Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-11-01


those other daring ones. Still, if eve
century, it was this same Marbury Bell
He was beginning to feel a certain awe o
his elder sister; he came suddenly to dellgh
even in her presumption; he was on the
point of according her full forgiveness, yea
thanks, for her persistent scheming when
A merry rippling laugh tloated up from
the porch below. AS though it were the
most natural of things, Howard Ralph went
out and down the stairs. He was face tC
face with Marion Herndon ere he realized
hisoWn presumption. But she did notmind
he saw, delightedly she was frolicking
with the dog, and she looked up with q
blush, yet with smile. u
"Good-morning," she said, and then-"1
saw you on the train yesterday, but did
not dream you were coming here, she add
ed, frankly. "Whatever attracted you to
st. Philips 20 was the question plainly
written in her face.
He could not be taken bitaback.
II was not intending to stop at St. Phil
ip's," he stammered, "but-but | did," he
finished, simply.
"And I think you did a very sensible
really to enjoy his odd conclusion. "You
will surely like st. Philips if you do not
mind the quiet I think there is no place SC
charming on the earth. But, then, 1 have
special reasons for liking SUCH" She paused
abruptly, as though remembering she was
talking tO-a stranger.
Her reasons flashed OH him she liked ST.
Philips because she was free from throng
of suitors she must, at best, suspect; because
here she might have the satisfaction Of
knowing that some man loved her even
though he were the long-nosed farmer she
could never marry. And then suddenly
his own position dawned on him. She had
heard of him, of course; Mrs. Marbury Bell
would never scheme all on one side. She
would hear his name-hear it this very
morning, and then
What had attracted him to St. Philips
would be quickly revealed to her. The re-
alization was uncomfortable he could barely
control himself to renew polite converse.
ton. What should he do? Go to his host
and beg him to concealhis name? Quitetoc
ridiculous. Go away now, escape this ter:
rible denouement at any cost? He could
nOt-he would not.
Howard Ralph was quite beside himself
as he went into breakfast. But fortune ia.
vOred him.
''N1r. Rolfe, think you said your name
was ?" was the remark, to which he wick.
edly nodded acquiescence. So the bliss Of
the days was spared him-the near happy
days wherein they lived and strolled to.
gether up the mountains heights and
through the pretty valley. For it was ear
ly season; they were the only bOarders yet
arrived, and somehow it seemed the most
natural of things to both that she should
show him all the familiar hooks, the fairest
bits of st. Philips.
A three days rapture, every hour in
which he grew madder in love with Marion
HerndOn, and some blissful moments il
daWned to him that she did not dislike
him-that is, she did not dislike the strange
Mr. Rolfe who might not dream that she
was an heiress. This thought was the ono
bitter drop always in the cup, and the sole
restraint on a passion which, save for it,
could never have lived three days uneX
pressed.
So he was pondering when came that un
expected mail from Brumpton. 1t CHANGED
she brought it to him.
"You are brother Of Mrs. Marbury
Bell ?" she asked quietly, as she handed
him the letters.
1t was all over he read that plainly as
he looked up in her face. 1t was naught tt
him that moment, her frank look of disap
pontment, the bit of real trouble she scarce
ly meant that he should see, seeing thai
they should be estrangers forevermOre. How
ard Ralph was to be nothing to her, what
ever had been Mr.. Rolfe!
Plain, so plain, and yet he could not blame
her. 1t was his own fault he should have
been frank with herat the outset; she might
have believed him then. But how have
been frank without being-ridiculous?
What to do? She certainly would notbe
lieve him now, however eloquent his eXpla
nation strong as his passion, he strangely
away, to relieve her Of his annoying pres
ence, and, perhaps, a further day would
come
He could not; he would not. The tia1
was eternal, he told himself, and yet-Wha1
to do? The miserable days dragged slow
ly; he scarcely dared to speak to Marion
Herndon, and she barely spoke to him
He ramblcd alone these days even the dog
deserted him for her. 1t was an eXaspera'
ting situation, and yet, he could do nothing
but wander up the mountains heights ano
through the pretty valley, wondering if she
cared.
Did she? No. Always the same answer
uncompromising, prompt. That look OF
hers was but the pain born of u fresh decep'
ton, unnatural, nor strange. More than or
dinarily he was realizing this that morning
he strobe up ST. Philips mountain, desper
ate, scarce looking where he walked-on, or
absorbedly till
His foot struck empty air ; vision o
rocks, a blaclness, and he lay senseless or
the cliff below. In the mystery betwiXt life
and life, till suddenly what he fancied ar
angels wing brushed his forehead, and the
faint music of a voice fell on his ear.
''Can it be that he is dead-oh, no! II
cannot be, it must not be; l will not have il
so! Oh, Nero, good dog, goand fetch them
go and bring help to me. DO you not see
cannot leave my darling here; the only
man II ever liked"
The voice faltered the speaker started
with a little shamed, despairing cry, for the
man beside her had opened his eyes, and
was gazing at her bit dazed, yet with ;
growing look of rapture which told how
well he knew.
"NIariOn !"
She could not even hide her face, this
poor Marion Herndon; for faint, yet stunned
her hands in his.
"You must not call me Marion,' sh'
gasped, despairingly, "and you must forge
said them, and-and am glad you are no
hurt, butt do not care if you do love M
now you know why you came to st. Phil
ip's; because-because-you gave IN at las
to Mrs. Marbury Bell; you-'
But she was talking between his klSse
now; he had taken her in his arms, ant
was fondling her-ah so tenderly, but de
liberately, as though it were the most posi-
tive of things. And she, strange girl, wa
permitting it, even while she spoke:
"Do you know why 1 came to st. Phil
ip's?" he interrupted her.
She did not answer, she was too ashamed
of her own happy self to say. any more t
him. He held her closer while he told he