Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-08-04


IL Kennard had not overheard this
colloQuy as he stood In the doorway,
Il Is possible he would have avoided
Miss Harlan. There was nothing In
the conversation to make him alter
any previous determination. but he
had as much reason for changing his
mind as he had for being there at all.
He had declined Miss Harlan's invita-
tion, and had never called on her
since receiving It. Still. such is the in
consistency of man that he bought a
ticket and went to the Waldorf. prom
ising himself to keep In the back
ground and not speak to Leslie. unless
events made II necessary. But no
event seemed to make II necessary. He
saw her again and again. but she
passed without noticing him: the few
people he knew did not recognize him.
and there was no reason why he should
not have remained an unohserved spec
tator all the evening. But as time
wore on. Kennard began to regret his
Immunity and court discovery. It was
at this point that the conversation Of
Mr.. Belden and Miss Chandler seemed
to create the required necessity, and
acting on the impulse. Kennard crossed
the floor and hurriedly followed Miss
Harlan and Croyden as they walked
toward the reception rooms.
"Win you finish this waltz with
me?"
The girl turned quickly at the sound
of his voice. II he had expected her
to show surprise, he was mistaken.
The only surprise was in Croyden's
face as the two men nodded.
Certainly. You will excuse me,
Mr.. Croyden?"
Neil bowed, and stood watching the
couple until they disappeared in the
crowd Of dancers.
do you mind II We stop now?"
They had merely crossed the room
and were near the fringe Of spectators
on the opposite side.
NO" she replied. laughingly, but
are you tired? You look as though
you had been overworked."
That isn't It," he answered. Il
didn't really want to dance"
Then why"
81 wanted to talk with you-or. to
be perfectly accurate, l wanted you to
talk TO me-"
What about?"
"Oh, anything"
Il think you deserve talking to.
What do you mean by coming here
after declining an invitation on the
ground of a previous engagement?
What became of that previous engage
ment?"
1T didn't exist"
"It didn't exist! Well, sir, after
that brutal announcement kindly take
me back to my chaperon, and leave me
there"
mo. | have been frank. couldn't
accept your invitation when it came;
and tonight couldn't keep away"
She glanced at his face, her own
suddenly grown serious.
WAS your conscious troubling you?
II so, confession is good for the soul,
and the truly repentant may gain alb
solution"
They passed down the long flower
lined corridor and up few steps to an
alcove guarded by palm-trees. AS the
girl seated herself in the wicker chair,
she looked up at him with judicial
air.
Now proceed" she commanded.
This is the confessional, or as near
as we can come 10 it at the charity
ball. Why haven't you been near US
for all these weeks. and why do you
refuse invitations on maLe-believe ex-
cuses?"
Please don't catechize me tonight.
| promise to explain some day. But
not just now Tell me what you have
been doing"
We'll, I suppose / must humor you,
but want high mark for amiability
and zero for curiosity. What have
been doing? Nothing Of course, since
you never offered me that position we
once spoke of. Father discharged me
as his secretary long ago, and like
the man In the song, I've never done
anything since. Oh. yes, | have; L"
The hot blood rushed to Kennard's
face and his hand on the chair trem-
bled perceptibly.
Her fathers secretary! That was
the secret of Culver's memorandum in
her handwriting. That explained
everything. Why had he never
thought Of 1t before? 1t would have
suggested itself at once had he had
the manhood, the decency to seek any
explanation or make the slightest in
vestigation. But he had not done so.
He had leaped to the first shameful
conclusion, glutted in 1t to excess. and
only saved himself from everlasting
humiliation by the merest shance.
What right had he to sit talking to
this girl, knowing what his thought Of
her had been? What would she say II
she knew the man whom she hon
ored with her friendship had believed
her party to a low conspiracy? II she
had seen the words he had written she
would scorn his very presence. He
knew this and yet he intruded him
self upon her. Butehe had not allowed
those words to reach her. and, In his
saner moments, he had believed In her
despite the evidence in his possession.
Did not his very presence demonstrate
that he trusted her even in the face
Of unexplained facts? In frenzy OF
madness he had harbored thoughts
which were not his, and written words
he had repented Of and recalled in
time. But IL she knew all this. would
she be able to pardon? What repara-
ton was possible for an offense which
touched the very roots Of friend