Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-05-06
THETAX ON BACHELORS
By EFFIE W. MERRIkAN.
fCoDyright, 1896, by the Author.l
CHAPTER II.

Copyright, 1896, by the Author.l
CHAPTER II.
Tom was decidedly uncomfortable
when he left the table. His discomfort
increased as the day on which Miss Mar
earet was to arrive drew nearer. He was
very nervous when he went to the station
with Sander to meet her. He had hoped
to meet her before it became necessary
to announce the engagement. but she
was delayed in her preparations, and it
was nearly Christmas. when she reached
the city. Ali engagements must be an
nounced before the first day Of Decem-
Der or the bachelor was not relieved
from the necessity Of paying the matri-
monial tax.
As Tom paced back and forth in the
little waiting room he thought what a
notorious joker Sander was and won
dered at his own folly in trusting his
happiness for the next three years in the
hands of any one but himself Suppose
Sander had indulged his passion for
playing practical jokes and arranged an
engagement between himself and an an
cient specimen Of humanity who would
gladly give up her right to a pension for
the sake Of posing before the world as
the object of mans affections. Sander
had declared that she was stunning. but
with Sander that might mean anything
or nothing. He would have remembered
that at the time of his proposal had he
not been so worried over his financial
affairs. If Daisy should prove to be
what the fellows called "an ugly back
number" how. they would laugh at
him-the elegant Tom Wainwright,
who had always prided himself on be-
ing first in the estimation Of every
young lady whom the other fellows
raved ahoutl
The train came shrieking into view,
and Tom felt the pressure of Sanders
hand upon his arm. He walked with
him to the side Of the day coach, arriv-
ing just in time to see Sander help Ia
dy to aight and then press kiss upon
her cheek. She had come. Tom could
not doubt it, for he head hard Sander
call her Daisy. She had come, and she
was stunning caricature on humanity.
Il was worse-a hundred times worse
than his worst fears had pictured Tom
could scarcely suppress a groan- He felt
himself growing pale to the lips, when
he heard his name spoken in q soft
voice and realized that Sander had intro
duced him to the woman who held his
written proposal he stammered some
thing by way Of reply to her greeting
and mentally vowed to break off the en-
gagement if 1t cost him every cent he
had in the world. He told himself that
beggary was preferable to being seen
for three long years In company with
such nightmare Of femininity. But he
must not be rash. He had just sense
enough left to realize that. There were
two ways Of doing everything, and he
was noted for always finding the pleas
anter. He allowed Sander to escort
Daisy to the waiting room, and, al
though he walked beside her, he tried
to appear more like an acquaintance OF
the lady than her promised husband.
Arrived in the waiting room, he muir
INJURED something about being very sor-
~, but most pressing engagement
81 saw that man for you this morn
ing, Tom," interrupted Sander, with q
determined expression on his happy
face. II told him you had previous
engagement, which you had doubtless
forgotten, and that he need not expect
you until later in the day."
"Ahl HIM, ahem! Much obliged,
I'm sure," stammered Tom. He saw
that Sander understood his little dodge
and also that he would brook no trifing.
Don't mention it,, replied Sander
cheerfully. "I'lI 60 out to see if the
carriage is ready. You bring Daisy In
the course of five minutes. I suppose
you will be glad of an opportunity to
be alone with her. "
Sander bowed gracefully and left
them together. Tom felt that Daisy was
scrutinizing him sharply, but that did
not disturb him 80 much as the fact
that he was also subject to the scrutiny
Of several Of his friends. Whatever hap
pened, he must not let them see that he
was not entirely satisfied. He must ap-
pear 80 well pleased with his companion
that they would not dare to mention
her In his presence. Giving himself q
mental shake, he managed to smile into
her specialized eyes as he asked her II
she were ready to go to the carriage.
He gave her his arm, escorting her with
as grand an air as if she had been q
queen, but he did not fail to hear the
half suppressed litter that followed him
from the room. 1t almost unnerved him.
The carriage was at the door, but San
der was not to be seen. The small boy
whom he had hired to hold the horse
told Tom that Mr.. Ridgway had gone
to see that man whom Mr.. Wainwright
was to meet at this hour, thinking there
might have been misunderstanding.
& naughty word came close against
Toms smiling lips, but he did not al
low it to escape He handed his COM
panion into the carriage, tucked the
robes around her so carefully that much
of her Objectionable dress Of bright
green was concealed, took the reins and
the whip and drove toward the house
where Sander lived with his mother at
a rate of speed which was, to say the
least, extremely reckless. Miss Marga-
ret was obliged to give her whole at
tention to an effort to keep her seat,
and conversation between herself and
her companion did not become intense
ly interesting.
Good Mrs. Ridgway was watching
for them and came to the door to vel