Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-03-14


"You are always welcome at Carn-
leigh, Capt. Wrinkle. Nebo. take the cap
tain's things. What will You drink.
sir?"
Wrinkle waved the servant away, and
stood watching him till he had gone,
then he leaned on the back Of q chair.
81 called to see you in regard to your
daughter" he said still coldly. II hope
you will pardon the informality Of my
visit, colonel"
81 must admit that / suspected that
! you might wish. TO speak Of her-of
Evelyn" answered the old man, now
treasured as to Winkle's intentions.
Capt. Wrinkle started. 1t had flashed
upon him that he was being misunder-
stood, and yet there was a dogged
something in his eyes which seemed to
say that little thing like temporary
misunderstanding--even in SO delicate
a matter-would'a amount to nothing as
sn Offset against the humiliation
Evelyn's conduct mad brought him.
Hasty reflection on this line made him
unusually blunt OF speech.
eyes, want to talk TO you about her,
but not in the way you perhaps an
ticipate, Col. Hasbrooke," said the cap
tain, almost patronizingly. 81 felt 1t
my duty as a personal friend Of yours
to come directly to you."
at must be proposal. after all"
thought the old gentleman, whose face
was divesting itselt Of its look Of per-
plexity, "the fellow is badly ratified"
He waved his hand towards the cap
tain's chair and sat down himself.
Wrinkle took his seat and crossed his
tightly clad legs, his spurs jingling as
he moved.
That's right, Capt. Winkle," went
on the older man, "that's always best;
! like the old way--a father has the big
gest interest in daughter after all has
been said"
Wrinkles attention seemed not to
fasten to this last remark.
MAY I ask If Miss Evelyn Is at
homer" he asked, introductively.
Hasbrooke could not restrain smile.
He told himself that he had never
dreamt that Wrinkle would be knocked
OF his feet by such q formality, and yet
Il showed that the fellow was hard hit,
and that was what he ought to be.
81 don't know" replied he, but" he
added, "of course she Is; she Is never
out so late as this alone, and she went
for a drive shortly after dinner. Shall
l send up your card?" The colonel
reached out for the old-fashioned tas-
seled bell-pull.
~ should like to know II she is at
home, for sure" said Wrinkle; ''if-ii
she is, there can be NO immediate dan
ger5-though feel certain"
"Danger!" CALCULATED the colonel,
what the devil do you mean, sir?"
Colonel. you may regard me as med
dlingwhere have no right, but fatter
myself that you cannot fail to appre-
ciate thing done purely in your inter-
est. and under a sense Of duty. The
truth is, saw Miss Evelyn in the cart
with Ronald Fanshaw driving rapidly
away from the scene Of the shooting.
They were going towards the railroad
station. l have hesitated for three
hours over what l ought to do, and at
last"
The colonel stepped towards him, and
raised his two hands as il to clutch the
speakers throat, but he restrained his
fury and stood staring In Wrinkles
face.
"What damnable nonsense is this?"
he Numbered.
~ have known for some time, colo
mel" answered Wlnkle, calmly, that
she was falling in love with this fellow;
but could not feel that had the right
to speak"
Hasbrooke was as pale as death. and
he shook from head to foot as a man
with palsy. He put his hands behind
him and held them tightly one in the
, other.
"You have made q serious, culpable
mistake, sir" he said. ~ don't believe
my daughter has even speaking &C.
quaintance with Fanshaw-if she has
that-and as to your extravagant state
mept that you saw her"
II am your friend, Col. Hashrooke,"
protested the younger man, quickly.
"and do not want to leave your house
until am assured that your daughter
| Is safe under your roof. Every minute
We are talking here may be valuable to
you, Let me beg Of you to ascertain II
she 10 at home"
"You shall have your wish, sir" The
old mans step across the room to the
bell-pull was majestic. AS he drew the
silken cord toward him he smiled.
"You shall certainly have your proof"
he said, land then"-the old soldier
looked significantly at the door and
bowed.
James entered softly and stood wait
ing,
ASK Evelyn--say to her." corrected
the colonel. "that / should like to see
her here for only minute. But, hold;
has she returned from her drive?"
"Yes sub; des q minute TO you got
| back, suh."
The colonel swept q triumphant
glance at Wrinkle, and then concluded
his command to the servant.
ASK her to come down."
VI trust" said the captain, when the
man had withdrawn, that you will par
don my fear that--that the couple real
ly had the intention of eloping; but,
seeing them together at such time, |
was naturally disposed to wonder what
could have caused such meeting; and
a few minutes later, when came
across the dead man, and learned that
Fanshaw had killed him. 1t was natur-
al that should think"
"You shall be convinced, sir" burst
from Hasbrooke's lips. that you have
had an attack Of blindness that is dan
gerous to the reputation Of honorable
women!"
II shall not dispute with you,
colonel" said Wiakle, in a concihatory
tone; "but passed as near them as
| l am to you now. ! shall leave 1t to her.