Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-04-07

unI her at q critical moment. never
could have won In a fair stand up
even race, Tom. Girls are odd tricks
Olivia Is tremendously fond Of you
That thievery was all fair"
"You have won the sweetest. and
dearest girl on earth. believe am
glad we have had this talk. Westoyer
It has given me a clearer conception OF
the good in you. am glad she has
chosen so we'll. 1t Is not likely l will
ever return to Vaudeville. There Is
nothing to bring me here. The place is
the cemetery Of all my hopes. So you
must let me offer my congratulations
now. Is the day fxed2"
"No. You see, there's been great
deal else on her mind-ours, may say
father in Europe, mother In bad
health and all that. But I've never
told you how came by that paper"
"Miss Malvlna told me the whole
story. There Is nothing for you to tell
me-"
Westover flushed hotly.
"She was afraid l would not keep
my word about giving 1t back"
"Not at all. She had other papers to
give me, inventories of plate, pictures,
ETC."
aYes, I remember. By Jove, Brox.
ton, you must have gone 1t at a pace
while you were at college to get
through with everything"
Doubtless did," said Tom, looking
hard at the dingy, flreless stove at the
other end Of the waiting room.
"But father says you are to be con-
graduated"
upon whatT
upon an opportunity to develop
ysur latent talents. We have been read
ing about that invention of yours. Fa.
ther says II 1t Is what you claim for II
1t will revolutionize the entire system
of electric lighting In all the big cities
and will make an everlasting fortune
for you"
81 think It Is all that claim for It,
said the young inventor quietly. he
consulted bis watch. my train must
be late" He had folded the paper
neatly and now handed it back to
Westover, who declined to take it.
at Is not mine, my dear fellow.
have no claim at all to 1t. 1t Is yours.
What are you going to do about It"
"This." He tore it into small bits.
"Yes; but, my dear Don Quixote, the
Wraxalls, don't you see"
"What steps could I take that would
not reflect upon a dead man? How
could stir in this matter without hold.
| Ing Olivia's father up for criticism
worse, condemnation? And as looking
for a Wraxall with no other clew than
this ancient scrap Of paper would be
hopeless l will only say we must wait
for one to turn up."
"The lawyers would unearth
bakers dozen Of them at the first hue
and cry of defective title"
There will be no hue and cry. The
lawyers have nothing to do with this
business. With my consent they never
shall. Call 1t my wedding gift to OH,
via. There Is nothing In the agreement
debarring a gift. | used to think she
liked the old place. l will be glad to
think of her as Its mistress"
The sharp shrek Of the locomotive
sounded near at hand. He sprang up
and seized his bag. Westover detain.
ed him with hand on his shoulder.
LET it rest at that for the present.
We are friends, Broxton?"
"Friends," said Tom, looking down
into the other mans honest eyes. II
leave Vaudeville richer by that much" J"
The grasses Of a months growth
waved their swordlike blades about
Horace Matthews grave before Ollie
would consent to see any one but Miss
Malyina. Then a somewhat imperative
note from Clarence compelled her from
her secluslon. He was going to meet
his father and mother In Paris, be
wrote, and while there he might exc
cute many commissions for her.
Jeanne and mother would be so glad
to buy all your wedding finery for you,
and as soon as they all get back my
dear little girl and her devoted lover
will be made one."
To this Ollie returned q very short
answer:
Dear Clarence-Please come to see me this even
ing. l have something to say to you before you
start for Paris.
And Westover obeyed the summons
She looked so pale and wan. so unlike
his vivid, brilliant Olivia. rs she came
toward him In her plain black robe
that he was conscious of q shock to
his aesthetic nerves.
"By Jove, my dear girl. don't want
to say anything unfeelng, but hope
you are not going to wear black any
great length Of time! never could
see how 1t evlnced respect or affection
for the dead, and 1t certainly does play
the mischief with some women"
"You mean that l look hideous.
know do"
"Of course / don't. Somehow or 9TH
er, Ollie, you have talent for making
my words mean the ugliest possible to
them"
"That would be terrible If we were
mau and wife and were always misun-
derstanding each other"
Westover laughingly said, Pretty
bad indeed"
ut would be much better not to get
married, wouldn't it, Clarence"
She was twisting her slim fingers In
and about each other. Glancing down
Mt them, he noticed. with a start. that
they were ringless. He looked at her.
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