Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-10-13


adding fuel to the sinful flame. Your
duty is to take the chances. If you
restore her to her friends, you do what
honesty demanded of you at first. II
worse complications arise. these must
then be your punishment"
And her ruin!" exclaimed Julian
Am I to sacrifice her now for the
purpose of cleansing my own con-
science?"
Sydney looked at him sternly.
do you believe that the worst sort
of discovery would result?" he asked.
How can say? Have not already
told you that her past is utterly oblit-
erated?"
1T makes no difference" Sydney
went on, hard-voiced. I'm any case
your course should be one Of inquiry
You should endeavor, in so far as you
can, to undo your evil work, Julian;
you cannot for a moment doubt this"
His eyes, which possessed such pro-
found power of scrutiny, were riveted
on Julian's face Julian lowered his
own eyes, sank into a chair, covered his
face with both hands, and then, sud
denly uncovering it again, burst forth
in broken tones:
For Gods sake show me the way
to-to undo my evil work, Sydney, and
l will follow that way!"
Sydney looked meditatively at the
floor. Presently he drew out his watch
and glanced at it. Let me see your
wife tomorrow, Julian. Send her to
me-" He took from his pocket card
and laid it on the table. IF her bodily
health is at all imperfect (and 1 sup
pose it to be so, considering this men,
tai infirmity), you can let her under
stand that l receive her in a profess
sional way"
"She has been well until recently,
Julian replied, and then he gave few
rapid explanations Of certain symptoms
which had of late developed them
selves.
Sydney again looked at his watch
when his friend had finished. ut Is
long, long past my retiring hour" he
said. Il have acted imprudently in re-
manning up so late, for my own health
has been far from good for some time
past. You will, then let your wife
visit me at II o'clock tomorrow" AS
Julian bowed acquiescence, he went on:
'I will study her case with all my pow
er, and perhaps may perceive some
feature that has evaded your scrutiny"
Whilst he pressed Julian's hand in fare
well, he solemnly murmured: Believe
me, there is only a single path for you
to take and 1 will help you take it,"
Julian found sleep impossible for the
rest of that night, only closing his eyes
at dawn. He appeared, however, at
the early and very un-French sort OF
breakfast, which he and his wife pre-
ferred taking, even whilst in Paris.
The moment that Mrs. Bleeker's eyes
rested on her husbands face, she re-
marked upon his haggard looks. Il
have had but little Sleep" Julian told
her. He then spoke of having met his
old friend, DR.. Brentford, and Of a long
conversation which had occurred be-
tween them. Presently he introduced
the subject Of his wife's visit to DR..
Brentford. Very little resembling per-
suasion was needed in order to settle
this question; her husbands desire was
a kind Of pleasant law to Mrs. Bleeker.
In spite Of all the improvement which
Julian had effected, there yet remained
a sad mental helplessness in this wo-
man. She leaned upon him as upon a
friendly staff. All her consciousness
dating, as it were, from period three
years ago, the ignorance which she
sometimes showed of her own misera-
BILE misfortune, and her failure to OBJ
serve and wonder at any difference be-
tween her condition and that Of 9TH
ers, placed her, perhaps, outside the
real limits of positive sanity. 1t may
be. also, that other peculiarities exist
ed of which Julian, and probably her
nearest body servant, were alone aware
1T doesn't seem to me that am at
all ill.," she now said, with soft smile
and a trustful look at her husbands
lowered face. Still, just as you say
And she placed in her pocket the card
he had just handed her
THE first step is taken" Julian MUIR
INJURED aloud to himself short while
afterward, when seated alone in the
same room which had last night been
the scene of his conversation with Sgd
ney. How will it end? Perhaps
well-perhaps terribly enough! Quia
Multum amavit-those old Latin words
are my sole plea for pardon. l have
loved too blindly. 1t was for Sydney
to open my eyes-to rouse in me a full
sense Of my dishonor."
Only a very few moments after this
a servant brought in Sydney's card
Julian read it with amaZement, and
then gave orders for his guest to be
shown into the sitting room.
DO l astonish you with this visit?'
asked Sydney. when the two were to-
gether a little later. We'll, 1 have
come to tell you, Julian, that my con-
versation with your wife will be al
most useless unless l know"
Yes. yes." exclaimed Julian. Il un-
derstand what you are going to say
He rose from his seat and began nerv-
ously twirling a paper cutter on neal
table. You are going to insist upor
hearing from what cause she has beer
deprived Of memory?'
Precisely" responded Sydney.
Il had anticipated this. 1t has help
ed to drive away sleep, as my face
perhaps shows you"
And you arrived at a resolution?
questioned Sydney, with tones thai
seemed to his companion simply in
quisitorial in their hardness.
Yes" was the slow answer
Julian. a few moments afterward, be-
gan a narration Of the disaster which
occurred during his European voyage
three years ago. with such attendan
events as we have already learned
From an unexplained feeling. half o.
ctronpa raluctance half Of downright