Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-05-27
THE FITTEST SURVIVES.
BY j. H. CONNOLLY.
Copyright, 1895, by the Author.
CHAPTER V.

COpyr1gnt, 1870, ny tuo AusnoA'
CHAPTER V.
The more Chester Sewall pondered the
more uneasy he became over Mr.. Will
marth's manifest confidence in the i'm
pregnability Of his position. The young
man had naturally expected that upon
the discovery of his aspirations the
bankers house would be closed to him
and measures adopted to prevent his
communicating with Irma And he had
gone to the trouble Of thinking out vari-
ous ingenious schemes for circumvent-
ing the paternal vigilance, devices 30 10
mantic that he was impatient to put
them into realization. But the starting
point of each was that he should be de-
MED access to the house. And he could
not get himself denied. He was even
welcomed The cruel father, meeting
him there, greeted him with a friendly
courtesy that quite took his breath away.
Instead Of being angry at seeing him in
conversation with hma, the old gentle
man seemed amused
"And yet he lnows-he must know, |"
said Chester to himself, THAT I propose
to carry his daughter off and marry her
despite his opposition. Can it be possi-
BILE he has any assurance that she will
not let herself be carried Off"
There was nothing in her manner to
him that savored Of disloyalty. On the
contrary, she was as witchingly tender
as he could have hoped to find her, and
when girl like Ima Willmarth con-
descends to demonstrate tenderness she
does 80 with no ordinary degree of ef-
fectiveness Hers was tall, magnificent
figure, voluptuous in its outlines, statu-
esque in repose, regal in action. A
habitual expression Of cold hauteur rest
ed upon her superbly lovely features,
hut she had the natural art to Danish
it at will, assuming in its stead mask
Of charming smiles or exquisite sensi-
bility AZ the occasion might seem to de-
mand "Her royal highness" was the
title bestowed upon her by her class
mates at Vassar, and it seemed fitting.
she had wayward humors, but not i'm.
pulses, and inherited from her father
as well as his dark complexion-sufi-
cient Of his cool self control and power
of judging things from the standpoint
Of personal interest to keep those hu-
mors well under subjection. That was
what he-mowing her better than any
one else could-relied upon to guide her
as he would have her go in the at
fair with Mr.. Sewall No such fool was
he as to oppose her whim Of senti-
ment, which he was very sure involved
no serious dangers He had mentioned
to her the extent OF her lovers capital,
and did not fear her forgetting 1t. In
the old mans eyes the love affair OF the
young folks was simply funny little
dramatic episode.
Irma sat at the piano and Chester
stood by her side. They had just finished
a duet that they learned to sing togeth-
er at her Boston Cousins house in the
first flush of their mutual passion, and
the sweet memories it evoked thrilled
their hearts He looked down upon her
with eyes that saw no horizon beyond
her beauty and met in her gaze an in
effable tenderness which filed his soul
with bliss. Heart spoke il heart, and
the lips Of both were silent Idly her
fingers strayed over the keys and the ex-
quisite melody Of Schumann's Trau-
merei," hushed to tones scarce louder
than whisper, stole upon the charmed
air. Chester bent over her and lightly
touched his lips to the thick ebon tresses
covering her queenly head She lifted
her strongly marked eyebrows in pretty
affectation of surprised reproof that was
belied by the lovelight glowing in her
lustrous black eyes and the faint smile
upon her pouting red lips. Accepting
that glance as challenge, he kissed her
again, that time upon her sweet, rcspon-
sive mouth, and though she drew back
from the swift caress she did not frown,
nor did her fingers miss note Of what
she was playing.
II spoke to your father yesterday, I"
he said in suppressed voice after lit
tie pause.
"He mentioned to me last night that
you had" she replied in like low tone.
II suppose it is needless to tell you
what he said?"
HE has given me a pretty good idea
Of it"
IF he were not your father, should
say that he is a aheartless, sordid wretch. "
Don't restrain yourself on my ac-
count, dear. I know papa has very
practical way Of looking at things. You
did not commend yourself to him from
that point Of view, that is all. +"
mo, did not We were upon alto
gether different planes To you and me,
darling, love is everything, but to him
1t is nothing. I don't like to speak dis
respectfully Of your father, but must
say, my dear Irma, that fear he is Of
very sordid nature"
Eyes; as said, papa is very practi-
cal"
Darling, let me enter little protest
against that word 1t seems to me ]
never hear Of anything that is wholly
antagonistic to the highest feelings and
noblest impulses Of our natures that it is
not approvingly characterized by some
body as practical. So far as have
been able to learn, neither lofty thoughts,
generous sentiments, soulful aspirations,
artistic sensibilities, humanizing emo
tions, ardent patriotism nor pure love
is practical Nothing is practical but
money"
Ema looked up and laughed-a rip.
pling, silvery little laugh-as she re-
piled:
Naturally, since money is practical