Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-08-16


but this so unreasonable, " she pro-
tested, half smiling. II have been here
too long already"
"Then ten minutes more will scarcely
signify"
"Will ten minutes satisfy your
II will not ask for any more, )" he
said, evading the direct answer to the
question. "Ah, thank you" headed,
his voice tremulous with triumph as
she acquiescently seated herself on a
bench. He could have shouted for very
joy. Never could he have dared to hope
for such rare good fortune as this.
"It seems too lovely to 60 indoors, "
she murmured, as if in apology to her
own conscience
"It certainly does" he emphatically
agreed. And may I aave the other end
of tie bench2 Thanks. And now what
shall we talk about? Is there anything
else you will let me explain to you, or
are you tired Of personalities
II am afraid you may be before have
DONE" she returned, with a friendly
smile, "for to tell the truth I did not
stop here altogether to please you.
There is something else want to say
to you, something have been wanting
to speak to you about ever since our
Sunday talk up the creek"
"Indeed?" he returned, an incredulous
smile broadening into low, amused
laughed. "Well, I must say had I but
dreamed that you could be induced to
favor me with word on any subject,
if you had but dropped me the ghost OF
hint
"It is about your father" she hur-
riedly interrupted. II think you ought
to forgive him."
And how about his forgiving me?"
he demanded after moment Of silence.
"It seems to me that you have rather
got the cart before the horse, Miss
Ellery."
"Ah, he has forgiven you long ago.
He is your father. And if you would
but 90 to him.
"He would be proud Of me, would he
not?" he interrupted bitterly.
"Why should he not be?' she an
swered, with eager assurance You
can hardly wish me to pay you empty
compliments, but
"Say it, please, if it is anything kind.
You cannot think how am starved for
Kindness" he pleaded as she hesitated,
"But perhaps you had better not, after
sll. If you should make me drunk with
happiness :.
"Oh, if you are going to talk like
that rising hastily.
"But I will not, Ipledge you my word.
Don't go, please, Miss Ellery. Let us
talk this matter Of my father over. You
speak Of my forgiving him as if all the
hardness and wrong were on my side.
Do you know, with all my bitterness
and am very bitter sometimes-I still
have an inexpressible affection for my
father. He made certain mistakes in
my training, but he was cruelty punish
ed. am bitter, but am not quite so
hardened as you seem to think.
"Then why will you not go back to
him?'
II used to dream of going home
when I should have done great things
to condone the offenses of the past. 1t
would be the greatest thing in the world
for me, equivalent to being canonized,
if I could hear my father say just once.
My son, am proud Of you.
"But he would say it; he gould not
help saying it when he saw you. She
forgot how much the words implied in
the eager desire to support her argu-
ment. "He could not look at you with
out being proud that he had given such
a man to the world. He would know
that your life had been brave and true;
that your record had been clean, and he
would give you the larger measure of
credit that so much had been against
you
"Thank you," he almost whispered,
drawing sharp breath, his eyes eager
ly studying her face in the moonlight.
II have thought good deal about 60
ing home these last few days-since
our Sunday talk" His voice was very
low. 81 could not help remembering
what an advantage it would give ME
to stand as my fathers son before the
world. But do you suppose could look
my father in the face If I should 90
sneaking back to him merely to gain
certain selfish ends of my own? I am
bad enough, heaven knows, but ] am
not quite SO contemplate as that. Even
to gain my very hearts desire, if that
were possible, I could not do it. Do you
understand, and do you forgive me2'
"There is nothing to forgive" Her
smile was strained. Womanlike, she
was more chagrined that she had not
the power to bend him to her wishes
than for the actual point involved.
"You are Of course free to do as you
like in the matter. I only hope you
will excuse me for meddling."
81 have vexed you," he exclaimed
miserably, his glance following her in
helpless appeal as she rose from her
seat. "But, oh, Miss Ellery, can't you
see?''
IT think your srcuples are rather
morbid and farfetched so far as un-
derstand them," she returned coldly,
drawing her shawl more closely about
her shoulders as, half turned from him,
she stared at the burned out debris over
tbo howl, IGRut cannot ctov to arpna