Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-08-13

pendent action. Plainly he felt no res
possibility toward her-why should
she not assume the same indifference
toward him?
She sat pondering the situation til
the dinner bell rang. In this nine
teenth century one Is expected to dine
even though troubles multiply, like
Pelion piles upon Ossa. Mignon arose
with a weary sigh. AS she entered
the warm, lighted dining room, she i'm
mediately saw that the sumptuous ta-
BILE was spread for two persons, and
that man was lounging in a crimson
draped window at the far end Of the
room in an attitude Of waiting. He
turned as the door opened. She had
not seen him since Elinor Yves funer-
al-had not even thought Of him, and
she now experienced an unpleasant
shock
1T seems that you and are to dine
tete-a-tete today, cousin" said Cyril
wye. my father was obliged to leave
US III HdSle, YOU hllOW.
She seemed turning to marble.
"And do you remain here in his alb
sence?"
YES" answered Cyril wye, with a
sinister smile. II remain!"
Philip wye gone, strange servants In
the house, and this man in full control
% everything!
The angry blood flew into Mignon's
pale cheek.
Enough" she said. you will dine
alone today. Even Rookwood Is not
large enough to hold you and me, Cy-
ril Vye!"
He tried to step betwixt her and the
door.
wait a minute, Mignon," he hissed.
my time has come at last! I have
you now at my mercy!"
She looked at him with whitening
disdain.
do you really think that, sir? And,
like the coward which you are, you
wish to take advantage Of misfortune
Surely, I needed but this to make my
position at Rookwood intolerable.
Stand aside and let me pass!"
He had found his match in this blaz-
ing, yet colorless, young creature. His
weak guilty eyes fell before hers. He
moved slowly, sulkily, as she bade him.
"You are my fathers ward" he fum-
ed. "You shall not leave lockwood
without his permission. In his alb
sence I must take charge Of you"
cyril WYE" she answered, "you have
reckoned without your host"
Then, with head held high, she pass
ed out and flew straight to her own
chamber.
The short, chilly day was dying In
cloud and sleet. Fortunately she had
a little money in her purse.
81 will at once throw myself on the
friendship of the Berkelys," was her
sudden determination.
Trains for town stopped constantly
at the Dale station, which was but
short walk from the Rookwood gates.
She had no farewells to make. She
packed together the most valuable OF
her possessions, put on long cloak,
a close bonnet and a thick veil, and
then started to go downstairs. Alas;
the door Of her chamber would not
open. She shook tin vain! 1t was
fast. Some one without had turned the
key upon her while she was busy
within. Mignon was a prisoner.
An outcry, she knew. would be use
less, and to whom could she appeal for
help? Even the poor protection OF
Philip WYE was now withdrawn from
her. Cyril and the strange servants
alone held possession Of the house.
He had made no idle boast in declar-
ing that he had her at his mercy.
She sat down in her dark, lonely
chamber as If stupefied. The night
was now falling. The wind soughed
across the curtained windows, the sleet
raped sharply on the pane. She sat
there staring with wild, dilated eyes
into the blank gloom. Once, twice she
heard Cyril Yves stealthy step creep
ing along the corridor outside. He
paused at her door-he seemed to lis
ten, then he moved on a few PAGES, only
to return to the same spot. She could
hear his smothered breathing through
the keyhole. An agony Of fear and in
dignation seized Mignon. This man
was her jailer-at any moment ne
might open the door. In the darkness
her hand moved spasmodically toward
her dressing table and grasped long
sharp pair of scissors. long enough
sharp enough, to reach to her own
heart.
"If he dares to cross the Threshold
she said to herself, resolutely, "he will
find me dead in this chair"
Surely the old colonial house OF
Rookwood, full Of the ghosts OF de-
parted generations, had never held
sadder or more desperate being than
was Mignon this night!
One hour and then another went by
She heard no longer the stealthy steI
at the door, Her jailer had slipped
away for a space. She listened. Some
where near at hand a clock struck
eleven. At the same moment a pale
watery CLEAN Of light crept through
the curtain and fell at Mignon's feet
She arose from her chair, stole softly
to the window and looked out.
Her chamber was high up in the
wall. Below 1t sloped the roof OF q
piazza, now slippery as glass with ne"
fallen sleet. The storm was passing
away and the moon, breaking through
torn clouds, touched this perilous sur
face and made it gllsten like a sheet
of silver
Noiselessly Mignon pushed back the
fastening Of the window, and raised
the sash. Then she mounted the Sill
and. with a prayer trembling on hel
white lips. stepped down upon thai
slanting, icy roof beneath. In this
Idisgraceful way must the faires
daughter Of all the Yves depart IRON
the home of her ancestors!
nna ,,,op,apt cha plunQ ShudQering