Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-07-19


that wind makes out on the sea!
Seems as If twas footsteps hurrying
this way; or, maybe, Esther's dead
and her speerit has come back to
haunt her poor old aunt"
She turned up the kerosene lamp
hurriedly, and cast a trembling glance
around the room. Aunt Deb was not
timorous by nature, but tonight old
memories had got possession Of her,
and some sharp pangs Of conscience
made her vince.
"Oh, gracious goodness!" she con-
tinued. Il did the best could for
Esther always We've all sinned and
fallen short-I," bracing up suddenly,
mo more than another, as I know.
What 1 did for the girl was for her
good. Oh, Lord! that Is her ghost,
sure!" as a great gust Of wind tore
round the cottage, and died away in a
plaintive wall upon the beach. At the
same moment came a sound Of hurry
ing feet on the path Of cobblestones
outside the house. The door flew open,
and on the threshold, white, awful,
spirit-like indeed, stood Esther her
self.
| Aunt Deb in mortal terror, dropped
her sewing and fell on her knees.
Lord have mercy!" she screamed.
1T wasn't l that did 1t, Esther-'twas
Father Joe. He planned the whole
thing from first to last. 1 only helped
him carry it out. l hope to goodness
h'ain't got to answer for his sins!
Didn't we treat you we'll? Didn't you
have your own way always, and
headstrong one it was. 'Hark from the
tombs a doleful sound'-'All flesh is
grass, and dust we are, unto dust
we Now, look here, Esther, Is 1t
really you, or only your ghost?"
The apparition on the threshold en-
tered quickly, and closed the door af-
ter her.
1T is 1, myself" she answered.
Have you gone crazy. Aunt Deb?"
| Aunt Deb arose in some confusion.
For PHYS sake, where do you come
from, Esther Hart?" she cried.
| Canada" answered Esther.
"And what have you been doing this
last fortnight"
Hiding"
"Hiding!" gasped Aunt Deb; from
what?"
| "The officers Of the law" The girl
looked around the cottage, but with no
sign Of alarm. II think am pursued.
There was a strange man in the Bar
ton stage tonight. He followed me
over the beach. 1 stopped at the inn
to ask about you-he stopped, also. l
left him there, but he will come here
he is pursuing mel feel It."
Aunt Deb forced her niece down into
chair, and took off her hat and
shawl. A startling change had come
to the girl. In dress, she looked dis
ordered, neglected. There were hol-
lows under her queenly eyes, and her
lovely, tragic face was wasted and
colorless. All the old symptoms OF
/ life had faded out of 1t.
| mart, Wndl Has ldppcucO ~
you?" cried Aunt Deb, aghast.
"Much-oh, so much!" answered the
returned wanderer, wearily. First OF
all, he is dead, and I am widow"
81 don't know as I'm sorry to hear
that" said Aunt Deb. How did he
die?"
Il killed him."
The old woman recoiled with a
scream.
Lord help US! You don't mean
that, Essie-your mind is wandering.
You look sick enough to be in bed this
very minute. I'll warrant" soothingly,
that you haven't had a bite Of supper,
poor child. Wait a minute. and I'll get
something ready for you."
She ran to her cupboard for a pot
Of tea, set forth bread and meat and
other eatables upon the table and fore
ed Esther to partake. The girl did
as she was urged, but in a listless, un-
conscious way.
when l came to think over the
|
sorry 1 give you that pistol Of gram
theirs, Essie! Sich weapons are dan
gerous for women to carry. You might
have shot yourself with it."
81 shot him instead" said Esther.
81 went to Canada to do ito his own
house"
There was something frightful in
her dull, unmoved voice.
Aunt Deb jumped nervously.
Don't talk like that, Essie," plead
ed the frightened old woman. II don't
believe it-I won't believe it! You're
clean demented. And If anybody comes
a-looking for you here, they amt a
going to find you-not If know my
self"
Esther's limp hands fell drearily to
her side.
What do l care?" she answered,
lhoarsely: life is over-happiness is
over. At first 1 was afraid. 1 assum-
ed false name; 1 hid myself in a
miserable lodging house In the most
obscure quarter Of Quebec. / pretend
ed that l was a nursery governess
seeking employment. For days
watched the daily newspapers. but,
strange to say, found no mention of
the murder in them. Then, of a sud-
den, all fear left me. l determined to
return to you boldly I have had my
vengeance Should / live a century,
there could be nothing more for me in
life. am ready to give myself up
T wish they would come and take me
now. He was false, Aunt Deb-he
was going to marry his cousin. saw
her with him. l heard him tell her
that he loved her. Do you wonder that
I killed him."
"Oh," cried Aunt Deb, in distraction
ITS just what l expected! One
foot on the land and one on the sea,
the deceiver to one thing constant new
Ier. Hark there's somebody coming
up the path, as sure as you're born!
Now, where be going to conceal you
Esther Hart?"