Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-08-26
CHAPTER XVI.

CHAPTER XVI.
7Rs. CRANSTON availed herself
iM of the first opportunity to speak
II III confdentially to Kitty Cosby
about Lydia and George Buck
ley after Miss Cosby's arrival from
Virginia.
"You remember, l wrote you l had
something particular to tell you, Kit
ty," she remarked on the first after
noon as she and the guest were stroll
ing on the lawn together.
"And you bet you reused my curios-
ity, Mrs. Cranston," replied the girl,
who was quite pretty, decidedly styl-
ish and tall and graceful, having brown
hair and hazel eyes that seemed con.
stantly laughing. II know it's about
Lydia"
Mrs. Cranston led her into summer
house near the carriage drive. 1t had
two compartments and entrances from
different walks. Before answering,
Mrs. Cranston peered cautiously
through the wooden latticework that
separated the two rooms.
what are you doing?" Miss Cosby
asked.
81 was looking to see If anybody was
ON the other side," was the answer. In
a satisfied tone, as Mrs. Cranston seat
ed herself. I'VE had lot Of trouble
here in the summer at lawn party,
owing to some people hearing them
selves talked about. There was
spoony pair on that side and couple OF
old maids on this one. The lovers were
blissfully silent, for reasons Of their
own, and they heard some things about
themselves that they didn't like. Yes,
want to talk to you about Lydia"
Il knew it," cried the visitor, laying
her two hands on Mrs. Cranston's arm
and sitting down beside her. "She's
going to marry the governor, and you
want me to hesp prepare for the event"
Mrs. Cranston shook her head and
went on with lengthy explanation OF
the existing state of affairs, in which
the name Of George Buckley appeared
as often as that Of Governor Telfare.
"Now, you see the fix we are in"
Mrs. CranSton ended.
The young lady was silent, her fair
brow wrinkled. why. Mrs. Cranston,
it's simply awful" she said after
pause. 1T will never do for it to 60
on like this. 1t will be ruinous. Has
the child lost her reason? Why, If he
is as bad as you say, how on earth
does he happen to be in-in good So
ciety-even here?'
Perhaps | am not quite fair to him."
Mrs. Cranston admitted, cor to Lydia
either, in not mentioning what has real.
ly been In his favor. In the first place.
he Is by far the best educated and
most refined young man in the place;
his employer sent him off to college
and gave him extraordinary advan.
tages; then lie happens to be a great
reader, and Lydia Is, too, you know
yes, he has most remarkably polished
manners and is decidedly good look.
ing"
"Oh, and sou put that last! How
ridiculous"' Miss Cosby laughed mer.
rily and then suddenly subsided, for
her hostess was looking at her with a
panied expression.
Its no laughing matter, Kitty. We
are In an awful fix. You know how
headstrong Lydia Is, and If she were
just to get the idea that we were op-
posing her she'd be worse than ever.
So l knew your influence would be
good. You will bring her back to the
old associations, and In an indirect
way you can show her the social ad-
vantages of marrying Governor Tel.
fare"
"Oh. l can do all that" said Kitty,
"and if she is not already in love with
this-this nondescript III bring her to
her senses. But tell me about him
that's the main thing. What's he like!
How does he conduct himself? Why,
| can't imagine "a son Of common
thief, q lowborn mountaineer, a penni.
less bookkeeper, being even for min.
ute on social footing with the only
child Of Major Cranston-even II you
are living in the backwoods, out Of all
creation. If the two were shipwrecked
on a lonely island together l should
think"-Kitty was displaying her fine,
even teeth in jovial smile-"that the
very waves would throw up sort Of
barrier"
"The religious element here governs
everything" returned Mrs. Cranston,
with patient smile. These good,
Christian people would think we were
awfully stuck up If we refused to ad-
NIT worthy young man to our house
Just because his father had gone
wrong: besides, he had established him.
self before his fathers trouble. We
simply drifted into the situation, and
things went ON till now we don't know
where we stand. But to be perfectly
fair to him. Kitty, he's simply mascu-
line marvel. When I began to fear
him l began to watch for Vulnerable
places in his makeup, but I've found
precious few, tell you-precious few.
You know I've seen good society, If
any Virginia woman has, and I'm 60
ing to tell you that have never met a
more polished man in all my life-no,
sir, not in Richmond nor Boston, nor
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