Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-04-18

A man and q woman were talking to-
gether in the woman's home on the
Rue de Varennes. The man was say
Ing:
$50 you refuse to marry me. That's
foolish of you, but whether you do or
not, you haven't the heart to allow me
to rot in poverty while you luxuriate In
afluence. Considering our old time re-
lations, the things impossible on the
face of it."
"Ah!' returned the woman, "then
you have como here to beg~ She spoke
with q careless scorn.
"No. One begs when one has no pow
er to enforce" he corrected with Sc
raphic smile. "I've come all the way
from America to offer you my hand
and make an honest woman Of you. II
you refuse to recognize my claims upon
you I'm in a position to take reprisals." p"
The woman did not Answer.
IF you've any trace Of your old self
left, Marie"-the mans voice was low
and soft, conciliatory, caressing almost
-"surely you love me still Think how
you loved me once"
The mesmeric, musical voice came
near undoing Marie de Guerin.
"Was it you loved" she said
dreamily, cor the man my untutored
heart took you to be? All, the weary,
weary months when I wanted you,
when l sobbed for you day and night!
Where were you then, Edouard Pey-
racY' She seemed to be living in the
hungry past, but only for a moment.
The hot scorn Of the present surged
over her and dried up the tears at their
source. "Now." she said, 81 do not
need you"
She rose with an air of dismissal.
"Look here, Marie," pursued the
man, keeping his seat, III you will lend
me helping hand from time to time
I'll promise never to take a step to
harm you. Moreover, shall be mod
crate. You might-simply buy pic
ture occasionally. That would be the
incest way. Yes. you might buy my
pictures"
1T might be well to know whether I
am dealing with blackmailer or a
bagman," remarked the woman wea-
rily.
Edouard Peyrac flushed red, but he
conquered his savagery and went on:
"I've not sold a picture for over a
twelvemonth, and I'm head over heels
In debt. I've been hanging around
friends houses for year, and here
you are. rich beyond the dreams Of av-
arice. You can't expect me to sit down
In silence"
"Now. If you are quite ready to goY'
suggested the woman quietly, putting
her hand upon the bell button.
This time the mans anger got the
better of him. He scowled and looked
at her blackly. "I'm not. I think it's
absurC Of you to smash your social po-
sition In the face like this. What will
become Of it, do you suppose. when I
have good, long talk with the fau-
bourg%
ITO a man of intelligence the solu-
ton surely can offer no difficulty" she
said languidly. But she added with
vague little smile. "If you could dream
how remotely my social standing inter-
ests me you wouldn't bother about It."
'I'm going to give you few days In
which to think this over. Perhaps in
the meantime you will care to send me
70 10 10 hi r6 10 q
significantly. I'm return for a check I
will send you picture. Now good
day."
The woman rang, and he was shown
out. As ne got into fiacre he thought:
"By Jove! What If she means to turn
devotee again? What IL she doesn't
care q rap about her social standing?
She always did talk about saints and
miracles and feast days better than
anything elsew Then he remembered
her dainty, fastidious taste; he recalled
the sybaritic room he had just left
"Oh. no" he concluded.
"Pierre," said Marie de Guerin to the
servant In the hall when the door had
closed upon Peyrac, 81 expect M. le
Cure in half hour. l will receive him
in my boudoir."
So q little later she rose from the
desk at which she was writing and
greeted the priest. Pere Darville was q
man whose eyes were kind and whose
mouth was firm. He looked the man to
do without swerving what bis con-
science told him. were 1t even to cost
the happiness of all he loved. In fact,
that is why Mile. de Guerin had sent
for him-she had seen his face and 1t
had appealed to her.
He sat down In her little blue and
gold boudoir with the ease Of a man of
the world who was as much at home
among the cushions Of woman's sane
tum as on the hard seat Of confes-
sional.
~ wrote for you. father. because
need help. IL have not many friends"
The woman's voice was listless. tired.
~ will help you If can. my daugh-
ter. My whole time belongs to each
soul that comes to me. Are you child
of the church,"
"Once | was. l was an orphan, pre-
pairing to enter a convent. when love
or what mistook for love-came Into
my life. balanced the flashing jewel
and the paste diamond, and l threw
the first away" The woman's hands
weighed In her lap like spiritualized
marble. and her hair. so much OF IT,
seemed too heavy for her head. The
man for whom gave up everything