Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-09-11
Copyright, 1901, by Frederic Van
CHAPTER VIII.
A WOMAN IN A woMAN's w1LEs.

II
IL had offended this remarkable
15se,d person-that Is. he felt a de-
4AS gree Of compunction because
he realized that be had not conducted
himself exactly as his father would
have desired him to do. He believed
that he had been remiss In bis duty
as host. Upon the personal part Of 1t
he did not conjecture. This woman
could resent his curiosity II she chose
to do so and might shoot him the next
time they met If she was quicker with
her weapons than he was.
He shrugged his shoulders disdaln-
fully. pondered a moment and then
stepped through the window and join
ed the others OH the veranda.
81 am going to the corral" he said to
his father. "Ah Sin will have supper
presently"
He would have passed on then with
out further remark. but Erna Thomas
had regretted her anger at something
which second thought told her was not
intended as offensive. and she saw In
this incident an opportunity to atcne
for 1t.
"May I go with you?" she exclaimed.
rising.
"If you like" he replied, not pausing,
but slackening his gait so that she
could catch up with him. Richard Max
well would have accompanied them
also If he had been given an oppor-
tunity. but his loquacious guest had
not permitted him to do anything but
listen ever since his arrival. so that he
was compelled to retain his seat.
You're not overburdened with polite
ness. are you" said Miss Thomas. over
taking Lisle half way down the path.
81 suppose you're mad. Are your
mad? Not at all. Why should | be
angry|
81 left you rather suddenly. didn't |?
I'm sorry. You-yOu rather took the
wind out of me. you know"
81 should think your instruments of
torture would do that" replied Lisle.
II ought not to have offended you. l
apologize"
"Oh. that's all right Don't men,
tion it. Why don't you offer me your
arm?
"My arm! What for?"
ITO take hold Otto lean upon. Of
course"
"Are you lame? Have you hurt your
self?"
"Oh. dear. what hopeless creature
you are! keep forgetting that you
never saw a woman before. You are
sadly In need Of education. Tomor-
row I'll take you in hand. believe
I'll begin now. Stop just a moment;
crook your arm up so; held your palm
against your chest-so. Now, | take
hold Of your arm-so. There! Isn't
that better?'
Lisle did not think it was better. but
he thought 1t wise not to- say so. lf
she liked it. she was his guest. and it
should be so.
I'VE walk together very nicely; don't
you think SOP" she continued. "You
are just enough taller than | am to
make it comfortable for both. and. be-
sides. you step with ME beautifully.
Don't you think that you step rather
short for a man?"
81 do not know. Perhaps so. Here Is
the corral. There are 80 horses in here
tonight. always come out to see that
all Is secure before ! retire. Shall we
return now"
What! So soon? Don't you think it
Is nicer out here? See. the moon is just
coming up. 1t will he glorious night
after all. want to ask you something.
Mr.. Maxwell. want you to tell me
how 1t happens that you never saw
woman before tonight"
81 don't know. Do you know very
many women?"
''Do know very many women! Well.
| should say so! Oceans Of them"
Are they all like you? Have they
all got yellow hair. waists like wasp
and
There. that will Go. You'll say
something that you ought not to If you
are not careful. What queer mortal
you are. Mr.. Maxwell. One might pos
itively regard you as quite shocking IF
one did not know that you haven't got
1t in You to shock anybody. Women
are just about as much alike as men
are alike-no more. no less Your IA
ther and mine are not alike. are they?
And Craig Thompson - know him;
he comes to Kansas City sometimes
he isn't like any other man you ever
saw. Is hep
"He Is one Of the best men | ever
saw" replied I.iSle. with enthusiasm.
IL think so too. We're agreed on
that He says that ain the best girl
he ever saw"
Does Craig Thompson say that?" ex.
claimed LiSle incredulouSly
"Yes. Is there anything remarkable
about itY'
~ think there is. If he said that.
shall like you"
"Oh. indeed! Thank you!"
"Were you ever mother?" asked
Llsle calmly. remembering that Craig
had assured him that mothers were al
ways good women.
He heard a quick gasp from his COM
panion. He felt that his arm was re-
leased as suddenly as though II were q
redhot iron. and he turned toward the
woman in surprise. She had started
away from him and was standing in
the attitude of one who wishes to run
away. but cannot. He saw that she
was trembling. and he fancied that
tbora r-oro foo re In har ayes He knew