Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-08-25

no suspicion of the truth had ye
dawned on her mind. Perhaps Rose
was sick or dead-perhaps she mean
tc break forever from the cape and al
upon it. Eighteen months had passet
since her flight, and still she did no
return. Better than anybody else
Bess understood the character Of hel
cousin.
1--WE shall never see nor hear from
her again!" she said to herself, as sh'
toiled forward along the perilous cliff
path.
Then her thoughts turned to Susar
Taylor's letter. How strangely the
woman had associated Elizabeth Hill
yer's name with that of the dead Lepe
Ellicott
Maybe the two was sweethearts."
Foolish, CHASTITY words!
Bess felt that she had touched upon
a mystery, yet had no power to GRASP
it. She determined to ask Ira Berry tc
give her the letter She suddenly fell
strong desire to possess ito study
it's meaning at her leisure.
How dark the night was growing!
Bess could no longer see the stunted
balsam frs that made black specks
along the dreary white waste. The
cold, too, was intense-piercing to
ones very marrow. And her garments
coated with ice and snow, weighed up
on her like armor.
She struggled on.
The gale seemed to increase every
moment. The great waves crashed
against the cliffs, as though they would
tear those stern coast barriers from
their foundation. For once Bess Hill
yer's intrepid heart quailed.
A terrific blast swept her off her feet
hurled her to the dizzy verge. She
managed to rise and breast the wind
again. But she was bewildered by the
whirl Of thick snow flakes in her face
and benumbed with the cruel cold
Again she was dashed PROSTATE. She
crawled forward on hands and knees
for a space, but was soon obliged tu
stop-frozen, exhausted.
She comprehended the full danger OF
the situation. Not half the distance to
the cove was yet traversed. In the
darkness and binding storm she was
likely to be swept over the cliffs. A
false step, strong gust, and she would
go down into the foam and terror of
the breakers. To crawl cautiously for-
ward was her last expedient, but her
icy garments impeded her movements,
and so difficult was that means of
progress that Bess soon relinquished
it as hopeless.
Once more she tried to stand upon
her feet The wind had grown strong
er, or her own limbs weaker. To her
dismay she was unable to rise.
And if I stay here" she thought,
81 shall be frozen stiff before half
hour goes by"
All power seemed to leave her. She
could not even lift her voice to cry for
help. And who was abroad on that
terrible shore to hear, even if she sue
ceeded in shrieking louder than wind
and wave? She tried to remember
Andy and Uncle Caleb. What would
become of the two if she should perish
on the cliffs? But the thought no
longer nerved her She fell with her
face to the earth, and the snow drifted
over her in millions of stinging, swirl
ing flakes.
Several moments passed. What touch
was that upon her shoulder? Her
failing sense revived-she moved fee
bly, A man was bending over her in
the storm and darkness.
"Andy!" she cried.
He raised her bodily from the snow.
In some way he seemed to comprehend
that she, his best friend, was in peril
and needed assistance. In spite Of the
gale he held her firmly, securely-the
poor fellow was as strong in body as
he was weak in mind.
"Come home!" he said.
i Cannot, she dnSWeIeu, leiliilly'
think 1 am dying"
He threw an arm about her and
drew her forward. She stumbled for
the third time. He snatched her up,
and then she was dimly conscious that
he was bearing her in a pair of iron
arms on and on, through the drifting
snow Immediately feeling and knowl-
edge slipped away from Bess, and a
great darkness fell.
She awoke in the living room at
Hillyer's Cove. Martha Bray and I'm
Gle Caleb were chatting her numb hands,
and pouring scalding mixtures down
her half paralyzed throat.
Lord bless us!" cried Caleb, as the
girls dark eyes opened, Il told you not
to start out on such night, Bess. Did
you git any letter."
mo" she half sobbed; Rose has
forgotten us-she will never write
again. Was it really Andy who met
me on the cliffs?"
Uncle Caleb pushed her armchair
nearer to the roaring fire. His wealth
er- beaten face was gray with anxiety.
Yes, twas Andy. The critter was
sitting hur in the chimbly corner, all
quiet enough, when Martha Bray she
came in, and says she, 'Bess will be
blown over the cliffs, or buried under
the snow, sartin sure. A wus' night 1t
never was my lot to see, and I'm 60
ing out to git some of the cove men to
look for her, as you can't but jest hob
BILE. and Andy's no good anyway And
as soon as ever he heard that, Andy
he started up and was off like a flash,
and sez l to Marthy, I bet taller
candle that poor critter understood
and she ran to the windy, and, bless
my soul! he was actually taking the
cliff path. And half an hour arterward
in he came a'lugging you in his arms,
and you frozen, stiff, and next to dead"
Bess started suddenly up in her
chair, pressing back the hair from her
white face with two shaking, unnerved
hands. Near by in the chimney corner
Andy sat, as unmoved as though moth
ing had occurred. But he looked less
heavy and sOuless than usual. Some