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


insist upon your answering 1t frankly,
no matter what 1t costs"
"If 1t costs me my life" said Ollie
comfortably. go on. dear"
"Have you ever had any reason to
suspect that your father Is purposely
putting impedments in the way Of our
getting married?"
"Why. Clarence, no, never! You
ridiculous boy! Papa wants me to
have everything that makes me hap
py. Ergo be wants me to have you"
"Not so ridiculous as 1t might seem.
I have never got over his start Of sur
prise when asked him for your hand
nor his unguarded expression"
"Unguarded expression?"
Eyes. He looked at me in startled
sort of way and said: What! You? l
had hoped-I had Then he stopped
in very evident confusion"
"Well," said Ollie, with partisan heat,
"he meant, poor old darling, he hoped
that I wouldn't think of marrying for
a great many years to come"
"Your explanation does not dispose
Of his startled What! Your"
ooh, we'll. that just meant nothing
at alp
She was glad that the light Of the
moon is not of a revealing character.
She blushed furiously, as she always
did when equivocating. BY nature and
habit she was a singularly direct and
truth loving little body.
81 am sorry not to be able to take
that view Of it, my dear"
"What. then? Do you know papa SO
much better than do"
They were perilously near to lovers
quarrel.
"It meant-I thought so at the time,
and his evasion of the point whenever
I tried to consult with him as to the
date Of our marriage confirms me In
the idea-that he had other views for
you."
"Other views for me?"
eyes," Here Mr.. Clarence swung
his long whip about the pointed ears Of
his team with an irritated swish that
stimulated them to brisk trot. HAS
1t never occurred to you, Ollie, that
your father Is holding me off until
Broxton gets home; that he would
rather you should marry his ward?
But
1There! Don't say another word.
please, Clarence. Did ever l expect
to hear poor papa. who adores me and
only asks to keep me by his side for
ever and forever, accused Of maneu-
vering to get rid of me like any daugh-
ter burdened society mamma? 1t is a
shame, q perfect shame!"
"What! Crying about it? l do won
der why a woman's tear duct was
made so perilously convenient"
clarence, l hate you! There, now!
1 am quite sure l shall always hate
you"
They had finally arrived at a lovers
quarrel Of generous proportions. and
the horses were permitted to sustain
their reputation as fast trotters until
the Matthews gate was reached.
"You will come in" Ollie asked, try
ing to be polite. in smothered voice.
"Not tonight. thank you," the man
she hated answered haughtily. and she
ran up the walk alone.
The memory Of Toms unanswered
letter smote upon her conscience. Her
tiff with Westover primed her COM
fortably for answering 1t just as she
did, and for fear Of softer mood and
a less decided quietus she wrote 1t i'm.
mediately anu ran out and mailed it.
Facing toward the house after drop
ping her letter in the box, she observ-
ed bright light still burning in her
fathers study in the wing Of the
house. Entering it. she found him
sitting in his Office chair, surrounded
by q hopeless litter Of loose papers.
His head had dropped forward on his
folded arms. Apparently he was
asleep. She laid her hand gently on
his shoulder.
Father. this is not right. 1t Is very,
very wrong. You know DR.. Govan has
positively forbidden you any night
work. You took advantage Of my be-
ing away. You don't love me. or you
would not worry me so. You naughty
papa"
The face that was lifted at the
sound of her voice was white and
drawn. The eyes that looked longingly
into hers were heavy and bloodshot.
"Don't love you? Don't love you?
Girl, it would have been better for us
both, far better, If l had loved you
less"
"Fatherw She recoiled from him In
resentment
He pushed his chair back abruptly
and, standing up, frowned down upon