Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-04-11

Alameda Square. The reception was
perhaps the least unlikely place Of the
dozen.
He was no more than fashionably
late at the Van Brock house, and for
tunately he was able to reckon him
self among the chosen few for whom
Miss Portals door swung on hos,
pitable hinges at all hours. Lor'
ing had known her in Wash,
ington, and he had stood sponsor FOL
Kent in the first week Of the exile'i
residence at the capital. Thereafter
she had taken Kent up on his own &C
count, and by now he was deep IN
her debt. For one thing, she had sci
the fashion in the matter Of legisla-
tive receptions-her detractors, know
ing nothing whatever about 1t, hinted
that she had been an amateur social
lobbyist in Washington, playing the
game for the pure zest Of it-and al
these functions Kent had learned many
things pertinent to his purpose ai
watchdog for the railroad company
and legal advisor to his chief-things
not named openly on the floor OF the
house or the senate chamber.
There was q crush in the ample
mansion in Alameda Square, as there
always was at Miss Van Brooks "oper
evenings" and when Kent came down
from the cloak-room he had to inch
his way by Titles through the
crowded reception -parlors In the search
for the Brentwood party. It was un.
successful at first; but later, catching
a glimpse of Elinor at the piano, and
another of Penelope inducting an up.
country legislator into the mysteries
of social small-talk, he breathed freer
His haphazard guess had hit the
mark, and the finding Of Ormsby was
now only a question Of moments.
1t was Miss Van Brock, herself, who
told him where to look for the club.
man-though not at his first asking.
Loring had told him Miss Var
Brooks story. She was southern born
the only child Of a somewhat ill-con-
sidered match between young Cali.
fornia lawyer, wire-pulling in the ma
tional capital in the interest Of the
Central Pacific railroad, and a Vir.
ginia belle tasting the delights Of hel
first winter in Washington.
Later, the young lawyers state, ol
his employers, had sent him to con.
gress; and Portia, left motherless In
her middle childhood, had grown up ir
an atmosphere Of statecraft, or what
passes for such, in an era Of frank
commercialism. Tnheriting her moth.
ers rare beauty Of face and form, and
uniting with 1t the sympathetic gift
In grasp of detail, political and other
she soon became her fathers conf
dante and loyal partisan, taking the
place, as q daughter might, Of the
ambitious young wife and mother
who had set her heart on seeing the
Van Brock name on the roll Of the
United States senate.
Rensselaer, Van Brock had died be-
fore the senatorial dream could be re-
allied, but not before he had made q
sufficient number Of lucky investments
to leave his daughter the arbitress OF
her own future. What that future
should be. not even Loring could
guess. Since her fathers death Miss
Van Brock had been a citizen OF the
world. With a widowed aunt for the
shadowiest Of chaperons, she had drift
ed with the tide Of inclination, coming
finally to rest in the western capital
for no better reason, perhaps, than that
some portion of her interest-bearing
securities were emblazoned with the
great seal OF this particular western
state.
Kent was thinking Of Loring's re-
countal as he stood looking down on
her. Other women were younger
and with features more conventionally
beautiful; Kent could find a round
dozen within easy eye-reach, to say
nothing of the calm-eyed, queenly i'm
provisatrice at the piano-his constant
standard Of all womanly charm and
grace. Unconsciously he fell to COM
pairing the two, his hostess and his
love, and was brought back to things
present by q sharp reminder from
Portia.
stop looking at Miss Brentwood
that way, Mr.. David. She Is not for
you; and you are keeping me wait
ing"
He smiled down on her.
"Of what use can I be to Mr.. David
Kent this evening""
"See how you misjudge me-" he
protested. "My errand here tonight
Is purely charitable. Which brings
me back to Ormsby: did you say you
could tell me where to look for him."
He is in the smoking-room with
five or six other tobacco misanthropes.
What do you want of him."
81 want to say two words in his
ear; after which shall vanish and
make room for my betters."
Miss Van Brock was gazing stead
fastly at the impassioned face lighted
by the piano candles.
"Is it about Miss Brentwood" she
asked abruptly.
I'm a way-yes," he confessed.
She rose and stood beside him-a
bewitching figure Of a woman who
knew her part in the human comedy
and played it we'll.
"Is it wise, David?" she asked soft
ly. 81 am not denying the possibili-
ties: you might come between them
IL you should try-I'm rather afraid
you could. But you mustn't, you
know; it's too late. You've marred
her, between you; or rather that con-
vention, which makes a woman deaf,
bliud and dumb until man has fairly
committed himself, has marred her.
For your sake she can never be quite
all she ought to be to him: for his
sake she could never be quite the same
to you"
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