Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-06-23

Ny Dear Mr. Kennard: At almost the
last moment l find myself called out OF
town I'd unable to keep the engagement
to visit your factory tomorrow. 1 had
looked forward to this visit with much
interest and am keenly disappointed
However, I do not want to spoil Leslie
day, and IL quite convenient for you, l
will ask Mrs. Parsons to take my place.
Telephone my office on receipt OF this
IL for any reason you'd rather have the
visit postponed. Cordially yours,
JOSHUA HARLAN.
Kennard read the first lines Of this
note with a feeling Of positive relief,
the last with distinct sense OF an
noyance. AS soon as he had given
the invitation he repented Of 1t, and
hoped for some kindly Intervention
to prevent an acceptance. Mr.. Har-
lan's note, it is true, did offer chance
of escape, but what excuse could he
give short of lying? For some mo-
ments he stood with the letter In his
hand, inwardly raging against him
self.
Well, he must make the best OF a
bad Job now and not be caught again.
He would show these women over the
buildings and pay for his lesson In
the senseless questions they would be
sure to ask, in the ignorant wonder
ment they would certainly display. He
had served his apprenticeship at this
sort of boredom before. The families
Of out-of-town customers, local states
men and their relatives, amateur social
economists and their friends-all the
sightseeing pests had settled upon
and buzzed about him at one time or
another. But this was the first time
he had ever had a visitation on his
own initiative. Thank goodness, his
employees needn't know what an Idiot
he had made of himself. II the women
didn't stare at the mechanics as II they
were wild animals, and didn't shrek
questions at him With their fingers
stuffed in their ears, he would get
through with the business after q
while. And then? Then he would
keep the company Of men, where one
was not driven to make conversation
and where there was no necessity OF
turning everything into plaything
or a performance.
1t was in this mood that Kennard
walked toward the flag station where
the Central locals stopped for fac
tory traffic. AS he crossed the tracks
from the river side. the train was al
ready In sight, and few moments la
ter Miss Harlan stepped from a front
car and looked about her In bewilder-
ment. Kennard moved toward her as
the engine started. and they shook
hands without trying to talk against
the putting locomotive and the grind
ing. squeaking wheels. Her look and
gesture of comic despair were elo-
Quent, but not until she spoke did
he realize that Mrs Parsons had not
left the train.
Isn't this ridiculous!" she ex-
claimed. as the noise died away.
"Mrs. Parsons and | agreed to meet
on the cars, because we feared miss
Ing each other in the crowd at the
station. arrived early. and expecting
her every moment, sat reading book
until the first thing | knew the train
had started and she hadn't yet ap-
peared | managed to look through
some Of the cars after we left the
tunnel, but couldn't find her. Even
when we arrived here | still hoped
to see her step out Of one Of the rear
cars. But you see she hasn't. and here
am, an interloper without my father
and nothing less than a nuisance with
out chaperon. What are you going
to do with me?"
Kennard felt a thrill Of Joy al he
watched her standing there In the
clear sunlight. looking up at him with
her hands clasped behind her In an ct
titude of mock humility. The frosty
atmosphere had touched her cheeks.
deepening their color. and her eyes
had the brightness and vitality OF au-
tumn. From the fur boa about her
throat two crimson carnations peeped
Summer and Winter nesting on