Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-03-21

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her little hands made sad havoc Of
Toms ardent letter. She tore 1t into
small bits and sifted the bits reflective
ly through her fingers into her waste
paper basket. On one Of the fingers
through which Toms message Of love
filtered in scraps was big diamond
ring that had not been there when he
went to tell her goodby.
From smiles she had passed to
frowns. The letter was distinctly dis
turbing. Usually by the time she had
reduced letter to fragments she had
forgotten its contents.
But this letter Of Toms refused to
be erased so readily. From condem-
nation Of his Stiffness and blindness
she passed to self questioning and &C
cuSing.
Had she ever let him suppose that
her feelings for him were other than
those Of an aunt for a nephew. a
guardian for a ward or anything else
safe and mature one could think Of?
She was sure. quite sure. she had not.
Tom had no one but himself to thank
for his misery. But. then. that he
should be miserable-that stung her
tender little heart to the quick. rom
| had had so much sorrow already. Oh.
what q hateful letter to have to an
swer! Now she would have to tell him
about Clarence and herself.
Mr.. Clarence Westovers step was
heard entering the veranda, and Tom
Broxton was resolved, by the Magian
touch of love, into fading myth.
Much more disturbing was the letter
written by Mr.. Matthews to his ward.
It was much shorter than Toms to
Olivia, but it went straight to the
point with q brutal directness as ef-
fective as q we'll placed blow between
the eyes. 1t left him stunned and
breathless.
Said the lawyer In his business let
ter:
Nv Dear Thomas-As only a few more months
remain OF your allotted two years absence, ]
think the time has arrived for me to make plain
statement to you
You will soon be coming home, man in the
eyes OF the law, legally cmancpatcd from all
guardianship-in short. your own master.
l rejoice to perceive from letters that you have
made excellent use OF your time and opportunl'
ties As have told you before. ] highly ap'
prove OF your taking up electricity. II may
stand you in good stead in the near future
And now it is my painful duty to infct very
great surprise upon you. have known, since IN
| d;ap I have K
anime into your fathers papers, that he had
been led into some most unfortunate speculations
and investments.
Nv most earnest efforts were directed toward
drawing your funds out Of the rapidly sinking
| concerns in which he, with lack OF Judgment
not common to him. had invested. After year
OF futile cntcavor in this direction bent my en-.
ergies toward rendering you self supporting should
the crash which fully anticipated occur during
your minority. 1t did occur. Thomas, and nave
known for five years that you would have barely
enough to finish a good education upon and to
supplement il by carrying out your fathers cher
ishcd plan OF travel
| Toward this end | have toiled and husbanded
your resources to the best Of my poor judgment
| few months after your departure Tor Germany II
became evident 10 me that il you were to be LETT
care free 10 pursue your course to its end broS-
ton Hall must 90. Il feel confident that your
dear father would entirely approve my course
The property has deprecated in value Immensely
since your fathers death and since an unfortunate
prejudice against it has been raised in this neigh.
borhood. | consider it exceedingly fortunate un'
der the circumstances that purchaser could be
found Obtaining an order from the court. with
out which, OF course you being minor, the
| transfer could not have been made. ] sold 1t to
| Mr. Standifcr Wcstover, man OF family ana
means The funds thus raised have been care
| fully appropriated to your needs and will serve
| to keep you from anxiety during the remaining
| months OF your German residence and perhaps
| until you can get into something profitable on
| this side, German correspondent or something Of
that sort in some large importing house. while
you are building up business as an electrician.
| have not wished to be premature in this ex-
| position OF your financial status. because wanted
your mind care free until your studies were con.
cluded, nor did want you to remain too long in
| ignorance Of the fact that you will have nothing
| to depend upon when you reach your majority
but your own head and hands, These | have
| conscentousy strvcn 10 prepare for the battle
| OF life.
| am aware. my dear boy, that this letter will
come to you in the shape Of most dsagreeable
SURPRISE but il comforts me to reflect that your
equipment for self support is much better than |
ever had, and with youth and health on your
! side there is nothing to alright you In begin.
ming at the bottom OF the ladder instead Of at
the top.
Doubtless you will be glad to know that Brox-
ton Hall has passed into the ownership OF Mt.
Westover. The place, ] have said. was fast
going to wreck and under any circumstances
| would have been most Improbable piece OF
property for you | consider myself fortunate in
| finding such q purchaser for It. Any sentiment
you may feel about giving up the old house must
Weld precedence, Thomas, to the bald facts that
YOU were in no position to hold on to 1t and the
longer II remained unsold the less was its value.
| OF course when you return here you will make
| nv home yours while we wind up my steward
ship by an examination OF all the papers ana
| vouchers bearing upon your estate and the tunus
your father invested in wildcat scheme Tor de-
| vcloping certain bogus mines in Colorado. You
owe it to yourself and to me to obtain an entire
~ clear conception Of the why's and the where
forcs OF this deplorablc and Ito you) entirely un'
expected turn in your affairs.
Ny daughter Olivia will make you our most
welcome guest while we are going over the mass
OF papers that have accumulated on my hands as
steward.
There was nothing n the wording OF
this letter to which Tom could take ex-
ception. but the information it contain
ed came to him with the stunning force
of blow struck by an unsuspected as
Sailant.
He read It twice over. spread it out
on the table under his student lamp
and conned it as he conned the scien-
tiiic works lying on the same table,
over which he usually labored three
hours day unflinchingly.
There was no mistaking the mean
ing of his guardians letter. He was a
pauper. BroXton. dear old Broyton,
even had been sacrificed to keep him