Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-03-18
AN ARTIST IN CRIME
BY RoDR1GUEs oTToLENGUI.
Author of Conflict of Evidence GA Modern Wiznrd

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shifting shadow across the base OF
Mount Washington, while between the
riffs the red rays of the sun striking diff.
ferent parts made beauteous tintings
among the green and the brown of trees
and rock. Oh, if an artist could only
have seen that But then it would have
been useless, for the hand Of man could
not paint such grandeur. It was in the
foreground that the resemblance to the
battlefelds was to be seen again. Every
here and there stray bits of clouds dis
entangled themselves from the tree tops
and rose up smokelike till one could i'm
agine them to be from thousands Of
camp6res Oh, it was simply wonder
fulr'
"It was indeed, said Mr.. Thauret,
land your description brings it all back
again to me- "
"Then the beautiful long twilight, "
Dora continued, almost unheeding. "that
was lovely. Slowly these stray bits Of
mist met and Joined others, till as the
darkness came and the moon frightened,
that beautiful sheet Of water-for after
all your lake is real -accumulat-
ed, and there it is- At least you can en-
joy that.
He did But what he enjoyed more
was the simple happiness Of being with
her. After a short time, however, he
was deprived Of that, for Mrs Remseu
claimed his attention, and took him up
to the ballroom to introduce him to
some of the many young women who
were dancing with each other and with
boys of ID for want Of better partners.
If Mr.. Thauret annoyed Mr.. Ran
dolph by being at this resort, the latter
gentleman was none the more pleased at
his arrival Being left alone with Dora,
and constituting her present mood to be
one favorable to his wooing, he deter
mined to speak to her before the other
man might find chance Moving his
chair nearer hers, he began, getting to
his subject without much circumlocu.
tion.
"Miss Dora," said he, "do you recall
a conversation that I had with you one
day? mean about loneliness and the
longing one has for companionship"
"Oh, yes," said che frankly; "why?
Do you wish to continue it nowf"
"If you please. You remember you
said you would be better able to do so
after your sisters marriage"
Because I thought that would
miss her so much and be lonely myself,
was not that it? Well, Of course have
missed Queen very much, but I have
scarcely been lonely. You have taken
care of that, and am sure that am
very grateful to you You have been
very nice to me"
"You think so? You admit that?"
He spoke eagerly.
"Why, yesl Why not, since it Is
true?"
"Of course, but then you know SO
many young ladies hide their feelings
l mean suppression Of all emotion is
considered so necessary in a woman in
these days. ."
Suppression p and she laughed
heartily. "Now do you think that I
could ever be suppressed"
! mo, indeed, and certainly I hope
that you never will be. But if you have
not been lonely, perhaps you have
thought some of that other subject, love,
l mean"
"Ohl Thatp'
"Yes. That is one question, supreme
to me, about which I wish to have your
views. Do you think you would be hap
pier or unhappier-if you were mar.
ried?'
"That is question. Itwould depend
upon-my husband, would it not?''
"Suppose that we were"-
Don't call names, please. I couldn't
suppose such u thing. I have promised
not to. "
Promised not to- I don't under
stand?"
II mean that have made bet. You
don't think am horrid to bet, do you?
Of course you don't. Well, have made
curious bet with Bob, Mr.. Mitchell,
you know. / call him Bob now, and !
used to do it sometimes before. That
was when wanted him to do anything
for me. 1t made him feel like one of the
family. Well, to tell you about my bet
You see, sometimes, when Emily YVES
out, Bob would play make love to me.
He said it would be good practice for
me; would teach me the ways of the
world and all that sort Of thing. Oh,
Bob is curious man, but he is great
sport Don't you like him?"
Immensely. But you have not told
me yet about your bet"
II am coming to it. Well, one day
when he was making love to me and I
was doing my best, suddenly he burst
out laughing and said, Dora, I'll bet
you'll be engaged within six months Of
our marriage How much?' said L
AS much as you like, said he. l asked
him if he would make it 81, 900, and he
whistled and called me little gambler.
But don't think it was gambling be-
cause I was to have certainty. OF
course wanted the stake to be larel
sne. So it was agreed, and he wrote it
down on paper. I'll show it to you some
time if you like. If am not engaged
before the lst of January, Bob will have
to pay me 81 ,00O."
"And you mean to win that bet?"
Indeed do. l AIN young and can
afford to wait that long, am sure.
There will be time enough afterward to
get a husband.
"Then it would not make any differ
ence how anxious suitor might be to
have his reply at once?'
"No, certainly not If man did not
love me enough to wait few months
for his answer. I should think myself