Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-03-28

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ISVM heart. I reached there
Hk3A& In time to have the
S@,nS lunch served to him.
He had not noticed my absence, and l
congratulated myself upon a shreWd
piece Of work. l had at last deter
mined to bring matters to climax.
It was two days after this before /
got the opportunity to call upon Miss
Stetson. WANTED to redeem her prom
ise made on the day Of her horseback
accident.
1 had learned through an accident
that DR.. Squires would be away on
Tuesday and that he would not return
until late at night. did not know
what his mission was or where he
was going. All that concerned me was
that he would be absent and the house
would be left in charge Of his old
servant.
It was the knowledge Of this that
made me anxious to appoint Tuesday
for the little experiment had In
mind.
When reached the Stetson man.
sion, l was Informed that Miss Stet-
son was engaged. The servants knew
me by this time, and while they did
not exactly treat me as one OF their
number they did not accord me all the
courtesy due gentleman. was told
to take seat until the person who
was with Miss Stetson had gone.
NV name was not even carried up
to her, but l was too much preoccu-
pied with my thoughts to resent this
incivility, and made the most OF 1t
by taking a comfortable seat In the
waiting room. This room opened right
off the front parl0r, and just back OF
that was the library.
For some time ! remained seated
there busily occupied with my own
thoughts, but as time passed ! became
restless and anxious to make change.
Not hearing any voices, rose from
my seat and walked quietly into the
parlor to look at some Of the beautiful
pictures hanging on the walls. This
liberty, l knew, Miss Stetson would
not resent.
As l stepped into the parlor I heard
the sound Of voices proceeding from
the library. l would have retreated to
the waiting room If the voice Of DR..
Squires had not arrested my attention.
l could not resist the temptation to lis
ten to him. for. knowing what he was.
l thought anything was fair enough
for him. and played the eavesdrop-
per.
The portieres between the parlor and
library were drawn. and through their
thick folds could just catch the words
of the two. The first words Of the
doctor Informed me that had reached
the place at a critical moment.
"Miss Belle, you do me injustice to
say that l do not like pleasant sur
roundings and that am not like other
men in my tastes. No man appreciates
a home more than do"
81 did not mean to insinuate that,
DOCTOR" Miss Stetson replied. Il mere
ly said that l thought it so strange
you should like to live in that old de-
serted. haunted mansion"
IL do not like to live there. 1t was
not matter of choice with me. was
poor and had to In order to carry out
my experiments"
But couldn't you find more congen-
ial quarters without going to any more
expenseW
"No-that is. none that would suit
my purpose"
There was a short pause, then the
doctor continued:
But, Miss Belle. my time in the old
haunted mansion Is short Tm going
to leave it. My fortune has improved,
and shall seek better quarters"
HAS your discovery proved success
full so that you can realize some money
on itT' she asked eagerly.
mo. not exactly that" he stam-
mered. But l have been fortunate
in another way. A distant relative
has died and left his money to me. 1t
is not much. but enough to keep me
in comfort for the balance Of my life.
1t will amount to about 100000"
Indeed! I'm so glad to hear it, doc
tor. Nobody will congratulate you more
heartily than l. for think you deserve
it."
1T is kind Of you to say it." he said
slowly. but there Is one other thing
necessary to complete my happiness"
Another pause followed in which
could imagine their exchange Of looks.
II would not mention this. Miss
Belle, If l did not have your own word
for 1t that you would never marry
Charles" the doctor began again in 8
labored voice But when you told me
that you would not marry him /
thought that there was no longer any
reason why I should curb my own love
for you. Miss Belle, loved you before
that, and love you now. l am nc
longer poor; I'm not rich, but I'll have
a competency enough for both of us.
love you, and your love alone will make
me happy"
trembled more than the doctor tc
catch the reply.
"Please don't talk to me like that
DOCTOR" she said in voice that had G
piteous ring to it. 1T is impossible"
"Why impossible? Nothing is impos
sible," he answered fiercely. "I've
learned to believe that anything can be
accomplished If we but will 1t. Why
can you not love me and marry me?"
"You do not understand, doctor