Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-12-05
CHAPTER XII.
PAY OR SUFFER EXPOSURE,

PAY OR SUFFER EAPOSOhE-
The Hallidays lived but few rods
from the Sutherlands. Yet as 1t was
dusk when Miss Halliday rose to de-
part Frederick naturally offered his
services as her escort.
She accepted them with a slight
blush. the first he had ever seen on her
face or at least had ever noted there.
1t caused him such surprise that he
forgot Amabels presence In the garden
until they came upon her at the gate.
"a pleasant evening"" observed that
young girl in her high. unmusical
voice.
VERY" was Miss Halliday's short
reply. and for moment the two faces
were in line as he held open the gate
before his departing guest
They were very different faces In
feature and expression. and until that
night he had never thought Of compar-
ing them Indeed the fascination which
beamed from Amabel Pages far from
regular countenance had put all other
faces out Of his mind. but now as he
surveyed the two the candor and puri'
ty which marked Agnes features came
out so strongly under his glance that
the countenance of Amabel lost its
charms. and he hastily drew his young
neighbor away.
Amabel noted the movement and
smiled. She had no fears Of Agnes
Halliday.
Perhaps she might have felt less con-
fidence if she could have seen the short
glances be cast his old playmate as
they proceeded slowly down the road.
Not that there was any passion ID
them. He was too full Of care for
that, but tue curiosity which could
promDt him to turn his head Il dozen
times in the course of so short walk
to see why Agnes Halliday held her
face so perSiStently away from him
had an element of feeling III it that
was more or less significant. AS for
Agnes, she was so unlike her accus.
toned self as to aStoniSh even herself.
Whereas she had never before walked
q dozen steps with him without in
dulging in some sharp saying. she
found herself disinclined to speak at
all, much less speak lightly. In mn'
tual silence. then. they reached the
gateway leading into the Halliday
grounds. But Agnes. having passed in
they both stopped and for the first
time looked squarely at each other
Her eyes fell first. perhaps because his
had changed in his contemplation OF
her. He smiled as he saw this and in
q half careless. half wiStful tone said
quietly:
"Agnes. what would you think of q
man who. after having committed lit
tie else but folly all his life. suddenly
made up his mind to turn absolutely
toward the right and to pursue it IL
face Of every obstacle and every dis
couragement?"
81 should think" she slowly replied
with one quick lift Of her eyes toward
his face. that he had entered upon
the nobleSt effort of which man is ca
pable and-the hardest. should have
great sympathy for that man, Fred
erick."
"Would you?" he said. recalling ANA
bers face with bitter aversion us ht
gazed into the womanly countenance
he had hitherto sighted as uninterest
ing. 1t is the first kind word yor
have ever given me. Agnes. Possibl!
It is the first | have ever deserved.
And without another word he doffet
his hat, saluted her and vanished dow1
the hillside.
She remained, remained so long tina
it was nearly o'clock when she en-
tered the family parlor. AS she came
in her mother looked up and was star
tied at her unaccustomed pallor.
"Why. Agnes" cried her mother
"what is the matter?"
Her answer was inaudible. VIVA
was the matter? She dreaded. ever
feared, to ask herself.