Bessie! How often refused
the kiss you pleaded for, that l might
watch my moment, and looking up In
your face tempt you to snatch what
was so ready to grant! How often at
your eager look, till in the instant OF
parting, would send the blood rushing
to your face. with a laughing glance!
Oh! Ellick, you do not. you cannot
know all the .wiles Of Bessie's love;
teasing you with its change, binding
you with its trust, and loving you
dearly, loving you through 1t all, FL
lick" she laughed. do you mind the
night you asked me? How bashful you
were: and how teased you. though
longing to hear your loving tale-and
how you forced me to listen to you
while / pouted and loved you all the
dearer for the manliness that bade me
be quiet? And I laughed and said
NO" and you did not speak: and
would not understand how Bessie
longed to hear it all again. and you bid
me good bye and would have left me:
but when you took my hand, somehow
you did not give 1t up. and I could not
take II from you till, dear Ellick,
found myself weeping In your arms
and you so proud. (and so happy OF
your capricious little lassie. And
thought then never would tease you
again but l did Ellick and you for
gave me till oh" she shuddering-
ly cried, that awful dream-it chokes
me. Air air." she suffocatingly gasp
ed. Painting a moment, she cried
'"Ellick, dear Ellick. never wronged
you in thought. word or deed. You
were dearer than all the earth beside
Oh! how l loved you! So proud OF
your free, bold step; so proud Of your
manly bearing; so proud Of your love;
but prouder than all Of your honest
heart. And now to lose you! What
terror is this between us!" she cried
clasping her hands to her heart. %
feel 1t here. but cannot tell what 1t Is.
and she looked in agony around. Grad
ually a look of settled despair passed
over her face. and moaning, know
1t, know 1t all now" she buried hel
face In her pillow and beseechingly
moaned for him to leave her. Claspine
his arms around her, Bowen bent dowr
and whispered low and lovingly in hel
/ ear. Gradually the clenched hands re.
laxed, gradually the hidden face turned
to him, till burying her head on hi.
shoulder and weeping quietly, sh'
whispered her tale Of terror there
Fainter and fainter. grew the whisper
as closer he drew the dear form.
Wake, father" she said: Il mis-!
him."
They looked on each other In trou
bled CONSERVATION. She smiled.
/ Ia