Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-07-17

the exchange of prisoners. Through
that medium he received a letter from
Margaret Moncrieffe.
II know not when this will reaci
you," she wrote, "or, indeed, whether
your eyes will ever rest upon these
pages: but 1 should go mad IL I die
not make the attempt to convey to yot
some knowledge of what 1 feel ant
suffer. For many months I have sub
mitted to the cruel silence imposed
upon us. For many months I have
submitted to the harsh injunction that
bade me hold no intercourse with my
fathers enemy, however little thai
father was entitled to a daughter
obedience. Even now that silence
would remain unbroken, If an unnatur.
al tyranny over the affections had moi
doomed me to become the bride of an
other. In surrendering everything else
I reserved to myself the sad luxury Of
addressing a farewell letter to the idol
lied being to whom my virgin vows
were plighted. and who now holds su'
preme dominion over my heart. 1 die
not wish you to learn first, through
the veracious report of a bribed news
paper. that on such a day Margaret
Moncrieffe became happy bride. II
will come TO you In due time though
the hour for the sacrifice has not YET
been decided; but it soon will be, and
soon after that you may expect to read
the fulsome announcement Of mar
riage in high life l shall be repre-
sented, no doubt, as young and lovely
my cheek blooming, and my hear,
overfiowing with happiness. The jew
els that adorn, and the flowers that dec
crate me for the occasion, will claim
place in the description, and. per-
haps, suggest simiie to enliven 1t
When you read the sickening details
distrust them all, except the bitter
truth that have offered up myself as
victim to crafty parental pride and
parental avarice. Believe, that at the
very moment / take upon me the SOL
emn obligations Of a wife, my SOU
will be dwelling with you. That, though
the fitting words may be spoken, and
the trembling form sustain itself un-
supported, even at the altar's foot, the
gorgeous pageant, the decorated cathe-
dral, and the mitred abbot who per-
forms the ceremony will be unheeded
and far away over the broad Atlantic
will rise up the plain and humble
dwelling-beneath whose shelter we
first met, and in the veranda-upor
whose roof we poured into each 9TH
ers ears those burning sentences that
will live through the long eternity OF
ages in which the soul Is destined to
suffer or rejoice. The body may be
purchased, bargained, bartered for, like
cattle in the market; or 1t may be
driven unresisting as lamb to the
shambles: but the heart acknowledges
the gold of the trader and the power
of the tyrant That heart Is yours
and oh, what a mockery will be the
marriage rite that binds me to anoth-
er! How deep and damning its per-
jury! How loathsome it's fruits! DC
you shudder, my own love, at the dis
NAL horrors before me? I, too, shud-
dered once, but I have looked upon
them until am calm-calm as the lost
wretch who knows that he has de-
scended to the lowest depth and CULVER
ed through the deadliest agony. have
even ceased to look forward into the
future, and speculate upon the conse-
quences that may flow from the gnaw-
ing misery Of being chained to hus-
band / detest. Hope was hidden in the
bottom of Pandora's box, and when the
thousand ills that 1t contained flew
shrieking from its open lid, the gentle
goddess followed on glittering wings
and dropped a charm for every woe
More terrible than hers, my marriage
gift contains no promised gladness tc
relieve it's present sorrow. What have
to expect on earth when every chorG
that thrills to the touch of joy Is
broken? and how dare look for con-
ISOLATION to the Heaven whose holiest
laws l have profaned? Profaned al
the bidding of an earthly parent
trampled under foot, that the pool
customs of society might be unbroken
Yet I, who feel and writhe under-I
who know the dark penalties that wal
on obedience to the unnatural demand
have not the resolution to burst the
shackles that encircle me and firmly
assert the body's right to follow where
the heart has gone before.
pity me, for am very weak! For
give me, for l am very wretched! Anc
oh do not scorn me, no matter wha
| tale may be borne to your distant home
of the vileness of one who loved. wht
loves, and who will love you with &
fervor compared to which idolatry /:
cold and tame! With you by my side
should be contented as the tenant o.
| the humblest hut in America. Th'
tolls and hardships that the poores
| ulQeTBO WOulu De sweet, anu, III lIi'
serenity of conscious happiness, l coulC
look down upon a crowned empress
and proudly refuse to exchange my 10
for hers. As your wife, l should b,
gentle, and loving, and good; humbl!
returning thanks to Almighty God TO
the blessings showered upon me, ant
hopefully looking forward to the futur
as a state of blissful regeneration
| What l may be now, let those answe
who have made dissipation a necessity
and excitement Of every kind respite
| from torture. But whatever may b.
my fate, let me at least have the con
ISOLATION of knowing that you are goint
on undauntedly to the fulfillment Of ;
glorious destiny. Up to this time ev
cry returning ship has brought tiding
of your growing fame-tidings that t
me were more welcome than gale
freighted with the spices Of Arabia
Let your remembrance of me nerve yol
to sterner exertion, rather than sinl
you to despondency. Courage and gen
ius never had a nobler field. Press ol
in your high career; and when tramp
led millions shake their chains in glat
| tot OF I chan fac