Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-03-30

YOF
Iar-like superstition which have here
tofore described as one of the tenden-
cies of his nature, began, more active
ly to conjure up its phantasmagoria
before his mental vision. A predomi-
mating trait of this superstition was
an increasing conviction that, in Mil
dred's condition with Arthur Butler
there was associated some signal doom
to himself, that was to affect the for
tunes of his race. 1t was a vague, mis-
ty, obscure consciousness of impending
fate. the loss of reason or the loss OF
life that was to ensue upon that alli-
ance if it should ever take place.
1t was such presentiment that now
in the solitary path of Lindsay's life
began to be magnified into a ripening
certainty of i'll. The needle of his
mind trembled upon its pivot, and be-
gan to decline towards a fearful point;
that point was-frenzy. His studies ia
vored this apprehension-they led him
into the world of visions. The circum-
stances of his position favored it. He
was perplexed by the intrigues of pol
iticians, against whom he had no de-
fence in temper nor worldly skill; he
was deluded by false views Of events;
he was embarrassed and dissatisfied
| with oil ha
wrought upon, bewildered, and CLAM
CURED (to use most expressive Scotch
phrase) by the remembrance of a sick
ly dream.
Thus hunted and badgered by cir
cumstances, he fled with avidity to the
disclosures made in Tyrrel's letters, to
try, as a last effort, their effect upon
Mildred hoping that the tale there told
might divert her from a purpose which
now fed all his melancholy
The reader has just seen how the ex-
pertinent had failed.
Lindsay retired to his study, and,
through the remainder of the day,
sought refuge from his meditations in
the converse of his books. These mute
companions, for once, failed to bring
him their customary balm. His feel
ings had been turned, by the events Of
the morning. into a current that bore
them impetuously along towards a
dark and troubled ocean Of thought;
and when the shades Of evening had
fallen around him, he was seen pacing
the terrace with a slow and measured
step.
1T is plain she passionately loves
Butler" he said, "in despite of all the
visible influences around her. Her
education, habits, affections, duty-all
set i'm an opposing tide against this
passion, and yet does 1t master them
all. That l should be bound to my
enemy by chain, whose strong
est link is forged by my own daughter.
She-Mildred!-no no-that link was
not forged by her; it hath not its shape
from human workmanship. Oh, that like
those inspired enthusiasts who, in time
of old-yea, and in a later day-have
been able to open the Book9of Destiny,
and to read the passages Of mans fu-
ture life, l might get one glimpse OF
that forbidden page! To what a char
liable use might ] apply the knowl-
edge. Wise men have studied the jour
neyings of the stars. and have-as they
Fdeemed-discovered the secret spell by
which yon shining orbs sway and COM
pei the animal existence of this earth;
even as the moon governs the flow of
the ocean, or the fever of the human
brain. Who shall say what is the in
visible tissue-what the innumerable
cords-that tie this planet and all its
material natures TO the millions of
worlds with which il is affined? What
is that mysterious thing which men
call attraction, that Steadies these
spheres i'm their tangled pathways
through the great void?-that urges
their swift and fearful career into the
track of their voyage, without the de-
Walton of the breadth of a single
hair-roling on the same from eternity
to eternity? How awfully does the
thought annihilate our feeble and pre-
sumptuous philosophy! Is it, then, to
excite the scorn of the wise, if we as
Sert that some kindred power may
shape out and direct the wanderings of
man? that an unseen hand may lay
the threads by which this tottering
creature is to travel through the laby-
rinth of this world; aye, and after it is
done, To point out to him his course
along the dark and chill valley. which
the dead walk through companionless
and silent? Have not men heard
strange whispers i'm the breeZe-the
voice of warning? Have they not felt
the tanning of the wing that bore the
secret messenger through the air?
Have they not seen some floating fold
of the robe as it passed by? o God!-
have they not seen the dead arise?
What are these but the communings
the points of contact, between the
earthly and spiritual worlds-the es-
sences or intelligences that sometimes
| fit across the confines of our gross
sphere, and speak to the children of
clay? And wherefore do they speak,
but that the initiated may regard the
sign. and walk in safety? Or, per-
chance. some mischief Matching fiend-
for such too. are permitted to be busy
to mar the good that God has made
may speak i'm malice to allure US from
our better purpose. Aye, as aptly this,
as the other. Miserable child Of doubt,
how art thou beset! Let the vain ped
ant prate of his philosophy, let the
soldier boast his valor, the learned
scholar his SccpticiSm, and the world
| ling laugh his scorn. yet do they each
and all yield homage to this belief.
| There comes II time of honest self-con-
| feSSion. or secret meditation to all
and then the boding spirit rises to his
proper mastery: then does instinct
smother argument: then do the dark
ness of the midnight hour the bowling
wind. the rush Of the torrent. the lone