Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-10-02
CHAPTER XIV.
LIsIE'S RESOLUTION.

vlSLE al AA " ELL lOho"Su
IL the advice given to her by
S6sa Craig Thompson. and during
k6S the remainder Of that day
and the one succeeding 1t she kept
much In the society Of Erna. save at
those intervals when her presence was
required elsewhere. The friendship
begun 50 strangely ripened rapidly. and
at Erna's request they occupied the
same room. so that their opportunity
for the exchange Of condolences was
manifold. The servants were quarter
ed in an adjacent building, and from
them and from the cowboys employed
upon the ranch the secret Of Isles
identity was kept. nor were the minis
ter and the doctor made more wise.
After the funeral Craig called Lisle
to him and conducted her to the libra
ry.
"We've been through Dicks papers"
he said, land everything Is as ship.
shape as 1t could be. found letter
addressed to me. written the same day
that | went away from here after the
round up. reckon maybe Dick
thought he might shuttle off without
much warning. and he did. Something
that said to him that day weighed on
his mind. reckon. and he appointed
me guardian pro TEN. His will and
everything concerning his business Is
in the hands Of lawyer in the east
in New York city-a feller named Dan
Maxwell. Did you ever hear Of himT'
Never"
"Well, I suspect he's some relation,
though I don't know. Anyhow I'm to
notify him of Dicks death. and he'll do
the rest, and the old man wanted me to
stay here with you till Dan Maxwelrs
arrival. The letter tells me about your
being q girl and says that can use my
own Judgment about telling you be-
fore Dan Maxwell gets here, but 1t
doesn't say q word about any reasons
for the way he brought you up. and 1t
doesn't explain thing except what
have told you. only that the lawyer has
full Instructions how to act and that
you are rich enough to do as you please
for the rest of your life"
LET me see the letter." said Lisle
quietly.
1t was given her. and she read 1t
through to the end. finding no more and
no less than Craig had told her. But
when she returned it to him she said:
at Is my wish. Craig. that you
should all 60 away and leave me here
alone for q time. l do not even want
you to write to this lawyer until l give
you permission to do So"
Thompson shook his head In q decid-
ed negative. but the calm. clear voice
went on unheedingly.
at must be so. Craig, whether you
approve Of 1t or not. ! will have 1t so.
l wish to be left here utterly alone un.
til send for you to come, and | COM
mand that you do not communicate
with the lawyer in the east until tell
you to do so."
"It's all nonsense. Lisle. Don't you
see that it is?'
"No. and it would make no difference
II | did"
"Well, let me stay here with you any
way"
"No."
Keep Erua Thomas with you' then"
"No."
"Let us both stay, or, II you don't
want me. | can prevail upon Tom to re-
main with his daughter"
mo. Craig. no. II permitted any
body to remain. it would be you. but
must be alone. will be alone"
"Ill ride over to see you once In the
while anyway"
"No. not at all unless send for you. y
You're a headstrong crtter If you
are gal. Lisle."
Perhaps so. do not mean to be
unkind. Craig. There is nobody in the
world in whom | have as much conf
dence as | have In you. but even you
must leave me alone for awhile.
have learned that leopards can change
their spots. but they cannot change
them all at once"
how?'
81 do not know-yet."
You won't 60 away? You'll stay
here on the ranch. won't your
81 will do nothing Of which you will
not ultimately approve"
Promise ME that you won't 60
away" persisted Craig. who was In
despair. For almost the first time ia
his life he found himself in the pres
ence Of person whose will was stron.
ger than his own. Instead of dominat.
Ing. as he had expected to do. he was
dominated.
II will make you one promise and
only one" replied I.isle calmly. with
that one you will have to he satisfied,
or | will end the discussion here.
will at the end Of two months from
now. 20 to you or send for you on con-
dition that during that time you will
make no effort to see me or to seud a
messenger 10 me. 1t must he rs | have
said. Tomorrow morning you will take
our friends 10 your ranch. leaving NE
here as if nothing had happened. AT
the end of two months. If not before
you will hear from me or see me--two
months from today"
We'll. Lisle. it's got to be done.
suppose. but call it blamed unkind
I'll have fit that'll last two solid
months. you see. and God knows how
many dead men you'll have to answer
for In that time. for III have to SHOOT
Il L. x.-cp 1.4eI