Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-03-24

really was and of how entirely uncon-
scious Olivia was Of the impending ca
tastrophe. But 1t was not for her to
furnish enlightenment.
Some one, Miss Malvina decided, cer-
tainly ought to be within call at night
In case-in case Of the worst. DR.. Co.
van was out of the question. He was
too old and too necessary to the well
being of the rest Of Vaudeville to be
risked. She thought Of Tom Broxton,
but Tom was hundreds Of miles away,
hard at work. Mr.. Matthews had told
her he was in an electricians Office in
Kansas City. Ollie never heard from
him at all nowadays. She thought Of
herself, only to think next Of her moth
er. She could not stay away from the
cottage at night. Why should not Clar-
ence Westover stay? She gave Olivia
the benefit Of her views on this point.
"I think, my dear. you ought to have
some one besides old Reuben in the
house at night 1t is just possible you
might want to send for DR.. Govan dur
ing the night. I was thinking that Mr..
Westover would be just the one."
"Clarence to sit up at night? Oh,
then you must think papa very III in
deedw
said Miss Malvina recklessly. Il was
Just thinking that naturally it would
cheer you up some to have him about" I"
A soft glow spread over the girls
tired face. The mere suggestion had
proved cheering.
"Oh, he is just as nice as can be! He
comes every day and has wanted to
help nurse from the very beginning,
and-and-it would be immensely COM
forting to me just to know that he was
within call, but papa seems to have
such an aversion to any one being in
his room. He has said over and over
again that he hoped would not take
advantage Of him when he was asleep
to leave stranger In charge Of him.
As If would take advantage Of him
under any circumstances" she added
mournfully.
"The very best Of men are selfish
pigs when it comes to Sickness" said
Miss Malvlna. with scorn in her eyes
and a fixed purpose In her heart.
She found Clarence Westover tether-
ing his horse to the Matthews rack.
She went toward him eagerly.
"Well. call this provdential; that |
do. was just casting about In my
mind how | could get a message to
you"
"Worse? He nodded gravely to.
ward the house.
mo: cant say that | see any
change at all. but it Is just this way:
Things are in too critical q condition
for that child to be left alone at night.
with no one but old Reuben to call on
in case of-of'-
81 understand. | have thought so all
along. have pleaded with her for
permission to stay. She has refused
me with singular obstlnancy. can
not stay in spite Of her"
''That is just exactly what you must
10. KNOW. IL ~ I'LL Ills uoiHS9' NhS
would be glad to haze you. know 1t.
But she wouldn't go against his wishes
for the universe. | don't suppose he
can help being selfish. seeing he Is n
man. She needs you desperately. Mr.
WrStover What are you going 20 do
about it?"
A second Of silent reflection fell be-
tween them. and then Westover solved
the problem cheerfully.
81 have It, can be on hand and he
none the wiser for it. / don't suppose
now. any one is likely to visit the little
side porch his room opens on after
dark?'
mo Splendid! There Is q hammock
swung there just outside his windows.
You can hear everything that goes on
in the ROOM"
"I'll do it." said Clarence with deci-
sion. II will come after dark. Fortu-
nately there is no moon to tell on me-"
"Nor any dog" Miss Malvina added
reassuringly. my dear Mr.. Westover.
what q load you have lifted Off my
heart"
And as she trotted briskly home
ward. with that much lightened organ
warming toward Ollie's lover, she said
to herself that she guessed they had
all been unjust to this young man be-
cause they had dedicated Ollie to Tom
Broxton and maybe because he wore
patent leather shoes in the daytime.
Vaudeville had Its own standards.
and Miss Malvina stood by them.
Patent leather stood for holidays and
holy days. Her loving heart was very
full just then. What with plying ten
derness for Ollie. somber anticipations
for Lawyer Matthews and growing
anxiety for her mother 1t could not
well be fuller. She had to admit to
herself that her mother was growing
queerer every day.
And the qucerer she grew the more
frenzied became her dislike for Hor-
ace Matthews. In her efforts tc ac
count for ii Miss Malvina recalled the
psychological fact that mentally unbal-
anced people frequently selected some
one individual as the object Of their
especial detestation. Sometimes 1t was
those they had most reason to love
and admire. Her mother was certain