Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-08-02
Joseph Runnell, the lightkeeper at

Porgy Rock, was drowned several
weeks ago. Shortly after the event,
his stepdaughter, Miss Tempest re-
moved to Cinderville, but remained
here only a short time. Her depart
ure was secret and sudden. Whittier
she went, no one in the town knows.
have made dilgent inquiries, but am
unable to give you the slightest clew
to her present address. Your wife is
not in Cinderville, and has been seen
here but once for many weeks. She
was then riding in the Barton stage
with a strange, middle-aged gentle
man. l know not where she can be
found"
| Guy Fleetwood lay in his dull, silent
room, and pondered the Rev. David
Lanes letter for days and days. Aunt
Deb gone from Cinderville; Esther,
the tigress, gone, too, and with a
strange gentleman! What could that
mean! Thanks to his discreet SER
wants, the shooting affair had been
carefully suppressed-the newspapers
had never got wind Of 1t. 1t was plain
that Esther had meant to kill him-did
she believe that she had succeeded?-
did she feel any remorse for the deed?
Was she hiding somewhere in fear Of
punishment?s Vain questions. Fleet
wood only knew that his bride Of a
few days, with her passionate heart
and her dark, panther-like beauty, had
slipped out Of his life-he would see
her no more.
The Canadian winter came. Great
fires burned in all the rooms Of Tam
arack Hall. The river, with its swift,
unfrozen rapids, sert up little streams
Of pale mist through the pinkish haze
of noontide. The sky looked white and
cold in the short twilights. Wide snow
fields and bare brown branches were
the principal features of the landscape.
A half-breed Indian, in fur cap and
snow shoes, brought the, mail to the
hall.
And in that mail one day, came It'd
ings Of the marriage Of Maud LOTUS
with Robert Crawford. The ranch
man had not followed the pretty blonde
tn Quebec for nothing. In spite OF her
natural antipathy to sheep, Maud had
speedily consoled herself for the loss Of
her cousin.
Joy go with them to the cabin, and
the corrals. and the herds in the val
leyi" said Fleetwood. prosperity to
the Atwoods and the California stock!
In due time, dare say, Maud Will
make a model wife for a ranchman.
Love smooths many rough places,
sweetens many bitter cups"
Soon he had other news to hear
which was not Of so pleasant a nature.
One sombre morning, when the snow
whirled about the gables Of the hall,
and the wind roared wildly in the tam
aracks, Fleetwood, like Samson
shorn of his strength, was reclining,
still utterly helpless, on a sofa before
the blazing fire.
Doctor" he said, to the physician,
who was making his daily visit. tell
me the truth about myself-the whole
truth. Keep nothing back"
The doctor was struggling into big
fur coat. He turned his face away.
Better wait till you are stronger,
my dear Fleetwood"
mo, 1 cannot wait" replied Fleet
wood, quietly; II must know my fate
at once. These wounds have produced
unfortunate consequences, eh?"
Yes" admitted the doctor.
There is some affection Of the spine,
and partial paralysis?'
Yes"
"Curable or otherwise?"
"Incurable. You will never walk
again."
He lay pale, gaunt, silent, looking
into the fire. Did his future rise be-
fore him there, all changed and ghast-
| ly. new of aspect and hideous? Did
he see his half-dead body, stretched for
weary years on a couch, or wheeled
about in a Bath chair by plying SER
wants? Did he discern in those fall
| ing embers, the grave Of strength and
hope and happiness? There are things
in the world worse than death. Es-
ther had, indeed meted out to her
bridegroom a fearful vengeance!
For few moments all was still in
the chamber, only the fire snapped on
the hearth. Then Fleetwood lifted to
the physician such a face as only
heroes wear-cheerful, unfiinching, Sc
rene.
Il will try" he said. quietly, "to
bear 1t like a mani"
(To be Continued).