Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-09-08
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Her Fate.

crimson brands were alternately hash-
ing and smoking. In the light ano
shadow thus made Edith Fassel stood
with her hand on her brothers shoul-
der, and her anxious eyes searching his
face.
"Paget, what will you do now?" she
asked.
GO my way" he answered, husKlly
"and forget her-if CAM"
How strange and dreadful it all
seems!" she shuddered. Love came to
you tardily, Paget. You cared nothing
for womankind until you met her.
can forgive her everything but the
breaking of your true heart
A faint spasm appeared on his face.
do not reproach her, even in your
thoughts, Queenie. 1t is impossible for
us to measure her temptation"
"Oh, Paget. know how it will be
you will redouble your rowing now
from this time henceforth you will find
no peace anywhere"
He bent, and with affected careless
ness pushed a fallen brand into place
on the firedogs.
81 shall go tomorrow" he said; you
need not be told that it is better for
me to avoid meeting her again. The
story will make a wretched scandal l
would save her, if could, from carp
ing tongues, but that is impossible.
Lepel Ellicott is furiously angry
Quite pitiless!" sighed Edith; "he
will never forgive her"
He drew a deep breath.
Mrs. Ellicott will be kind. and you,
Queenie, must remain her friend"
For your sake, Paget."
He pressed her hand.
You will be a power Of strength to
the poor child. Stand by her, Queenie,
and she cannot feel wholly forsaken.
Thank Cod" the words wrung from
him by some great anguish, "she will
never suffer as 1 am suffering-it is
not in her nature"
You do not believe that Mignon
loves you as you love herr"
He shook his head.
Consider, Queenie. I am a man
past thirty, wrestling with the first
supreme passion of my life-she is
hardly twenty, and exceedingly child
ish for her years. Already she forgets
her first love-why not the second al
so? To think otherwise would be in
supportable to me. Better-far bet
ter that she should be found incapable
Of strong emotion, than to break her
heart in regrets for our lost happi-
ness"
Edith started suddenly.
"Hark!" she said; what noise is
that, Paget?"
He listened. The storm still Sob
bed outside, but it was not that which
he heard. Something was beating on
the hall door of Windmere, not loudly,
but with steady persistence. He went
forward and opened it.
On the threshold stood Mignon.
A long black cloak wrapped her slen-
der figure, beneath its hood her drench-
ed yellow hair clustered in disordered
masses. Without word, Fassel drew
her into the hall.
"Oh Mignon! Mignon!" exclaimed
Edith, in Mortified amazement. You
here-at this hour?"
ITO whom should I come but to
you?" the girl answered. you prom
ised to befriend me in time of trou-
BILE"
They led her to the fire, and took off
her cloak 1t was dripping wet-her
dress, her tiny feet were soaked in
water.
Where have you been, Mignon?"
cried Edith, aghast.
1T was very dark in the avenue, "
she answered. II turned in the wrong
direction, and stepped into the lake
your little lake, Queenie. where the
swans are kept. The water was so
cold" shivering. Il felt like one of
those desperate wretches who rush on
death, because they can no longer en-
dure life. Then I saw the lights shin
ing in your windows, and hurried to
you as fast as l could"
And on foot?"
Yes. AS soon as they left me to
myself stole out Of the house, could
not stay there another moment. So
long as l remained under that roof
was l not keeping the mother and son
from each other? Lepel Ellicott will
return when he knows I am no longer
there-not before!" said Mignon.
Brother and sister exchanged
glances. AS the former vanished
through a neighboring door, Edith
called a servant to bring some dry
garments and make her unbidden
guest comfortable. This done, she
went forward to the hearth rug. and
knelt by Mignon, and looked up COM
passionately into her small white face
MY poor child, Lepel will forgive
you-he cannot help it; he, too, has
sinned. His better nature will tell
him that he cannot consistently con-
denim you. You will yet be reconciled
to your husband"
She made a gesture of horror
NO. no." she cried, wildly. I'M
possible. l should then be a thousand
times more wretched than l now am
l abhor him. He is not my husband!
True, there were words said over us
by a clergyman. but it seems ages age
so long, indeed, that l have forgot
ten its meaning. Don't talk Of I.epe
Ellicott."
She started suddenly from her chair
and flew to meet Paget Fassel, who
had just entered the hall again.
"Oh. love-" she cried. throwing heI
wild. white arms around him, laying
her colorless cheek against his shOul'
der. You have not spoken a word tt
me since this dreadful thing happened
You think me too wicked for forgive
ness. or even tolerance"
Il think nothing Of the kind" he an
swered, hOarsely; but what can l say
Mignon? You have broken my heart!
She gave an agOnized cry.
Not that-anything but that!
cannot bear that you should suffer fO
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