Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-11-23
"For himy Well. never thought Of

families as theirs. l hardly think she
would be influenced by any such con-
sideration. Now, if this had happened
this year, after the lane got its name
and all this stir had been made about
folks disappearing there, might have
given some weight to your suggestion
women are 80 queer, especially the wo-
men of old families like theirs-but this
happened long ago and when folks all
thought heap of the Knollys, leastwise
of the girls, for William does not 60 for
much, you know-too stupid and too
brutal"
William! Would the utteranoe Of
that name heighten my suggestion3 I
surveyed her closely, but could detect
no change in her somewhat puzzled
countenance.
"My illusions were not in reference
to the disappearances, said L II was
thinking Of something else Lucetta is
not we'll"
"Ah, / knowl They say she has some
kind of heart complaint, but that was
not true then. Why, her cheeks were
like,roses in those days and her figure
as plump and pretty as any you could
see now among our village beauties
No, Miss Butterworth, it was her weak
ness lost him. She probably palled upon
his taste. It was noticed that he held
his head very high in going out of
town."
HAS he married since?" I asked.
"Not to my knowledge, ma'am."
"Then he loved her." declared
She looked at me quite curiously.
Doubtless that word sounds little queer
on my lips, but that shall not deter me
from using it when the circumstances
seem to require. Besides, there was once
time But there, I promised to fall
into no digressions.
"You should have been married your
self, Miss Butterworth, said she.
was amazed, first at her daring and
secondly that was so little angry at
it. But then the woman meant no Of
fense, probably intended compliment
rather.
II am very we'll contented as I am,
returned II am neither sickly nor
timid."
She smiled, looked as If she thought
1t only common politeness to agree with
me and tried to say SO, but finding the
situation too much for her coughed and
discreetly held her peace. l came to her
rescue with a new question.
"Have the Knollys ever been success:
full in lover The mother of these girls
now-she who was Althea Burroughs
was her life with her husband happy /
have always been curious to know. She
and / were schoolmates. "
"You were? You knew Althea Knoll
lys when she was girl? Wasn't she
charming, ma am? Did you ever BEE
livelier girl or one with more knack at
winning affection? Why, she couldn't
sit down with you half hour before
you felt like giving up everything you
had to her. 1t made no difference wheth-
er you were man or woman, it was all
the same. She had but to turn those
mischievous, pleading eyes upon you
and you became fool at once. Yet her
end was sad, ma am; too sad, when
you remember that she died at the very
height Of her beauty alone and in for
eign land. But / have not answered
your question. Were she and the judge
happy together? l have never heard to
the contrary, ma'am. I'm sure he
mourned her faithfully enough. Some
think that her loss killed him. He did
not survive her more than three years. ~
1.-The children do not favor her
much, said 1, "but see an expression
now and then in Lucetta which recalls
her mother family"
"They are pure Knollys' blood, said
She Even William has traits which,
with q few more brains back Of them,
would remind you of his grandfather,
who was the plainest Of his race.
| was glad that the talk had reverted
to William.
HE seems to lack heart, said ], 'as
we'll as brains l marvel that his sisters
put up with him as we'll as they do"
"They cannot helpi it. He is not a fell
low to be fooled with. Besides, he holds
third share In the house. IF they could
sell it'll But, deary me, who would buy
an old tumble down place like that on
a road you cannot get folks who have
any consideration for their lives to enter
for love or money? But excuse me,
ma am; I forgot that you are living just
now on that very road I'm sure I beg
thousand pardons.
II am living there as guest" re-
turned II have nothing to do with Its
reputation-except to brave It..
"a courageous thing to do, ma am,
and one that may do the road some
good. If you can spend month with
the Knollys and come out Of their house
at last hale and hearty as you enter 1t,
it will be the best proof possible that
there is less to be feared there than
some people think. I shall be glad II
you can do it, ma am, for I like the
girls and would be glad to have the rep
utation Of the place restored"
"Pshawp' was my final comment.
1.-The credulity Of the town has had as
much to do with their loss Of it as they
themselves. That educated people such
as see here should believe in ghostsl"
say final, for at this moment the
good lady, springing up, put an end to
our conversation She had just seen a
buggy pass the window.
Its Mr.. Trohm, said she. "Ma'am,
if you wish to return home before Mr..
Simsbury comes back you may be able
to do so with this gentleman. He's
most obliging man and lives less than
quarter of mile from the Misses Knoll