Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-12-22
from her appalled,, he put vi


cautious gesture toward the room in
to which Mr.. Sutherland and hi.
friends had disappeared. she whisper
ed significantly:
1--WE may not have another chance to
confer together. Understand, then, that
it will not be necessary for you to tell
me, in so many words, that you are
ready to link your fortunes to mine
the taking off Of the ring you wear and
your slow putting Of it on again, In my
presence, will be understood by me as
token that you have reconsidered
Your present attitude and desire my 81,
lence and-myself."
Frederick could not repress q shud-
der.
For an instant he was tempted to
succumb on the spot and have the long
agony over. Then his horror Of the wo.
man rose to such a pitch that he utter
ed an execration, and. turning away
from her face, which was rapidly grow.
ing loathsome to him, he ran out Of the
passageway into the garden, seeing as
he ran q persistent vision Of himself
pulling off the ring and putting it back
again, under the spell Of look he re-
belled against even while he yielded to
it's influence.
81 will not wear a ring. will not
subject myself to the possibility of
obeying her behest under sudden
stress Of fear or fascination" he eX-
claimed. pausing by the we'll curb and
looking over 1t at his reflection In the
water beneath. IF l drop it here, !
at least lose the horror Of doing what
she suggests under some involuntary
impulse" But the thought that the
mere absence Of the ring from his fin
ger would not stand in the way Of his
going through the motions to which
she had just given such significance
deferred him from the sacrifice Of a
valuable family jewel, and he left the
spot with an air of frenzy such as q
man displays when he feels himself
on the verge Of doom he can neither
meet nor avert.
As he re-entered the house he felt
himself enveloped In the atmosphere
of a coming crisis. He could hear
voices in the upper hall. and among
them be caught the accents Of her he
had learned so lately to fear. Impelled
by something deeper than curiosity
and more potent even than dread, he
hastened toward the stairs. When
half way up them. be caught sight of
Amebel. She was leaning back against
the balustrade that ran across the up
per hall. with her hands gripping the
rail on either side of her and her face
turned toward the five men who had
evidently issued from Mr.. Sutherland's g
study to interview her.
AS her back was to Frederick. he
could not Judge of the expression OF
that face save by the effect It had upon
the different men confronting her. But
to see them was enough. From their
looks he could perceive that this young
girl was In one Of her battling moods
| and that, from bis father down, not
one Of the men present knew what to
make Of her.
At the sound his feet made, a relaxa-
ton took place in her body, and she
lost something of the defiant attitude
she had before maintained. Presently
he heard her voice:
"I am willing to answer any ques-
tions you may choose to put me here,
but I cannot consent to shut myself In
with you in that small study. should
suffocate."
Frederick could perceive the looks
which passed between the FIVE men as
sembled before her and was astonished
to note that the Insignificant fellow
they called Sweetwater was the first
| to answer.
Every we'll" said he. IF you enjoy
the publicity of the open hall. no one
here will object. Is not that 80. gen.
%sHer two little fingers. which were
t4rned toward Frederick, ran up and
down the rail. making peculiar rasp-
| ing noise, which for moment was the
only sound to be heard. Then Mr.
| Courtney said:
"How came you to have the handling
of the money taken from Agatha
| Webb's private drawer"
It was q startling question, but 1t
seemed to affect Amabel less than 1t
did Frederick. 1t made him start, but
she only turned her head tri1e aside,
so that the peculiar smile with which
she prepared to answer could be seen
by any one standing below.
"Suppose you ask something less lead
ing than that to begin with" she sug-
gested in her high, unmusical voice.
"From the searching nature Of this In
uuiry you evidently believe ! have In
| formation of an important character to
give you concerning Mrs Webb's un-
happy death. Ask me about that. The
other question will answer later"
The aplomb with which this was said.
| mixed as it was with feminine al
lurement Of more than ordinary subtle
| ty, made Mr.. Sutherland frown and
DR.. Talbot look perpleXed, but it did
not embarrass Mr.. Courtney. who made
haste to respond in his driest accents.
every we'll. am not particular as to
what you answer first A flower worn
by you at the dance was found near
Batsy's skirts before she was lifted up
that morning. Can you explain this.
or. rather. will you?"
"You are not obliged to, you know"
put in Mr.. Sutherland. with his inexo-
rable sense Of Justice "Still. If you
would. 1t might rob these gentlemen Of
suspicious you certainly cannot wish
them to entertain"
CHI nj, 81