Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-07-12
He crossed the boudoir, flung open

He crossed the boudoir, flung open
door at its furthest end, and the little
group looked through and saw another
room, bare, unadorned, with padded
walls and strong, plain furniture fas-
tened securely to the floor, and iron
bars guarded the one window. Hor-
ror! a maniac's cell!
1T all ended here!" said Lispenard,
in a low, shaken voice.
He shut the door Of communication
betwixt the two apartments. Tears
rushed to Mignon's eyes. She ran out
into the corridor.
I'VE have no business in this place"
she painted. ut is holy ground, and
no stranger should dare intrude upon
It."
Lispenard seemed to find her SYM
Ipathy sweet His stern, dark face sof-
tened.
"A thousand thanks" he murmured,
land at that moment Mignon almost
liked him.
He must have been wretch in
deed, who could break the heart OF
such a woman" said Shirlaw; II trust
he is dead"
THAT do not know" replied Lis
penard, sinking his voice ominously;
"but one thing Is certain, IL he Is
above ground he will one day feel my
vengeance!"
| Mignon shuddered. In anger Abel
Lispenard was surely a man to be
feared.
That same night, after the guests had
departed, Shirlaw and his host were
lounging together in the billiard room
Of the house. They had just finished
game, and the young captain, throw
| ing down his cue upon the table,
turned to the dwarf and said, briefly:
"Lispenard, it's all up with me, you
know! At last 1 have met my fate"
Lispenard wheeled sharply around.
| "Ah!"
Cannot you guess, old man." stam-
mered Shirlaw, blushing like school
boy. 1T is Mignon wye, and she has
promised to be my wife, though we do
not care to make the matter public
until her father has given his consent"
Lispenard breathed heavily.
"You have lost no time"
True" replied Shirlaw, "why should
II? Life-especially to a soldier on
lfurlough-is too short to be spent In
waiting. The divine passion Is not the
growth of any stated period. I love
Mignon with all my heart, Lispenard,
and she loves me. But. by Jove! ex-
pect opposition, you know. They don't
like me over there at Rookwood-the
male Yves, 1 mean. They tolerate me
only because l am your guest, and
they are under obligations to you, and
so have to be civil. You have loaned
Philip wye money, old man; you need
not deny it. l suspect that fellow
Cyril has not yet given up the pur-
pose Of winning Mignon himself, con-
found the impudent rascal! He isn't
fit to so much as think Of her."
Lispenard was strangely pale, and
the lines in his face had somehow
sharpened! -.-'
you love her-she loves you," he
said, quietly; surely that is as 1t
should be. congratulate you, Victor;
yes, I wish you great JOY"
Much obliged, old chappie," said
Shirlaw. His gray eyes were bright
with happiness. He had the gay, light
air of a boy Nov, can I rely upon
you to aid me in my suit?"
ITO the utmost"
Thanks. 1 dare say shall need
your help. Philip wye will be sure to
put all sorts of obstacles in my way.
He is deucedly sly do not trust
him."
Nobody trusts him, Victor" replied
Lispenard, in a fatigued voice. "Have
you written to your mother and sis
ters?"
| Not yet They are absorbed In the
gaveties Of Saratoga, and the news
will keep. Mignon, with her wealth
and social position, is sure to meet
with their appreciation. Yes, without
doubt the mater and the girls will re-
ceive her with open arms"
II should think so!" growled Lispen-
ard; Miss WYE is a fit mate for
king"
ITS very good of you to say that"
said Shirlaw, airily; ~ rejoice that you,
my best friend, are we'll pleased with
the match"
| Lispenard turned his heavy bulk, and
looked at the young fellow in stern,
strange way.
who said 1 was we'll pleased? You
Jump too quickly at conclusions, Vic
tor. Do you really fiatter yourself that
you are Mignon Yves equal"
We'll, not in money matters" ac-
knowledged Shirlaw, obviously; 1--WE
little or nothing apart from my pay
My mother and sisters absorb the fam
lily income"
"Pshaw! l was not thinking Of mon
ey matters-in other ways, Victor; in
other ways"
| physically, at least you have limited
that might be-" laughed Shirlaw, with
a sort of boyish vanity.
Lispenard waddled heavily up to the
young fellow, and grasped him by the
sleeve.
Yes, physically" in a bitter tone,
You will do. You ought to thank
God that you were not cut after my
pattern. But in heart, in natural tenn
permanent Victor, 1 mistrust you! l
love you, but also mistrust you. Now,
have you won that girls heart to make
heaven in it, or break it? If the lat
ter, l shall be tempted to kill you!'
Shirlaw opened wide his bonny gray
eyes.
by Jove! old chap, l never posed
for heart breaker. l am no gay de-
ceiver."
That may be, but you are careless,
and unstable, and tickle, Victor"
Perhaps" said Shirlaw, coloring a
little. You are handling me without
gloves, are you not? Never mind, 1