Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-01-08
Copyright, 1897, by the Author.
CHAPTER III.
LoLA's VICTORY.

LOLA 8 VICTORY.
"Isn't Mrs. Villyers coming, Lola!'
asked Mrs. De Witt, as the three ladies
sat alone, waiting for Sir Jaffray, Lola
having Joined them at the table.
"No, dear; she has headache" an
swered Lola.
wants to avoid being questioned
about her change of plan and sudden de-
parture, suppose" was the reply.
every likely" said Lola calmly. Il
never knew any one who shrank from a
certain kind Of curiosity more than she
does"
eyes, she's sweet tempered woman.
She's so-what's that word you use
sometimes, Beryl?-so altruistio. That
means helping others out of ditch and
keeping your lips closed, doesn't itf"
"Not quite" returned Beryl.
. "Well, it's very convenient now at
any rate, " said Mrs. De Witt. "I'm
really sorry she can't come, for I'm pos
itively curious about the reasons for
your scampering off in this way, Lola,
and Just at the time Magog's off as
well. One Of you might be following
the other. hope Mrs Villyers has not
been setting that very stif and proper
cap of hers at him and is running away
from defeat.
81 hope not, indeed" returned Lola,
with earnest innocence quite equal to
Mrs. De Wits. "She is the best of good
creatures, and love disappoi.. .tment OF
the kind is the last thing she deserves.
She has said nothing to me about it,
but there, of course, she couldn't, could
she?' And Lola turned her large, lus-
trous eyes upon Mrs. De Witt with an
expression of real concern in them.
''No, don't think either of you'd
exchange condolences on such sub
ject," said Mrs. De Witt dryly, but
smiling very sweetly.
Beryl was amused despite the under
current of interest there was in the dia-
logue for her, and she smiled.
~ don't think it's very probable, l"
she said.
"Well, if any one ought to know you
or should, Beryl. You've had all the
condolences of his first boyhood and l
most of those of his manhood.
"The shortest plan is to ask him him
SELF" replied Lola. Here he is. Sir
Jaffray," she said to the baroret as soon
as he had taken his seat at the table,
1--WE are puzzled. The dear little wom-
an can't understand why you are leav-
ing Torquay suddenly. did not know
you were leaving till she told me, you
know, and she wants badly to know
why you are going. Will you tell us?''
There was not gesture or expression
in her face or manner to suggest that
she could know anything about it. Her
attitude toward him was precisely what
1t had always been, and her perfect self
command and composure pleased him.
He took his cue from her readily. He
miled as he answered.:
'Is she asking again? Ju now on
the balcony out there she wan ed to sug-
gest that it was something about you,
Miss Crawshay."
Lola laughed soft, low, sweet laugh
that made the men who were at the ta-
bles within earshot look up and turn
round and feel suddenly interested III
the doings of the group which contain
ed three such pretty women and the
distinguished looking man.
Mrs. De Witt and Beryl were both
perplexed by the conduct of the other
two, and the former glanced quickly up
to the faces of them both as if to find
there an explanation, but she found
nothing.
"In here she limited, as l think very
unkindly, that there was some love
making at the bottom of it, and that
you were running away either with or
from Mrs. Villyers-I didn't make out
which. suppose that's not SOP"
Mrs. De Witt looked up quickly, ex-
pecting to intercept glance of under
standing between Lola and Sir Jaffray,
but she was disappointed.
''No, indeed not" returned Sir Jaf-
fray.
"Lola, think you're one Of the most
daring girls / ever knew" said Mrs.
De Witt suddenly. you've Balaklava
pluck. You dash right in under the hot
test fire and try to spike the guns which
are shelling you right and left.
"Not left, DEAR" returned Lola, who
was sitting at one side of the small ia
BILE alone with Mrs. De Witt on her
right hand at the bottom and Mrs. Will
yers' empty place between her aud Sir
Jaffray, who was at the head. She
pointed to the vacant place with sweep
of the hand, which included also the
baronet, and laughed.
Mrs. De Witt understood her, and, a
fresh course coming at that moment,
Beryl took advantage of the interruption
to change the conversation and lead it
away to matters which were not charged
with personal references.
When they rose from the table, Mrs.
De Witt purposely linked her arm in
Lola's, and, walking with her into the
drawing room, returned to the attack.
"What passed between you and Sir
Jaffray this afternoon, Lola, on the
Veranda?" she asked.
"My dear, there was nothing passed
between US. There was nothing to pass.
We were alone"