Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-08-31

she found her carriage, with mounted
policeman on either side Of it, awaiting
her at the door Thus escorted she start
ed for Cladich castle.
When the lady arrived at her destina.
tion escorted in so unusual a manner,
everybody was on tenterhooks to know
what it all meant. Not whisper Of the
adventure had as yet got abroad, but
the groom had dropped word to the
footman, the footman to the coachman,
and that individual made himself dur
ing the evening an object of very con-
siderable interest in the kitchen Of the
castle.
Miss Power herself carried the news
to the ballroom, where large and gal
liant company was assembled. During
the evening the adventure was literally
discussed, but the heroine made light
of it and seemed in the highest Of spir-
it's. After one Of the walt2es in which
he had been her happy partner Mr.. Phil
ip Langford, a friend and neighbor,
found himself alone with Miss Power.
"My dear Miss Power" said he as
the two paced up and down among the
exotics, "you really want some one to
protect you from this sort of thing"
"Of course" returned Catherine
archly, land 1 have appointed some
one Did I not arrive here attended by
an escort of police?"
The gentleman colored and bit his
lip. In point of fact he had long been
dancing attendance on the lady Of the
castle, and to all outward appearance
he was most eligible match. He was
fairly young and passably handsome,
could sit horse well in the hunting
field and, though somewhat moody and
taciturn in general, was sweetness it
self to those he liked. Unfortunately he
was poor, all his possessions being a
tumble down mansion and about $500
or e400 year, but what he lacked in
money he made up for in descent. His
ancestors counted much farther back
than he could trace at all, but he knew
for certain and he very often boasted
that one Of them was was on the ship
which brought over Grana O'Mailley
to the English court. Despite all this
and although she had often found her
self looking at his handsome face and
manly figure with some degree of ad-
miration, Catherine could never bring
herself to look with any favor upon ais
suit.
"The fact is" she said to herself over
and over again, 81 like them all so
much that I cannot choose one. Now,
if they would only leave marrying alone
and be content to be my friends, how
much nicer it would bep'
Having made that sly remark about
the police, Catherine peeped into her
companions face and saw how darkly
it was clouded
whats the matter?" she said soft
ly. "Are you angy?"
"Angry? What right have to be
angry? I am only anxious on your ac-
count"
"Once warned, twice armedP cried
Catherine, smiling Captain Kennedy
is awfully nice and would give me q
whole regiment Of constabulary if ]
asked him..
Then, seeing that his face was still
shadowed, she added sweetly:
"Please forgive me, Mr.. Langford,
and let US be friends. I did not mean
any offense, assure you. "
In a moment the young mans face
turned smilingly to hers. He gazed up
on her with q look which made her
blush and turn her head away.
Catherine, he passionately cried,
"if you want to please me you know
the way. You have but to give me the
right to protect you"
"Ah, but 1 cannot do that" return
ed Catherine, and with that will O. the
wisp friendship always binding her
eyes she clung to his arm when she
should never have staid with him at
all. Thus it was that the two continued
to pace up and down among the shrubs
and flowers, the man making the best
of his time to urge his suit, the girl lis
tening half pleased, half sorry, until at
length she was startled from her dream
by the fierce scrutiny of pair of eyes
which were watching her from the door.
"Why, there is my cousin, she cried,
quitting the side Of her astonished COM
panion. "How do you do, MIR. Blake?'
she continued, as she paused before him,
holding forth her hand. "This is the
first I have seen Of you this evening.
The fact is have been so besieged with
curious people anxious to obtain some
description Of the person who tried to
rob me on the road today that-that"-
She faltered and turned pale, for as
she spoke her eyes had wandered care
lessly over the countenance of her visa
Wis. His pale face was disfigured by O
livid mark which stretched from fore
head to cheek, and one eye was swollen
as if by sharp blow.
TO BE CONTINUED.
,trpp NDcnInN