Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-01-08


and-a good deal Of cigar smoke" she
answered with mock seriousness and
laughing eyes.
Mrs. De Witt bit her lip.
"You mean you won't tell me, Lo-
lar" she said irritably.
"My dear, I'll tell you everything
you ask me. You know I've no secrets
from you, even about our own smoke.
What do you want to know?"
"Did Sir Jaffray propose to you this
afrernoonG" asked ercompanion point
edly.
In moment the girl changed. She
drew her arm out of her friends and
with a manner which suggested that
she considered the question had over
stepped the bounds Of even the friendly
footing on which they were she an
swered:
"Surely you forget. Sir Jaffray, as
you have yourself told me often, is all
but engaged to marry his cousin. Do
you know him so little as to think he
could fool with me under those circum-
stances, or me so little as to think ]
would let hiln?. You've been wool gath
ering, my dear, tonight. Now l under
stand what you meant at dinner. On
my word 1 hope Sir Jaffray didn't, or
I should never look him in the face
again. But must 60 to Mrs. Villyers
now. Good night. sha'n't come down
again, and goodby if I don't sea you
again." And before Mrs. De Witt could
answer Lola had kissed her and slipped
out of the room, leaving her as puzzled
as ever, but yet certain that there was
something in it" and angry because
she could not find it out.
In the early afternoon of the follow
ing day Sir Jaffray arrived at Walcote.
His mother had been looking forward
! with little apprehension to the inter
view with him, knowing as she did his
great tenacity Of purpose. She held so
strong a conviction that a marriage
with Lola would mean ultimate disas-
ter, however, that she was resolved to
struggle against it to the end.
But she could make no impression on
Sir Jaffray's resolute determination.
81 will marry no one else," was the
burden of his case, and nothing else
she could say or plead would alter him.
mother, I have come not to hold out
any prospect to you that your wishes
can prevail in this" he said, toward
the close of the interview. 81 am sorry
that you hold the opinion you do, and
have listened carefully to all you have
said, but you have not changed me one
lot or title. A man must choose his
wife for himself. So it has been since
the world was young, and so it always
will be. What have come to you to do
is to tell you that the complication in
regard to my cousin Beryl, which you
and others have caused, however unwit-
tingly, and until now with my unfortu-
nate help, you and others are in duty
bound to remove. Only yesterday with
your letters to Beryl and me you in
creased that complication, though, mind
you, don't believe Beryl does care for
me as you think or would wish "
"You are pledged to her, Jaffray, 4"
said Lady Walcote.
"No, am not pledged. have ac-
quiesced in a mistaken course while /
did not know my own feelings. That If
all. have never breathed syllable to
her which could suggest that loved her
or that I wished her to be my wife.
You must see her and explain matters. ="
"Why?"
"Because Miss Crawshay will not
hear a word from me while other peo-
pie couple my name with Beryl's. She
is acting as an honorable girl, of course,
in this"
eyes, acting" returned Lady Wal
cote dryly. "She would be no Crawshay
if she could not do that. She knows her
power over you. She has infatuated you,
Jaffray."
"Mother, have never in my life con-
sciously allowed an unkind thought to
find lodging in my mind" said Sir
Jaffray very earnestly. Don't say
what will leave a sting behind it.
can't hear things against the woman l
am going to marry. Try to reconcile
yourself to this. Try to see that you are
prejudiced, that you have no cause to
dislike Lola except that she has come
between you and a plan which you
have cherished. That is now impossi-
BILE. 1t would be the foulest treachery
and cowardice for me to marry Beryl
feeling as I do toward Lola, and you
know how bitterly she herself would
resent it. Can't you do this for me?
You have done so much. Help me now
to the happiness of lifetime.
He stood looking down at her and
then stopped and kissed her.
She sat silent for minute and then
asked:
"Where is Miss Crawshay?"
with Mr.. Villyers. at Mosscombe. "
II will 90 and see her first and then
tell you my decision" And with that
the interview closed.
Lady Walcote lost no time in carrying
out her proposal, and, ordering her car
riage, she drove over at once to Moss.
combe.
When Lola heard that Sir Jaffray' g
mother was waiting to see her, she felt
that there must be trial of wits be-