Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-11-16

from the pOStOrnce-yOu see Gney art
registered mail matter, madam-was 6
stupid lad, and l could not induce hin
to come any farther up the road I hope
you will excuse the present messenger
and believe there has been no delay"
bowed with what must have seem
ed an distracted politeness The letter
was from New York, and, as strongly
suspected, from Mr.. Gryce. Somehow
this fact created in me an unmistakable
embarrassment. 1 put both letter and
package in my pocket and endeavofed
to meet the gentleman's eye with my
accustomed ease in the presence o1
strangers. But, strange to say, I had nc
sooner done so than l saw that he was
no more at his ease than myself. he
smiled, glanced at William, made II
offhand remark or so about the wealth.
er, but he could not deceive eyes sharp
ened by such experience as mine. Some
thing disturbed him, something connect.
ed with me- 1t made my cheek little
hot to acknowledge this even to myself,
but it was so very evident in his whole
look and manner that began to cast
about for the means Of ridding ourselves
OF William when that blundering youth
suddenly spoke:
II suppose he was afraid to come uI
the lane Do you know, | think your
brave to attemptit, Trohm. We haven't
very good name up here" And with
sudden, perfectly unnatural burst he
broke out into one Of his huge outlaws
that so shook the old gate on which he
vas leaning that thought it would
tumble down with him before our eyes.
saw Mr. Trohm start and cast look
in which | seemed to see both surprise
and horror before he turned to me and
with an air Of polite depreciation anx-
iously said:
81 am afraid Miss Butterworth will
not understand your allusions Mr..
Knollys. hear this in her first visit In
town."
AS his manner showed even more
feeling than the occasion seemed to
warrant I made haste to answer that ]
was we'll acquainted with the tradition
of the lane; that its name alone show
ed what had happened here.
His bearing showed an instant relief.
IT am glad" said he, "to find you so
well informed. I was afraid he
cast another very strange glance at Will
liam-"that your young friends here
might have shrunk, from some sense OF
delicacy, from telling you what might
frighten most guests from a lonely road
like this. compliment you upon their
thoughtfulness.
William bowed as if the words of the
other contained no other suggestion
than that which was openly apparent.
Was he so dull, or was he I had not
time to finish my conjectures even in
my own mind, for at this moment q
quick cry rose behind us, and Lucetta' 6
light figure appeared running toward
US with every indication Of excitement.
"Ah," murmured MIR. Trohm, with
an appearance of great respect, "your
sister, Mr.. Knollys. I had better be
making on. Good morning, Miss Butter
worth. am sorry that circumstances
seem to make it impossible for me to
offer you those civilities which you
might reasonably expect from 80 near q
neighbor. Miss Lucetta and I are at
swords points over matter upon which
I still insist she is to blame. See how
shocked she is to see me even standing
at her gate. -
Shocked I should rather have said
terrified. Nothing but fear-her old
fear aggravated to point that made all
attempt at concealment impossible
could account for her white, drawn fea-
lures and trembling form. She looked
as if her whole thought was, "Have
come in timer"
"What-what has procured us the
honor of this visit?' she asked, moving
I'D beside William as if she would add
her slight frame to his bulky one to keep
this intruder out
Nothing that need alarm you, !" said
the other with slight tone Of intention
in his kind and mellow voice. II was
rather unexpectedly intrusted this morn
ing with q letter for your agreeable
guest here, and have merely come to
deliver it.
Her look of astonishment passing from
him to me, I thrust my hand into my
pocket and drew the letter out which
had Just received.
From home," said without proper
ly considering that this was in some
measure All untruth.
"Ohp' she murmured as If but hall
convinced. "William could have gone
for it," she added, still eying MIR. Trohm
with pitiful anxiety.
"I was only too happy" said the
other with a low and reassuring bow.
Then, as if he saw that her distress
would only be relieved by his depar'
ture, he raised his hat and stepped back
into the open highway. II will not in
trude again, Miss Knollys, were hiE
parting words IF you want anything
of Obadiah Trohm, you know where to
find him. His doors will always be
open to you"
Lucetta, with start, laid her hand
on her brothers. arm as if to restrain
the words she saw slowly laboring to
his lips, and leaning breathlessly for
ward watched the fine figure of this per-
feet country gentleman till it had with
drawn quite out of sight. Then she turn
ed, and with q quick abandonment Of
all self control, cried out with pitiful
gesture toward her brother, II thought
all was over; feared he meant to come