Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-09-01

ence put such complexion on the matter,
that of the two situations I preferred to be
in doubt as TO Blanches identity to finding
her thus with Broener, whom of course
pictured as the dangerous rival, as certainly
he was in almost any case.
Besides there were imperative interests at
Scrub mountain to be looked after imme-
diately. Broener expected me to get the
quartz out of the caches down to the cabin
as soon as Jo2sible He had given me di-
rections how to find them, and despite his
repulsion of everything from n.e of graft
tude, felt under too much obligation to
him to neglect anything bearing on his
interests
But the stars on the now long sixteen-mile
ride homewarl had lost their sublimity for
me. NV Train was in a ferment Of comic
ture Was it Blanche Seton? and if so,why
was Broener with her? He had gone behind
the scenes to see ON "old friend" Blanche
was mysterious girl. She had passed much
Of her time away from home and in New
York, having frequent access thereunto by
her fathers sloop. She had way Of coming
and going and locating herself about where
she. pleased with that matter-of-course, au-
thorifative air which half stifed gossip and
enabled her to do what other girls dared not
and could not. People said, "Oh, it's Blanche's
way" Certainly it was, and whom might
she have met and known, unknown to all
Eastport, in these ways!
Ealf-past three o'clock and the morning
had dawned as I drew rein on the hill and
looked down on Bull Bar, half mile below
mo. The river, shrunk by the summer
drought, ran mere thread with faint muir
mur over rock and rifle Log cabin md tent
lay there silent in the cool shadow Of early
dawn. One mountain top, full thirty miles
away, hnd caught the suns heralding ray for
the day. But down there, rocker and long
tom, pick and pan, crowbar and shovel were
flung where last the weary workers left them,
and the five hundred stalwart men, soon to
renew their battle with hill, bank and stream,
wero still in the unconsciousness Of slumber
alive, breathing, it is true, but dead to the
world their bodies were in-dead to all
hope or fear or any Of the varied emotions
which would so soon be in full play when the
smoke commenced circling from those rude
chimneys.
Two or three moving figures were seen on
the river lank--watchers of the night
guarding against any sudden rise OF the
stream liable through the breaking Of dams
above and letting down the vast body of
"backwater,' fluid avalanche which would
sweep before it like chaR mans frail con-
structions.
reused Mr. Rankin and returned him his
horse, which he put in the stable with the
remark that yesterday was probably his
benevolent day, which would account for
nv return alive. But the next man dies" he
added.
Broener returned late in the day. What
q different man was he to ME from yester-
day. Despite the uncertainty regarding
Blanche, sympathized now with the Moor's
ruling passion. Jealous! Yes, and jealous
of Broener. All of him that had previously
attracted NE were now as so many weapons
turned against me-brilliant weapons, too,
and used by skilled hand
He noticed the change in mel cannot say
in my manner. had rather state it that he
felt a change-something between us-com-
ing through those fine interior senses which
feel, and sense thoughts, as the outer ones do
material things.
"You seem out of sorts" >" he said
I laid it to headache-that convenient
beast of burden, which bears so many lies!
"Young man." said he that evening, "were
you ever in lover'
IT suppose So" replied. "They say its
part of the programme along with whooping
cough and the measles"
"Well," he rejoined, II believe 1 am, so
far as am capable of being. At all events,
I've found woman who think can hold
me.n
"May ask who she isl"
"Oh, yes 1t is the girl you saw last night
playing the wife to Iago."
Silently We puffed our cigars simultane-
ously for few seconds. A cigar is great
relief to ''throbbing heart" was never
conscious of much action of such character
on the part of that organ, and use the phrase
as covering good deal Of ground applicable
to these peculiar situations. said:
"Will you think I'm inquisitive if inquire
if you have known her longl'
ssNot ut ALL / made her acquaintance q
few years ago in New York clearinghouse
kept by her aunt, whom she was visiting.
met her. strangely enough, on my recent trip
to San Francisco. She had just come out by
the Isthm,ls with the company you saw.
recognized her OH the stage in San Fran
CISCO"
SIS B OWL her real name7'
"No."
dared not. ask the name. Broener re-
sumed after pause:
"That girl puzzles me. can't make her
out. Probably if could should not be so
much attracted to her. I find that mine is a
nature always de- handing to fathom-see
through-women, and ceasing to worship
them when seen through"
felt then a gleam of comfert II it was
Blanche Seton, I more than hoped that Broe-
ner had no shallow depth to fathom. Yet l
still feared him. He was to me deep, diaboli-
cally deep, and powerful, too.
"Perhaps you've met your match at last" l
ventured to say.
"Well, I hope I have. I need-a match.
Excuse me-" he added; ~ detest puns and
punsters. This was an accident She's
strong character-self-poised, self-reliant, i'm
passioned on the outside with boiling depths
below, which no one has ever yet brought to
the surface-at least, judge so. She's miles
beyond the people she's travelling with. They
see and know of her only as much as she
chooses to show-a tenth, perhaps only q
twentieth-only what they're able to see and
appreciate, or what she allows them to see.
Good judgment, that. No use in showing any
more cards than you want to use-in any
game"
"Do you call hers game, tooT' I asked.
"As look on life and people-yes. Yet
possibly with her, thus far. an unconscious
one as to motive. What some call nobility
of character, is so we'll expressed with her
that am content to admire it without too
deeply annlyzing it."
"You fear, then, you might find the base
metal underneath the gilding!"
"My boy, I don't care to put myself on
that train of thought If I pursue all illu-
sion; want it ever to remain one."
forbore from asking if he knew her real
name. Broener's indefnable manner said to
me, plain as words, Glands off,"
II shall 20 to Marysville next week." he
said after pause. 'The company play
there on the Goth"
"Well," thought to myself, as I crept into
my Blankets "Marysville, love and mystery
on one side Pratt, hatred and more mys-
terry for Bull Bar on the other. I seem to
be a fulcrum for events to teeter on"
CHAPTER XIV.