Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-04-11
Il, What q strong. forceful face bis

ways loving ner. ION naQ grown
away from her.
"Or perhaps" said Tom, filling in
what threatened to become an awk-
ward pause, you have not marked
out any arbitrary route. So much the
better. Are you going direct to Nice"
Eyes, suppose so. don't know.
It will be the innocents abroad when
Miss Malvina and l slip our moor
ings."
She laughed hysterically. How could
she ever say "itw How could she go
away without saying "it?" She felt
like a leaf In a winter storm. How
cool and steady his voice was!
"You will meet with agreeable sur
prises In that respect. Everything Is
so simpllfied and systematlzed nova
days that women can travel over the
world with impunity. | am sure you
will enjoy It,"
"And am sure shall not. never
expect to enjoy anything again. Tom.
as long as l live. never-anything at
ALL"
Her eyes were wet With unshed
tears: her cheeks were hot with un.
hidden bushes; her clasped hands
trembled visibly; her excitement was
getting beyond her control. Broxton
looked at her In grave surprise. Then
a smile of pity came into his fine face.
"You are young yet, Ollie. so young,
and to the young sorrow has such
dreadful fnality In seeming. But 1t
is only in seeming. little friend. We
can outlive and live down about all
the troubles q malicious fate can con-
ceive of for our torment If we will
only believe in ourselves, be true to
the best in u.s."
She looked at him with the ghost of
smile on her lips. THAT sounds
dreadfully experienced, Tom."
"And am | not experienced? Not"
he added, with quick thought for her.
"that l am quarreling with destiny.
NV philosophy is that all that Is ts
right"
"That is fatalism. and do not think
fatalism is healthy. especially for so
young a man. You see, have not for
gotten how to find fault with you.
Tom"
"No. Come, now, this grows promis-
Ing. lived In Germany just long
enough to acquire taste for meta
physics and to miscall myself philos-
opher. We don't indulge along that
line at the works. Let me hear you
define fatalism."
His cool acceptance Of the existing
status of things exasperated her most
unreasonably.
"You are turning my meaning into
lest, Thomas. suppose | am not
worth a serious thought nowadays. so
you are obliged to think Of me as
good joke. No; don't mean that at
all, for that implies that you do some
times think about me-"
81 am glad you do not mean 1t. We
have been good friends too long to
quarrel with each other just as you are
about to put the ocean between US, and
we would have no chance to make up
inside Of q whole year."
Nothing could be more matter OF
fact, nothing less loverlike than his
entire bearing from the moment or MS
arrival. If only she could think he
was acting a part. II only she could
think he felt as he had once felt TO-
ward her, wanted what he once want
ed-her-it would make 1t easier for
her. Before be had come she, standing
before her fathers portrait. had regis
tered silent promise.
"I will try to do your bidding to the
utmost, father. Heretofore ! have only
refrained from doing that which
would have come between me and 1t.
I am going to marry Thomas Broxton.
Then YOUR sad, pleading voice will die
out of my memory perhaps"
But Tom was making it so dread
fully difficult. She took the plunge
presently. Her voice trembled at the
start.
"Thomas, i am going to ask you
question before we part Will you an
swer 1t very honestly"
| "Inat OepeuuS. Ile oilhco oo"H
calmly into her troubled face.
Her eyes fell before the cool steadi-
ness of his. She clasped her hands
tightly upon her lap.
'T want to ask you how long you
were standing In the doorway Of ia
theirs room NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. you
closed the door so softly that | thought
1t was the night wind"
A troubled look came into his eyes.
He had not expected this direct cate
chising. He answered inconsequently:
"Reuben Is a bungling old idiot. He
told me his orders were to send me d.
rect to my guardian. When l got there.
I found you were with him, and it was
no time for me to intrude."
"Nora saw you close the door. She
told me long afterward. | want to
know, Thomas, how long you had
been there"
He moved restlessly In his chair.
For her sake be wished he might evade
the truth. mot very long-in fact, only
q second or two
"Were-you-there- enough TO
hear my fathers last words?"
He remained stubbornly silent. She
raised her eyes In desperation. He was
looking at her pityingly. 1t was In
tolerable. She lifted her head defiant
ly.
"You will please answer me, Thom.
as. 1t Is necessary that you should.
Did you hear my fathers last words"
81 heard him lay command upon
you" came with slow reluctance in an