Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-09-02

been around her.
II know nothing about you. Iwant
TO know nothing" Nora managed to
gasp. In her pure, gentle heart she i'm
agined this man O wizard, who by some
occult means had possessed himself OF
her fathers secret.
"I do not wish to tell you Of myself.
only 30 far as my life is connected with
yours I knew your father before You
were born, before he came to these
mountains to hide from the world I
know why he did come, yet I have new
er tried to harm him, never thought of
giving his secret to thesRorld. There
are others searching for your father, and
il went with them it was not because
I wished them to succeed You blame
me, but on your knees you would thank
me II you knew what I had done, what
I have prevented being done"
IF you have been 80 very good" said
Alice Blanchard, breaking in on his
special pleading, "why is 1t you keep
us and Nh. Louis Kyle prisoncrs"
"That Is proper question and I wish
I could explain 1t, for I do not wish to
be misunderstood. But though seem to
be, am not my own master. There are
others who direct. / must pretend to
submit to their wishes that I may be
able to protect you both from harm, u
said Bouton, with great affcctation OF
sincerity and candor.
"You cannot defend yourself with
mysteries, said Alice IT cannot be-
lieve you unless you explain all"
Explain all, Miss BlanchardP"
"That Is what / said"
"Well I am willing to explain all "
He drew nearer to Nora and asked, in q
theatrical whisper. care you willing
that I should explain allf'
''No, noI'' she half shrieked. Leave
me; for heavens sake, leave me, OF
kill mel"
IT will not kill you I would rather
kill myself. will leave you for the
night When we march on the morrow,
Miss Kyle, Twill speak with you again.
I will tell You something that isnear to
my heart.
Bouton rose and bowed, then went
back to where the men were lying
around the campfrea He coiled him
self up in blanket and was asleep in a
short time. Sim Bliss tried to initiate
him, but though he had grown more
and more weary every day since coming
into this country, his narrow brain was
too much crowded with thought fo1
him to get much satisfactory sleep.
Before daylight the next morning the
camp was astir. While some prepared
food others loaded the pack mules and
saddled the horses, duties that seemed
to require great deal Of shouting and 6
t.eluge Of profanity. The prisoners were
served with food as before and Font
Robb brought up horses for Alice and
Nora, when Bouton- offered to assist
them to their saddles.
At Aice's request Louis Kyle was
permitted to ride beside them. But be-
fore Bouton would agree to this request
he made Nora promise that scmc time
during the march she would drop back
and talk to him for an hour or two. To
this the poor girl consented for hel
brothers. sake. She had the greatest
horror of this man now that she felt he
lnew her. fathers secret Innocent o1
he worlds ways and fearful that Bou'
ton had it in his power to legally de-
stroy her father and all the family, she
would willingly die if called Oh for the
sacrifice to save them.
She wanted an opportunity to tell
Louis that Bouton knew their awful So
crct, but Bouton staid 80 near that she