Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-08-07
"Keep a-hooktn an d-hooktn."


tiringly devoted to keeping all the COM
pany in constant motion, and as the
men outnumbered the available partners
as three to one, there was never wall
flower but Edith herself and little
chance for sociability outside the dances.
The majority of the men were disposed
in groups outside, joking and laughing
as they looked in at doors and windows
waiting their turns. The women, flush
ed and painting, were pressed into con-
tinuous service, while their number
was laughingly eked out by couple
of cowboys, who, with handkerchiefs
around their arms as badge of their
assumed Office, smirked and bridled and
minced through their parts, to the end
less delight of all the rest. But Edith
began to feel uncomfortable after. q lit
tie, comprehending tie meaning Of the
anxious glances which were cast upon
her as she sat alone. If these people but
dared, she felt, they would come in a
body and entreat her to dance, simply
to help them out, and when at last Ar.
talissa, festoon of loosened gathers
slipping from her belt, had run away
for repairs, closely followed by q young
mother with babe in her arms, the
situation really became so serious that
Mr. Dennison was moved to come and
ask, with a deprecatory smile, If Miss
Ellery wouldn't try it once. Even if she
didn't know how right we'll she need
not mind, the kindly gentleman assured
her in all good faith; nobody was going
to criticise, and she would learn it all
fast enough when she once got on the
floor Edith blushed in painful embar-
rassment in disposing of this request,
loath to hurt the feelings of this simple
folk. With true brotherly method Hugh
had unceremoniously left her to her
own devices while he was blithely talk
ing cattle among coterie outside.
Through an opposite window she could
see Paul Brown standing alone.
All the evening she had been aware
Of his eyes upon her from some quarter,
and now she swiftly wondered how
much pleasure it would give him if he
might dance with her here tonight, un-
consciously signing as she reflected how
impossible it was. 1t occurred to her
that she would send him to find her
brother to propose their going. home,
but she hesitated to call him to her
across the crowded room, and while she
halted she caught Mr.. Dennison's eye
upon her as though meditating new
attack, and the idea spurred her to des-
perate action. From where she sat she
could look into the kitchen, revealing
another open door at the far end leading
out into the night On the impulse of
the moment she flashed a meaning
glance full into Paul Brown s watching
eyes, look she felt he could not fail
to understand, and like shot darted
into the safety of the cuol, enveloping
darkness.
This side of the house WIS wholly
deserted, and after going little way
she stopped, half frightened by the lone
illness, hsr heart beating tumultuously.
By that look she had invited Paul
Brown to meet her here. She was fairly
in panic at her own daring, but she
was prepared to make excuse to him, as
we'll as to her own perturbed conscience,
that she wanted to ask him to 90 and
fetch her brother. Yet even while she
framed the pretext in her mind she
knew perfectly we'll, and had an irri-
tated sense of shame in the knowing,
that she had simply grasped at this op-
portunity for word with the IMAM him.
self. Ever since their Sunday interview
indeed she had been watching for the
chance to speak with him, for she had
persuaded herself that it was duty to
urge upon him the course which upon
reflection she was sure he ought to pur-
sue.
She wanted him to become reconciled
to his father, who must long ago have
repented his harshness. whose heart
must be ready with welcome for him
no less warm than that given the other
prodigal to whom he had likened him
self. She would have him renounce this
rough life and take the place among
men to which by birth and breeding he
was SO justly entitled. There was GER
tain unacknowledged sweetness III the
thought that to her it had been given
perhaps to shape this mans life as
seemed to her best. She did not own it
to herself that it might bo to test this
power, to give herself the subtle pleas