Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-06-21

relatives affairs. 'Is 1t possible thai
he is obliged to borrow money? Why
l always supposed him to be rich
very, very rich!"
Then she looked up, and on the PAN
eled wall above her head, saw the por-
trait Of youth, with fair hair ano
handsome open CONFERENCE.-The
shadow Of what her father had beer
in his boyhood-Gilbert wye, the cat
tie king, possessed far more persona
attractions than his elder brother Phil
| ip. Mignon straightway forgot her In
voluntary eavesdropping.
"Oh, papa!" she whispered, with hei
adoring eyes fixed on the canvas, this
painted square is all that your home
sick child possesses of you. Where
are you tonight? What are you do
ing? Are you thinking Of me? When
are you coming to take me home?
AS she stood, like a rapt devotee, be-
fore that youthful face, with her tear
suffused eyes uplifted to 1t, there was
a stealthy step, an audacious touch
and somebody bent back the girls head
and kissed her upon her sad, red
dropping lips.
"Cousinly, you know" drawled Cyril
wye. Jaw, don't be offended. Twas
shabby of you to leave me to Miss
LOTUS and her deuced Verdi songs"
She flung back from him, her brown
eyes charged with hot lightnings, her
face as white as death. The scorn'
the indignation in her look, might have
withered a nobler man than Cyril WYE
Till my dying day." she saidI In q
tone that made him cover and change
color, 81 will never forgive or forget
this INSULT"
Then she turned and walked straight
to the library, pushed back the door,
and, without ceremony, swept into the
presence Of Philip Vye-a splendid, in
dignant vision, with wide, velvety eyes
dilated, yellow head thrown back, lily
like throat swelling, wrathful tears
crowding up under her long lashes.
Uncle Phillip" she cried, so absorb
ed in her own grievance that she
deigned no glance left or right. "Un-
Gle Philip" and her voice was like a
silver trumpet, II will not remain at
Rookwood a day nor an hour longer,
save upon one condition."
my DEAR" cried Philip Wye, rising
hastily from his table, what do you
mean? What has happened?"
II mean that have been grossly in
suited by my cousin Cyril" she storm
ed, "and unless you assure me Of prop
er protection against a repetition OF
such insults, will leave your house
now-yes, this very minute!" And she
stamped her little foot on the bare,
polished floor.
why! why!" cried Philip wye, in
such tone as one might use to
spoiled child, what can Cyril have
done?"
He kissed mel" she cried; "and, oh!
had rather a reptile. had crawled
across my lips! I hate Cyril abhor
him!" stamping again to emphasize
her words.
Pardon! my dear little tempest-in-
a-teapot, are you not q trifle violent?
A kiss? Why, is that such a terrible
offense, Miss Prude? No, on the con-
trary it Is a common privilege among
cousins. Where is Cyril? What pun
ishment shall we mete out to the ras-
cal? All, let me call your attention,
my dear to the fact that we are not
alone. But I beg Mr.. Lispenard to
excuse you, for, as yet, you are only a
child-a sweet distracting, but sadly
impulsive child"
He waved his hand toward a chair
on the other side Of the table. With
a curious shock Mignon saw, arising
from it, the strangest shape she had
ever looked upon. A man, but his
head would scarcely reach to her own
shoulder. His legs were short, his
body square to grotesqueness. AS fol
a neck, he seemed to possess none
The head was set almost fiat upon the
powerful shoulders, which, with the
deep chest and muscular arms, looked
out Of all proportion with the extreme
ly short limbs. The face surmountine
this body was of the refined student
type-delicately cut, olive tinted. pale
almost to transparency. The eyes
were intensely black, melancholy In
expression, yet with volcanic CLEANS
showing in them now and then. The
hair was black, also, and lay in soft
waves along the low, womanish fore
head. This man hoped down from
his chair like great frog, and bowed
low to the girl, who started back, ter
rified. in spite Of herself.
"Mignon," said Philip Wye, airily
"let me present to you my neighbor
Mr. Lispenard-the gentleman Of whom
we were speaking at dinner. Mr. Lis
penard, this is my niece, the daughter
Of brother Gilbert, you know, oul
western cattle king"
Abel Lispenard bowed again, but die
not speak word. That shocked
frightened looked in the girls eyes he
had become sadly familiar with
Strangers often regarded his deformi'
| ty in that way; but, for the first time
he felt a sharp pang.
Mignon stood her ground bravely fol
moment, but Philip wye. with
mocking smile, hastened to say: IN!
dear child l will attend at once tt
your grievance. Trust me, Cyril shall
be properly rebuked for his gross
breach Of propriety. He shall not kis!
you again-that is, against your Will
And now" with playful irony, II have
some business affairs to transact witt
Mr.. Lispenard-shall invite you t'
remain with us?"
| Overwhelmed with sudden shame ant
confusion. Mignon fled to the door, bu
quick as she was, Abel Lispenard wa!
quicker. He sprang and opened, ant
held it for her to pass through. HI
looked up at her. she looked down a
him and in that fateful instant she be-
came aware that this singular frog
man had eyes like two-edged swords