Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-02-05

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you can take.
"You're very prodigal with your
gifts" said Mrs. De Witt in rather
waspish tone. She was irritated at not
quite understanding Lola.
At that moment the two men were
heard laughing, and directly afterward
they entered the room together.
Lola, mindful Of Mrs. De Wits
words, was especially guarded in her
manner toward the Frenchman.
The two men sat down close to Mrs.
De Witt, who held them in conversa-
tion, and Lola, sitting a little apart,
grew thoughtful
She was beginning to realize more
and more clearly how the load that she
was bearing would gall and wound with
its weight and how difficult it might be
to carry it at all without its crushing
her.
She had noticed Beryl's tone and look
when the girl had asked that question
about Montreux, and she saw instantly
that from that side there might develop
really serious suspicion fraught with
much danger.
Lola had never understood Beryl. She
could not gauge the strength and posi-
bilities of a nature that seemed to her
so Indifferent, so cold and so hard to
wound. She knew that Beryl had loved
Sir Jaffray, probably loved him now
and possibly might never again feel
spark of love for any other man. Such.
che thought, was sometimes the persist
ence of these self restrained women.
Yet there had never been sign of
hostility or resentment OH Beryl's part
at the breaking of that old tacit engage
ment and the wrecking Of her life.
Why was this?
Lola had puzzled over that problem
more than once, and the episode of the
dinner table showed her now that the
answer to it might be the hinge OIL
which the whole future of her life at
Walcote manor might turn.
Given that Beryl harbored any sus-
picion and that by any freak of fortune
she could get at the truth. how would
her old love for Sir Jaffray prompt her
to act?
II should strike at any cost" thought
Lola, "brt we are very different She
may have that power Of self sacrifice
which have not, and il may be that if
I could control other things" and she
glanced in disgust at Pierre Turrian,
"she would even do nothing l wonder
what she thinks.
"You seem very quiet, Lola, said
Sir Jaffray, coming to her side at this
moment. He had glanced several times
at his wife aud had noticed how unusr-
ally preoccupied and silent she was.
eyes, l was listening for once" she
answered, smiling.
"Whero is Beryl? Turrian is going to
sing, and know she would like to hear
him.
"She went away with the mother.
I'll 90 and tell her." And Lola, glad
to be alone for a moment, went out CT
the room.
She did not 90 directly to Lady Wal
cote's rooms, but when she reached the
long, broad corriCor which led to them
she staid and walked two or three times
the full length of it, pursuing the train
of thought which had been interrupted.
While she was thus occupied Beryl
came out of one of the rooms and stood
in astonishment watching Lola, who
was so absorbed that she did not hear
the door open.
When she reached the end of the cor.
ridor and turned, Lola for the first time
noticed Beryl and thought that the girl
was watching her.
AREN'T you we'll, or is anything the
matter, Lola?" asked Beryl.
"What should be the matter"' re-
turned Lola little irritably, for BeryPs
cold manner always seemed to ruffie
her, and she was annoyed now at hav-
ing been found doing what was unusual.
81 was coming to ask you if you would
not like to hear M. Turrian sing. He is
going to sing now"
1T is very good of you to think of
it," said Beryl. "I'll come. should
like to hear him. He interests me. "
'It was not l who thought OF it, but
Jaffray," answered Lola. II mustn't
claim credit that belongs to him"
"Well, you came to fetch me at any
rate" replied Beryl, with smile that
warmed her face and lighted it. Then
in different tone she said as they went
down stairs together: IN. Turrian 10
strange character. He seems to show
new side every time see him. l have
not heard him before in the role of story
teller.
Have you not?" answered Lola in
differently. II am rather surprised at
that. He prides himself on his powers
a good deal, and Jaffray thinks much
of him on account of them."
But though Lola had answered light
" she had an instinct that there was
something behind the remark which
menaced mischief.
AS the two entered the drawing room
together Lola glanced round her rapid
", with curious sense that III some
way a crisis was at hand; but, meeting