Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-12-22

farther" Here the little finger stopped
pointing. II am ready to tell you
about it, sirs. and only regret have
delayed doing so so long, bnt wished
to be sure it was necessary. Your
presence here and your first question
show that 1t is."
There was suavity In her tone now,
not unmlxed with candor. Sweetwater
did not seem to relish this, for he mov-
ed uneasily on his feet and lost a shade
of his self satisfied attitude. He had
still to be made acquainted with all the
ins and outs of the woman's remark
able nature.
eve are waiting" suggested DR.. Tai.
bot.
She turned to face this new speaker,
and Frederick was relieved from the
sight of her tantalizing smile.
81 will tell my story simply" said
she, with the simple suggestion that
you believe me: otherwise you will
make a mistake. While / was resting
from a dance the other night heard
two Of the young people talking about
the labels. One Of them was laughing
at the old men, and the other was try
ing to relate some old story Of early
love which had been the cause, she
thought, Of their strange and melan-
choly lives. | was listening to them,
but / did not take In much Of what
they were saying till heard behind
me an irascible voice eXclaiming: You
laugh. do you? wonder If you would
laugh so easily If you knew that these
two poor old men haven't had a de-
cent meal In a fortnightT didn't
know the speaker, but was thrilled
by his words. Not had a good meal
these men. for q fortnight! felt as If
personally guilty Of their suffering,
and, happening to raise my eyes at this
minute and seeing through an open
door the bountiful refreshments pre-
pared for us all in the supper room, l
felt guiltier than ever. Suddenly
took resolution. 1t was queer one
and may serve to show you some Of
the oddities Of my nature. Though l
was engaged for the next dance, and
though was dressed in the fimsiest
garments suitable to the occasion, l
decided to leave the hall and carry
some sandwiches down to these old
men In their cottage. Procuring a bit
Of paper, made up bundle and stole
out Of the house without having said
a word to anybody Of my intention.
Not wishing to be seen, ! went out by
the garden door, which Is at the end Of
a dark hall"
"Just as the band was playing
the 'Harebell Mazourka,'" interpolated
Sweetwater.
Startled for the first time from her
careless composure by an interruption
of which it was impossible for her at
that minute to measure either the mo-
tive or the meaning, she ceased to play
with her fingers on the baluster rail
and let her eyes rest for a moment on
the man who had thus spoken, as If
she hesitated between her desire to an
initiate him for his impertinence and a
fear Of the cold hate she saw actuat-
ing his every word and look. Then she
went on, as If no one had spoken:
81 ran down the hill recklessly. l
was bent on my errand and not at all
afraid of the dark. When l reached
that part of the road where the streets
branch off, ] heard footsteps In front
Of me. / had overtaken some one.
Slackening my pace so that l should
not pass this person, whom l instinc-
lively knew to be a man, l followed
him till l came to high board fence.
1t was that surrounding Agatha Webb's
house, and when l saw it could not
help connecting the rather stealthy
gait Of the man in front Of me with a
story | had lately heard of the large
sum of money she was known to have
in her house. Whether this was before
or after this person disappeared round
the corner cannot say, but no sooner
bad become certain that he was bent
upon entering this house than my i'm
pulse to follow him became greater
than my precaution, and, turning aside