Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-03-11

him WiStfully as ne threw himself into an
arm chair near the window, without his
usual gay greeting, but said nothing until
she had finished her arrangements.
"Supper is ready, Tom, DEAR" she said
to him, then as she placed the chairs, an
seemed now to forget. He came silently to
the table, but after a moment or two began,
in constrained tone:
swell, mother, you haven't told me any
news since I've come back. Has anything
been going on?"
"Going on where, dear?"
"Here, in town."
"Oh, don't know; everything has been
pretty quiet, I believe. You know I don't
pet around much. There have been one or
two parties, I heard the young people talk
ing about"
Financing parties ?"
: eyes, and picnic. There was quite
crowd went out to Mr.. Camps place, Satur-
and Silas Lees riding horses, and came
back by moonlight"
"Who went?"
"Oh, lots of young girls and boys-every-
body we know, pretty much"
"Any strangers ?"
''Not that l heard of-unless--yes, be-
lieve there was visitor or two"
sDo you know their names 2"
GA Mr.. Jones and his sister went. They
came over from East Ridley, and stopped
with the Lees"
"Have you seen anything of Barton ?-1
heard he'd been around"
He tried to ask the question naturally,
but failed. His mother was quick to detect
the change in his tone, and she went on
busily cutting a slice of bread, without
Y,ooofipo hic aypS ac cha anSWprp0-
"No, havn't seen him, but believe he
has been here. 1 don't know whether he
went to the picnic or not"
"He's here flow, isn't he ?"
II think so. He has been staying at the
hotel"
''What did he come over for, anyhow ?"
II heard he had business with Mr.. Camp.
It's something about a mortgage on the
farm"
"Ah, l know there is mortgage. But
I've been told he came about something
else. Maybe you've heard that too"
"What do you mean, dear?"
II heard he was after Susie Dean"
There was moments silence; neither
would look at the other. Mrs. Morton
was carefully spreading butter on her bread,
and Tom feigned to be crushing an obstinate
lump of sugar in his tea.
'Well," said Mrs. Morton, slowly, "there
may be something in that. Of course l
havn't asked Susie, and and Pm not ac-
quainted with him. But most men admire
her. She'sa very attractive girl-one of the
incest girls know, in fact. 1t wouldn't
be surprising if he aCas after her."
"And she-how does she take it?"
"How can tell, Tom ?"
"You haven't heard any-any hint of an
engagement
man. She would have given anything
in the world to be able to say now, "Why,
of course not, Tom ~ But her conscience
would not permit this, so she only an.
swered with assumed sprightliness,
"Well, maybe there has been something
said, but you know how folks talk, and very
likely there's nothing in it. If there is,
We'll find out before long"
"Yes," said Tom, well find out before
long,"
Nothing more was said, and directly after
he pushed his chair back from the table,
rose, and took his hat up from the sofa,
where he had thrown it on entering.
"Going out again, Tom? ?"
"Just a little way, mother, it's close in
DOORS"
She guessed where he was going, and her
heart ached for him. His attachment to
Susie had long been known to her, though
he had never openly spoken of it, and she
had too much delicacy ever to draw the Sc
cret from him. And now, to think that this
long-cheriShed hope was to be destroyed,
was very painful to her. She feared it must
be so. More than one person had brought
her the news of the engagement, and though
she would not admit that she gave it credit,
circumstances seemed to point out its prob
ability. 1t was hard to suspect Susie of CO.
quetry or fickleness, still harder to attribute
mercenary motives to one who had always
shown herself pure, simple minded, and en-
tirely contented with her lot. Poor Tom !!
if it was so, the sooner he found it out the
better, she thought.
Tom went strai ght to Mr.. Deans, but hav-
ing reached the door he found it harder
work to go in than he had expected. Chance
favored him, for a little boy, a brother of
Susie's, just then came through the garden
on his way out, and Susie followed him with
some parting directions, for the boy, as it
seemed, was charged with an errand to a
neighbor's. She caught sight of Tom, and
stopped suddenly, but after moment re-
covered herself and came forward.
'How do you do?" she said in a timid
tone, holding out her hand. He took it,
looking her full in the face.
"Susie, / have come to have talk with
you," he said. "Will you walk little way
with me?"
He noticed her embarrassed look, her hesi-
tation before replying-so different from
her usual straightforward way-and his
heart sank like lead. She said she would 60,
however, and they were soon out in the
road. He took her to quiet wooded path
where they had often strolled together, and
for little while there was silence between
them. Then Susie paused abruptly, and
drew away her hand, which he had placed
within his arm.
"Tom," she said in rapid, nervous way,
II don't think had better 60 any farther
Let me 60 home"
"You want to leave me, Susie?" You
don't want my company?"
"Oh no! not that-you mustn't think"
"What must I think? that you are chang
ed ; in this little while, these few weeks
since [ went aWay?"
81 am not changed, Tom."
'You used to walk with me willingly
you did not even want to get rid of me.
Have l done anything to make you an
gry?"
ooh, no, no."
"Then what is wrong? Has anything
come between us-anything you have not
told me about?"
Her head dropped she made no reply.
"Susie," he went on, in a broken, implor-
ing tone, as in spite of herself, he regained
her hand and held it fast-poor hand, how
it trembled! ''Susie, I've heard a tale about
you that would swear was false, unless it
was confirmed by your own lips. Am | to
believe it, after all? You must know what
/ mean."
No answer still.
81 heard-I can hardly say it heard
you had promised to marry Amos Barton"
Silence-still silence-hut it was broken