Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-03-30
SG1AE EN- AZNN1N.
Mildred Put to a Severe Trial.-Her
Firmness.
ESTABLISHED 1865.
CHAPTER XXXIV.

fore no time to deal in eYasive speech
es, or to daily with coy and girlish
feelings. l wish. my daughter, to be
understood"
Father have l offended you?" in
quired Mildred, struck with the painful
and almost repulsive earnestness of
Lindsay's manner.
Arthur Butler has been at the Dove
Cote" he said, sternly, "and you have
concealed it from me. That was not
lik, my child"
Father" exclaimed Mildred, burst
ing into tears.
"Nay-these tears shall not move me
from my resolution. AS parent had
a right, Mildred, to expect obedience
from you: but you saw him in the very
despite of my commands; here, on the
confines of the Dove Cote, you saw
him."
II did did,
And you were silent, and kept your
secret from your fathers BOSOM"
You forbade me to speak of him."
replied Mildred, in a low and sobbing
voice "and banished me from your
presence when but brought his name
upon my lips"
He is a villain, daughter; a base
wretch that would murder my peace,
and steal my treasure from my heart"
Mildred covered her eyes with her
hands, and trembled in silent agony.
81 have received letters" continued
Lindsay, that disclose to me a vile
ler-this furious and fanatic rebel-has
been lurking in the neighborhood of
my house, to watch my family motions,
to pry into the character OF my guests,
to possess himself of my sacred conf
dences to note the incoming and the
outgoing of my most attached friends,
and thereupon to build an accusation
of treason before this unholy and most
accursed power that has usurped do
minion in the land. l am TO be de-
nounced to these malignant masters,
and to suffer such penalties as their
passions may adjudge. And all this
through the agency of a man who is
cherished and applauded by my own
daughter!"
MY dear father who has thus abus-
ed your mind, and led your thoughts
into a current so foreign from that
calm judgment with which you have
been accustomed to look upon the
things of life?"
Can you deny, Mildred, that this But
len followed Tyrrel to the Dove Cote;
lay concealed here. close at hand;
sought by discourse through some of
his coadjutors with Tyrrels servant,
to learn the object of Tyrrers visit;
and offered gross outrage to the man
when he failed to persuade him to be-
tray his master? Can you deny this?
Can you deny that he fled precipitate-
ly from this hiding place when he could
no longer conceal his purpose?-and,
knowing these things, can you doubt
he is a villain?"
HE Is no villain, father" said Mil
dred. Indignantly. These are the
wretched forgeries of that unworthy
man who has won your confidence-a
man who is no less an enemy to your
happiness than he is a selfish contriver
against mine. The story is not true;
it is one of Tyrrels basest falsehoods."
And Butler was not here: you would
persuade me so, Mildred?"
He was in the neighbOrhoOd for a
single night; he journeyed southwards
in the course Of his duty" answered
Mildred mildly.
And had no confederates with him.
HE was attended by a guide-only
one-and hurried onwards without de-
lay"
And you met him on that single
nightly accident, l suppose"
do you doubt my truth, father?'
Mildred. Mildred! you will break
my heart. Why was he here at all
why did you meet him."
He came. father" said Mildred,
struggling to speak through a sudden
burst of tears.
silence! l will hear no apology"
exclaimed Lindsay. Then relenting in
an instant. he took his daughters hand.
as he said: My child, thou art inno-
cent in thy nature, and knowest not
the evil imaginings of this world. He
wickedly lied. if he told you that he
came casually hither. or that his stay
was circumscribed to one short night.
I have proofs full and satisfactory,
that for several days. he lay concealed
in this vicinity: and, moreover, that
his scheme was frustrated only by an
unexpected discovery made through
the indiscretiOn of a drunken bully,
who came linked with him in his foul
embassy. 1t was a shameless lie, in
vented to impose upon your credulity
if he gave you room to believe other
wise"
Arthur Butler scorns a falsehood
father. with the deepest scorn that
belongs to a noble mind, and would re-
sent the charge with the spirit of a
valiant and virtuous man. If Mr.. Tyr
rel have such accusations to make. II
would he filter they should be made
face to face with the man he would
slander, than in my fathers ear. But
Il is the nature of the serpent to sting
in the grass. not openly to encounter
his victim"
"The first duty of a trusty friend Is
IN give warning of the approach of ar
enemy-and that has Tyrrel done. tOl
this act of service does he deserve your
rebuke? Could you expect aught e!se
of an honorable gentleman? Shame
on you daughter"
Father. know the tale to be WICK
edly. atrociously false. Arthur Butler
Is not your enemy. Sooner would ne
Law down his life than even indulge
n thought of harm to you. His com
ing bither was not unknown to me
his DELAY, but one brief night; business
of great moment called him hastily
towards the army of the south.