Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-02-26

sitting down in the long, low easy
chair where she had been he drew her
on to his lap and held her there like a
tired child, holding her head to his
heart and smoothing her face and her
hair, kissing her and murmuring soft,
caressing words to her.
you're not often like this to me, "
she murmured, opening her lovely eyes
and glancing up into his and smiling
family. "Your touch is like what the
wave of a mesmerist's hand must be
when be watts away pain"
For answer he kissed her again.
"Have I made you happy, Jaffray?'
she asked after long pause.
By way of answer this time he hum
med the snatch of song, IF this be
vanity, vanity let it be, " an old, teas
ing trick of his when she had seemed to
look for a compliment from him.
"Yes, I am vanity today, but an
swer," she urged.
"My darling wife, have never
known since I was child and felt the
presence of my mothers love such hap
piness as you have brought into my life.
That from my SOUL" he said earnestly,
kissing her.
She kissed him in response and lay
for q moment quite still in. his arms.
Then suddenly she asked:
eff were to die, Jaffray. would it
break your hearth"
Don't, Lola-don't even think such
a thing"
"But mean it. Would it?"
at would close it against ever hold
ing such a love in my life again, he
answered, and his voice was like that
Of one in pain.
II am selfish, but am glad Of that.
I want no one ever to take my place,
even to blot out the memory Of this
time, whatever happens.
"You are talking very strangely,
child. Whatever happens'-what can
that meant"
81 am feeling very strange, Jaffray," &"
she answered, taking his hand and rub
bing her soft cheek against it and kiss
ing it. "You laugh at my presenti-
ments, bnt you do not laugh me out Of
them. I believe that if we could lift the
veil that hides from us the next few
days we should see trouble that might
make us both wish we were dead rather
than have to face it. No; hear me, !"
she said, putting her hand on his lips
when he was going to break in and in
terrupt her. "It is this which is fright
ening me, and it makes me anxious to
get a pledge from you Of your love.
Don't blame me and don't laugh at me;
but, whatever happens, remember today
and remember our love-"
"Are you fearing anything that can
happen, child?" he asked earnestly.
Her words seemed more than a mere
presentiment.
For moment the issue to tell or not
to tell hung in the balance, and she al
most nerved herself to dare all and open
out her confession while he was in this
mood.
But he spoke and broke the spell.
81 sometimes think, as l have told
you, that there is something" And the
tone in which he spoke drove back the
impulse and made her silent. She
seemed to read in it al unwillingness
to forgive, sternness that she knew
was in his character, and it chilled the
words even as they rose to her lips.
So the moment passed, and nothing
WAS said save that she turned the ques-
tion with all evasion.
81 am fearing something, she said,
land if only could guess what it was
and what shape it would take and what
it would do I should be better again
As it is you must not scold me. but love
me, Jatfray, always love me, always,
and Lear with me when I am like this,
but always think of me with love. y
Then she was silent, aud after a
time, when he had soothed her and
petted her, she fell asleep in his arms,
her last thought of him being that
which a kiss suggested He held her
while she slcpt-it was not long-and
thought of all she had said and VOL
dered whether it had any hidden mean-
ing, and, if so, what.
And he looked at her as she slept and
was pleased when smile tlickered over
her face, aud he kissed it before it was
gone, and kissing her he woke ECr, and
she smiled still more broadly and
swect,y.
"That is the sweetest sleep l have
ever had in my life, Jaflray, she said
Tin your strong, safe arms, kissed to
SSA