Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-10-02

da, leaning against one Of the
sZy pillars. Mr.. Hall9Occupied q
large straw chair Of very comforta-
BILE design. The time was early even
ing.
'May / smoke, Marie?" asked the
young man. when am nervous
really find tobacco almost necessary"
"When you are nervous" echoed the
girl. with a laugh. 81 don't believe that
you have q nerve in your body, Char
ley"
"Oh, yes, l have" said Hall, In his
characteristic slow, steady tone. I'm
full of them. You don't know me-"
"I've known you ever since was
born" she replied. "You are one Of my
earliest recollections. l distinctly re-
member being afraid Of you in my era
die"
"At that early age" said he, "a girl
cannot be expected to distinguish be-
tween her friends and her enemies
between those who would protect and
those who would harm her. But you
are eighteen years old now and should
know a great deal more than you did
then"
1T may be So" said she. "Yet some
how I'm afraid Of you this evening. l
feel as If you were going to say some
thing disagreeable."
"A woman's intuition Is certainly re-
markable," said Hall. 81 am going to
say something disagreeable-very dis
agreeable indeed. And that's what
makes me 80 nervous" 1t was evident
that Hall meant what he said, and yet
the side Of the house exhibited as much
perturbation as he did He lighted his
cigar slowly, extinguished the match
with great care and leaned back in the
chair with the air Of one who Is at
peace with himself and all the world.
Miss Winsted got up from the railing
and then sat down again. She leaned
far out, looking up the street as If she
hoped to see some one. and at last she
said suddenly:
"Well, Charley. what is it?''
II want to say something about Mr..
Brooke" responded Hall.
IF it's really very disagreeable," said
Marie, "don't you think you'd better
say it when he is present."
II will repeat it when he is present"
replied the young man calmly, but
will tell you first If you'll permit me-"
Charley Hail." said the girl. II nev-
er know what to do with you. If you
were any other man, l shouldn't hesi-
tate q moment. should simply tell
you to mind your own business. But
there's a dire. deadly insistence in you.
You possess the attributes Of fate. al
ways feel as If it were useless to try to
stop you"
ut Is in this instance" he replied,
quite useless. AS for my business, you
are my business. l would drop any
other in a moment to take up the small
est task that might be Of service to
you. That's true, isn't it?'
Il wish it weren't" she replied. "You
do worry me SOL"
"I'm sorry" said he earnestly. and
with the faintest intonation Of bitter
ness. 1T Is undoubtedly very unfortu.
nate that should happen to be in love
with you, but l am and always have
been, and"-
"You must not talk like that!' she ex-
claimed. 81 am engaged
ITO a man whom you know nothing
about" he interrupted. "Six months
ago Stanton Brooke came here to be di-
vision superintendent Of the railroad.
There is not soul in this city who had
ever heard Of him before. He came
from somewhere in New England"
From Boston," said the girl hastily.
"NIy mother and know all about him.
OF course he has told us everything.
Really. there's very little to know. He
has been an orphan from his childhood.
He got an education somehow. Worked
his way through college and has been
at work ever since. don't think you
ought to say anything which would
tend to make me unhappy. l shan't be-
lieye it. whatever it is. but it may tor
ment me-"
"The first time my eyes lighted on
Stanton Brooke" said Hall deliberate.
ly, 81 knew that he was man who be-
lieved that It was a natural law that
every girl he met should fall in love
with him."
"You can't make me jealous" said
Marie. Il know Stanton Brooke better
than you do"
do you know where he was last
EVENING" demanded Hall.
Certainly" she replied. "He was de-
tanned ut the Office"
He was not at the Office after half
past O'clock" said Hall. II know. be-
cause | was there myself until mid
night"
Really, can't hear another word"
said Marie. This is the same old In
comprehensible scene that has occurred
so often between us. 1t is the miracle
Of my life that permit you to talk to
me of your love and to dissuade ME
from trusting the one man in all the
world whom desire to trust with all
my heart. 1t is your immovable per-
sistence"-
81 am determined to save you from a
terrible mistake" said Hall.
81 believe I'd rather make it," ex-
claimed the girl, than be saved in a
way that kills my self respect. Thank
heaven" she added fervently, "here is
Mr.. Brooke
Hall rose slowly from his chair as
Rrooke came striding I'D the walk that