Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-05-26
THE GRAFTERS
Copyright, 1904, BY The nebb.-Merrill Company
RAN CTS LYN D
CHAPTER XXVI-CoNTINUED.

The afternoon had been all that
summer afternoon on the brown high
lands can be, and the powerful tour
ing car had swept them from mile to
mile over the dun hills like an earth
skimming dragon whose wing-beat was
the muff1ed, explosive thud OF the
motor.
Through most of the miles Elinol
had given herself up to silent enjoy
ment of the rapture Of swift motion
and Ormsby had respected her mood
as he always did. But when they
were on the high hills beyond the
mining-camp of Megilp, and he had
thrown the engines out Of gear to
brake the car gently down the long in
clines, there was room for speech.
This is our last spin together on
the high plains, l suppose" he said
"Your mother has fixed upon to-mor-
row for our return to town, hasn't
she?"
Elinor confirmed 1t half-absently
She had been keyed up to face the in
evitable In this drive with Ormsby
and she was afraid now that he was
going to break her resolution by a
dip into the commonplace.
"Are you glad or sorry?" he asked.
Her reply was evasive.
81 have enjoyed the thin, clean air
and the freedom Of the wide horizons
Who could help it?"
But you have not been entirely hap
py?"
1t was on her lips to say some con-
ventional thing about the constant
jarring note in all human happiness
but she changed it to a simple mo y
May I try If can give the reason?'
She made a reluctant little gesture
of assent; some such signal OF ac-
quiescence as Marie Antoinette may
have given the waiting headsman.
"You have been afraid every day
lest I should begin a second time to
press you for an answer. haven't you?
She could not thrust and parry with
him. They were past all that.
YES" she admitted briefly.
"You break my heart. Elinor." he
said, after a long pause. But
with a sudden tightening OF the lips
I'm not going to break yours"
She understood him, and her eyes
filled quickly with the swift shock
of gratitude.
IF you had made a study of woman
kind through ten lifetimes instead OF
a part of one, you could not know
when aud where to strike truer and
deeper" she said; and then softly:
why can't you make me love you
Brookes?"
He took his foot from the brake
pedal, and for ten seconds the released
car shot down the slope unhindered
Then he checked the speed and an
swered her.
"A little while ago would have said
I didn't know; but now do know. II
Is because you love David Kent: you
loved him before l had my chance"
She did not deny the principal fact
but she gave him his opportunity to
set 1t aside II he could-and would.
Call 1t foolish, romantic sentiment
II You like. Is there no way to shame
me out Of it?"
He shook his head slowly.
you don't mean that?"
But II say that do; II I insist
that | am willing to be shamed out oi
It,"
His smile was that of brother who
remembers tardily to be loving-kind
81 shall leave that task for some one
who cares less for you and for youl
true happiness than do. or ever shall
And II will be a mighty thankless SER
vice that that some one will render
YOU"
"But ought to be whipped and sen
to bed" she protested. almost tear
fully do you know what | have done
how have"
She could not quite put 1t In words
even for him. and he helped her gen
erously, as before.
81 know what Kent hasn't done
which is more to the point. But III
will do it fast enough if you will
give him half chance"
mo" she said defnitively.
81 say yes. One thing, and on,
thing only, has kept him from tellin,
you any time since last autumn: tina
is a sort Of a finical loyalty to me
saw how matters stood when he CAM
aboard of our train at Gaston-Im ask
ing you to believe that didn't know
II beforehand saw then that my onl,
hope was to make handfast frient
of him. And I did II"
"I believe you can do anything yol
try to do" she said warmly.
This time his smile was a mer
grimace.
You will have to make one eXcep
ton, after this; and SO shall |. An
since it is the first of any consequence
In all my mounting years, it grlnds
can't throw another man out OF tn
window and take his place"
IF you were anything but what yo'
are, you would have thrown him out
the window another way" she re
Joined.
THAT would have been dago!
trick; not a white mans" he asserted
'T suppose | might have got in hi:
way and played the dog in the mange
generally, and you would have stucl
to your word and married me. but
am not looking for that kind Of win
ming. | don't mind confessing that
played my last card when | released
you from our engagement. | said t
myself: If that doesn't break dowI
the barriers. nothing will"