Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-10-11


best place for him."
"Ohw said Ralph. He did not look
at Hortense De Witt.
But Hortense looked at him. Her
cheeks grew red. and the redness
spread to her hair and to her very
ears, and suddenly she threw herself
back In her chair.
"Pumpkinsr said she. pumpkins!
He needn't either. He can 80 to the
horse training II he wants to. l say
so, and-and you'll say so In min
Ute"
She pushed back stray lock from
her flushed face vigorously. Ralph had
not stopped to think whether Hortense
was pretty or not, but he decided now
that she was.
"He hasn't done anything" said Hor'
tense. ut was me. He didn't open
your desk at all. did. He told me
not to, but I felt like doing something
1 hadn't ought to. generally do feel
like doing things l oughtn't to do"
said Hortense candidly.
"You did it?" said Ralph's father,
and he fairly stared in his astonish-
ment and unbelief at Hortense De
Witt. He swallowed half his cup Of
coffee. your
"I-I had on your coat, and the key
was In the pocket-your best coat. the
one you wear to funerals and we'd
dings." said Hortense, slurring no part
of the appalling truth. II got 1t out OF
the closet and put 1t on"
Ralph's father gazed for a further
moment, and then. against his will. he
burst out with an irrepressible great
laugh.
"Upon-my-word," said Ralph's
mother. "Hortense De Wittr'
Eyes. was afraid you'd be-sur-
prised," said Hortense, "and l let you
blame him all this time because !
hated awfully-oh. we'll, I've been an
awful sneak, that's what!
Pumpkins" said Hortense. IF any
body's got to haul pumpkins 1t ought
to be me. hadn't it" She looked at
them all with a smile of apology and
appeal. a sunny smile which marked
her cheeks with two deep dimples,
and which seemed somehow to lend a
brighter and more hopeful aspect to
the whole dubious affair.
"Well. Well" said Ralph's father.
his eyes still glued to Hortense, in
credulously. And his mother rested
her chin on her hand. thoughtfully.
"There was your uncle Frank Gale"
she said. "He was terribly mischiev-
GUS boy always. He got himself ex-
PEELED from two schools. l shouldn't
wonder. after all, II It's your uncle
Frank you take after instead Of your
aunt Martha" And she began. con-
siderately, to talk about the frost Of
the night before.
But she looked now and again at
Ralph with something more than the
warmth Of a mothers affection; she
looked at him with pride. And Ralph's
father, when he rose from the table.
held out his hand to his son.
II was unjust to you, Ralph. I'm
glad to know 1t. but sorry enough that
I made such a mistake. You'll for
get 1t, won't you"
"Yes, SIR" said Ralph. Eyes, sir.
And-can l co.
ITO the horse training? OF course"
said bis father heartily. go and ell
Joy it and learn how to break Betsey's
colt. If you break that colt. we'll call
him yours, Ralph" And that, Ralph
knew. was to make up to him for hay
ing misjudged him. and great thing
1t was.
"T'll break himw he said rejoicingly.
Hortense was waiting for him In the
entry. She flung an impulsive arm
over his shoulder. and her saucy face
was serious for once.
"You see." she said. II was the 'fraid
cat. I was afraid to tell. l was too
quick about calling you that. You're
not q bit Of one"
Nor you either" said Ralph; mot
now."
"Your father and mother will want
me to go home" said Hortense dis
mally.
"No, they won't. Well have a first
rate time. like girl that's got some
snap anyhow" said Ralph. Wont
you go with me to the horse training? I?
Lots of ladies went last year. Come
along"
Hortense did 60 along. The at
mosphere was cleared. and everything
was Strengthened. They were better
friends. they realized. than they would
have been II Hortense had never open
ed the door of the parlor closet.
81 found your diamond stickpin."
said Ralph. yesterday In the barn"
And he produced It.
Hortense took it, eyed 1t, considered
for q moment and then adjusted It.
with much pains. in Ralph's cravat.
"It's yours" said she; yours to keep.
Just to show you. you know. that I
know you're not 'fraid"-
"Pshaw! said Ralph. But Hortense
De Witt had her way.
A PLEASANT JAIL.-Elizabethtow
- H., klo