Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-03-17

bly, mustache, then all at once sat sud-
denly down, with an odd, smothering
pain at his heart. 1t passed in second
or two. but left him white and shaken.
~ mus put er stop ter that" he said
hoarsely. 1.-THE ole witch! Black Sam
had spells like that all winter befo' he
died, an the niggers all said he was con-
jured. -
As he went out on the porch Luley
dropped her beloved crochet work and
sidled up to him, saying, with an air OF
WEAKNESS, "Popper, lemme go with
you ter Aunt Sarah's ternight?"
"Heyl Have you set out too? Who ali
you castin sleeps eyes at9" Mr.. Top
mark asked, laughing, glad to have any
distraction just then. II didn't know l
had er grown daughter. When did you
put on long dresses?'
81 wish could put 'em on" Luley
said, signing deeply. "Then I could
marry an take Jinney an Amy ter live
with me soon as our stepmother comes.
Aunt Sarah says all stepmothers are
mean rs they can be, but don't believe
Miss Rob will beat us. That's why
want ter go ternight, so can beg her
ter take you an keep you from chasin
of after that hateful old Miss Mandy
Allen"
"B'George! Then maybe I better
take you" Mr.. Topmark said. laughing.
But it was Lawyer Howell instead who
bore him company that night when he
went driving away to the Winfold par
ty. Rob came late and in her worn
white frock instead Of the half new
blue one, yet she was easily the belle,
with cheeks delicately pink as wild
rose freshly open and eyes dilated to a
black brilliance, like the shining Of
midnight stars. There was new note
in her voice, too, sort OF tense. vibrant
softnees that thrilled the listening ear.
Naturally the other young women,
save Miss Winfold, made common cause
against her. When it came to dancing,
more than one sat down suddenly and
unacccuntably when Rob was opposite
her. But in the end these malcontents
hurt only themselves. They were left
walllowers while Rob went victoriously
from strength to strength, from con-
quest to conquest, for she danced as one
inspired. Townsman that he was, pre-
pared to laugh at rural gambols, Law
yer Howell caught his breath at sight
of her in solo and as soon as might be
asked her for the next waltz.
"You may have it," Rob said, with
her wickedest slnile-"that is, if you
will convert Mrs. Winfold from the er-
ror of her way. You see, she does not
allow round dances here. In fact, I half
believe she thinks any sort of dancing a
sin unless you can manage to do it very
badly"
"You mean she thinks your dancing
wicked. Idon't at all blame her. I see,
Miss McGregor, you are very danger
ous person, so dangerous scarcely dare
ask for quadrille," Mr.. Howell said,
with bow. Rob gave faint shrug and
said TRANQUILITY:
Gas you like about that. lam so used
to being thought desperately wicked I
suppose I am case hardened. Anyway
even the thought of not being your part
ner does not plunge me in the depths. |"
"Ef he don't ask you after that I'll
shoot him. I've great mind ter do it
anyway. None er these yere young chaps
shan't sass you with me eroun," Mr..
Topmark said, grinning. Rob gave him
a long look, then turned to her next
partner and whirled away without a
word.
At near II O'Clock she set the COM
pany agog by saying carelessly to Jack
Talbo5 in the face of everybody: "Oh,
Jack, make haste and get through your
danceI You have got to take me home
before 10 o'clock.
''Lemme do that, Miss Rob-" Mr..
Topmark said eagerly. Jack shouldered
him aside and took Rob's hand. He
could scarcely trust himself to speak, so
great was his joy, but somehow he man.
aged to say: "Get your shawl. We will
90 at once. "
"Shawll I never thought Of one this
dry, beautiful night. I'll meet you at
the gate. Bring around the horses, {"
Rob said, slipping away over the mar
row front porch and OH down the gravel
walk that led to the front gate. There
were prim, spiny cedars at guard either
side of it. White moonshine drew sill
houettes of them upon the sparse turf
at foot. Lanterns feebly Pickering amid
the green boughs, in Miss Winfold' g
Judgment, gave the whole affair touch
and tang of style. But Rob, the auda-
cious, set one light upon the ground and
said as she sprang up beside Jack:
II could not take chance Of soaring
Timothy and Glover. The darlingsl
They must 60 80 miles before morning. /"
The company broke an hour later.
scenting thunder in the air, Lawy It
Howell pleaded that the night was 30
fine he had rather walk the mile to Top
marks. He had foxy sharpness that
had made plain to him some part of
what was under the cards. Topmark
angry was, he knew experimentally, an
ugly customer. Let his wrath expend it.
self properly on his own flesh and blood,
not all innocent stranger seeking diver
sion and honest profit.
As the gate clicked behind him Mrs.
Winfold burst out: Brother, eff you
kill me fer it, must say it. Oh, do
promise me you won't let that despisa-
BILE little vixen make mock Of you no
more, like she did ternight. thought
should die, 1 did, seein the airs she put
on"
"Did your" asked Mr.. Topmark. with
an ugly snarl. isis Sarah, lemme tell
you this is a mighty bad time fer sniv.
elm an backbitin. I stand ter what
k,1l ,,ox, r,oar &c, orrx, bot irl II,