Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-05-23
CHAPTER XIV.
ON THE HIGH PLAINS.


talk of returning to the capital.
Pressed to give a reason for her dis
satisfaction. the younger sister might
have n~-n nj loss to account for
It in words; but Elinor's desire to cut
the outing short was based upon pride
and militant shame. After many trap
settings she had succeeded in making
her mother confess that the stay at
Breezeland was at Ormsby's expense;
and not all of Mrs. Brentwood's petu-
liant justifyings could remove the sting
of the nettle of obligation.
There is no reason in the world
why you should make so much Of It:
am your mother, and l ought to
know" was Mrs. Brentwood's dictum.
you wouldn't have any scruples II
we were his guests on the Amphitrite
or in his country house on Long Is
land" .f
THAT would be different" Elinor
contended. I'VE are not his guests
here: We are his pensioners"
"Nonsense!" frowned the mother.
Isn't it beginning to occur to you that
beggars shouldn't be choosers? And,
besides. so far as you are concerned,
you are only anticipating little"
1t was an exceedingly injudicious.
not to say brutal way of putting 1t; and
the blue-gray eyes flashed fire.
Cant you see that you are daily
making a marriage between us more
and more impossible?" was the bitter
rejoinder. Elinor's meter was cool
composure under fire. but she was not
always able to compass 1t.
Mrs. Brentwood famed herself Wig
orously. She had been aching to have
1t out with this self-willed young wo-
man who was playing fast and loose
with attainable millions. and the hour
had struck.
"What made you break 1t of with
Brookes Ormsby?" she snapped; add
ing: Il don't wonder you were
ashamed to tell me about It."
81 did not break, II on; and I was
not ashamed" Elinor had regained.
her self-control, and the angry lign,
in the far-seeing eyes was giving place
to the cool gray blankness which she
cultivated.
That Is what Brookes told me, but
| didn't believe him." said the mother.
ITS all wrong, anyway, and / more
than half believe that David Kent Is at
the bottom of it."
Elinor left her chair and went to
the window, which looked down on
the sanatorium, the ornate parterre,
and the crescent driveway. These
family chickering's were very trying to
her, and the longing to escape them
was sometimes strong enough to over
ride cool reason and her innate sense
of the fitness Of things.
But into the turmoil Of thoughts
half indignant. half self-compassion-
ate, came reproach and great wave
Of tenderness filial. She saw. as with
the sudden gift of retrospection, her
mothers long battle with inadeQuacy,
and how it had aged her; saw. too,
that the battle had been fought unset
fshly. since she knew her mothers
declaration that she could contentedly
go back to nothing" was no mere pet
ulant boast. II was for her daughters
that she had grown thin and haggard
and irritable under the persistent re-
verses of fortune: it was for them
that she was sinking the Grimkie In
dependence in the matchmaking
mother.
The tears in Elnor's eyes were not
altogether of self-pity when she put
her back 10 the window. Ormsby was
coming up the curved driveway in his
automobile, and she had seen him but
dimly through the rising mist Of emo
| ton.
"Have you set your heart upon this
thing. mnther?-5ut | know you have.
And IL have tried as could to be
just and reasonable: to you and Pene-
lope. and to Broolles Ormsby. He IL
nobleness itself: it is shame to give
him the shadow when he so richly de-
serves the substance"
She spoke rapidly. almost incoher-
emily: and the mother-loVe in the wo-
man who was careful and troubled
about the things that perish put the
mat ch-maker to the wall. II was al
most terrifying to see Elinor. the
strong-hearted, the self-contained
breaking down like other. mothers
daughters. So II was the mother who
held out her arms, and the daughter
ran to go down on her knees at the
chair-side. burying her face in the lap
of comforting.
There. there. Ellie, child: don't
cry. It's terrible to hear you sob like
that" she protested. her own voice
shaking in sympathy. IT have been
thinking only of you and your future
and fearing weakly that you couldn't
bear the hard things. But we'll bear
them together-we three; and III
never say another word about Brookes
Ormsby and what might have been.
20 mother! you are making 1t hard.
er than ever now," was the fearful re-
ioinder. "I-there Is no reason why
I should be so obstinate. / haven
even the one poor excuse you are max
ing for me down deep in your heart.
David Kent?" said the mother.
The bowed head nodded wordles!
assent.
There was tap at the door and
servant was come to say that Mr.
Brookes Ormsby was waiting in hi
auto-car Was Miss Brentwood nearl!
ready?
Elinor said, "In minute" and wher
the door closed, she made conhdant'
of her mother for the first time since
her childhood days
81 know what you have suspected
ever since that summer in New
Hampshire. and 1t is. trnl" she con