Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-04-11
that would make a real home for him

$50 do I" grew less and less emphatic.
and when the prospect Of long abb
sence from home stared her In the
face she was distinctly conscious Of a
longing desire for the dear old COM
panion of her childish days. Folding
up his latest letter, this longing had
found wistful utterance.
81 wish we could see the dear boy
before we cross the ocean"
And Miss Malvlna. always lying In
wait for her opportunity, had echoed
the wish with such fervor that the let
ter Tom called formal" and Ollie
bold" was the logical outcome.
A week after it had been dispatched
Miss Malvina. passing through the
library with her arms piled high with
slip covers to shroud the parlor furni-
ture, halted to rouse the girl from one
Of her somber reveries.
HAS Tom sent any answer to our In
vitation yet, dear?"
"Oh, yes! meant to have shown
you his note. 1t has just come-very
short. l am glad he did not make bis
stenographer typewrlte it."
Said Miss Malvina with ready cham
pionship, mo doubt Thomas Is very
busy man, but | am sure he could
never do q discourteous thing
Olivia read the short note aloud Will
her pretty head held at an angle of re-
sentiment:
Nv Dear Little Friend-l am truly glad that
you and Miss Malvina are going to leave Mande
Vile for q change, but am sorry to think you &c
on account OF her health
II you will let me come to you on the SUNDAY
before your departure, It will give me the great
est pleasure to dine with my old friends on that
day. promise to be punctual Taking youl
consent for granted. / am faithfully yours.
THOMAS BRoIToN.
There were two red spots burning In
Olivia's cheeks as she flung this note
down upon her desk. Gould anything
be more lnsufferable? He graciously
accords us an hour or two Of his valu'
able time"
Miss Malvlna looked lmploringly at
the flushed young face over the pile OF
covers she was resting on the desk.
disappointing. Ollie, decidedly. but
not insufferable."
81 say insufferable and abominably
patronizng. His dear little friend. aud
he Is glad ! am going away! Not that
| wanted or expected him to be sorry"
81 think he meant he was glad on our
account. dear. Perhaps he thlnks-l
mean he did not think he had any
right to-you know he don't Perhaps
he thinks you are-you are
THAT | am what. Miss Malvina
Please do finish at least one Of your
sentences. don't know anything more
trying than such verbal convulsions."
81 meant that perhaps he thinks you
are moping about Clarence Westover,
or perhaps he don't know about the
breaking off. But. yes. he does"
"'Yes, he does? What does he know
about Mr.. Westover and myself?"
Miss Malvlna blushed guiltily. Il am
afraid I did did wrote to him
about the engagement being broken"
Olivia looked at her icily, but the hot
blood Of humiliation dyed her cheeks
and forehead. "Oh. you did! And per-
haps you also asked him to come and
assume the task Of consolation"
"OlIvia, you know did not"
"You have covered me with confu-
sion. am sorry that invitation ever
went to him. He has only accepted 1t
because he could not refuse. Oh, 1t Is
all horrid, just too horrid for anything!
He has a right to think ME a bold, In
delicate wretch. | don't doubt for q
moment that lie does"
At which Miss Malvina famed up.
"You never were just to Thomas Brox-
ton. and | suppose you never will be.
You are always judging him by COM
monplace standards, and they don't fit
him ct all. He Is man incapable of
harboring mean thought or commit
ting n mean action. IF you had ever
been worthy of him. Olivia. you never
would have played at being In love
with n man not worthy Of breathing
the same air with him."
With which burst Of eloQuence Miss
Malvina gathered up her chair covers
and went about her business. She OBJ.
served with secret satisfaction, how
ever. that as the time approached for
Thomas arrival Ollie's spirits rose
most unaccountably. Her black dresses
made her look pallid always now.
but on that Sunday morning the soft
est Of pink fushes dyed her delicate
skin, and-oh. the guile OF woman!-
Toms favorite shade Of chrysanthe'
NUNS, a rich mahogany color, was
piled high in a great glass bowl upon
the hall table.
Tom timed his arrival carefully, just
In time for dinner. but when dinner
was over Miss Malvina herself sudden.
ly developed an amount Of guile no one
would ever have credited her with.
I've got SO much to do. Tom. that
can't afford to remember the Sabbath
day to keep 1t holy. am going tC
count all the silver this afternoon and
interview Reuben about caretaker he
wants us to leave In the house. will
have to leave you on Ollie's hands fol-
a little while. but don't you dare to run
away until have had my private in
terview. There are some things | want
you to do for me about the Lodge"
She nodded her little corkscrew curls
gayly and trotted away. leaving Olivia
almost gasplng for breath.
1t was left to Tom to relieve the
strained situation. He had been In
specting a newly executed portrait OF
his guardian while Miss Malvina had
ratified Off her apologies. Olivia had
asked his opinion Of the painting. and