Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-08-06
CHAPTER XVII.
"unstable as Water"

hind the Shru0Dery OF the tSliaSe'
startled you, eh? You thought l was
a road-agent? A little joke, my dear
Uncle Gilbert, nothing more. 1 assure
you. Why, how very pale you are!-
a perfect spectre, in fact!"
Cyril WYE had never been nearer
death than he was at that moment
Murder, pure and simple, looked out
of the cattleman's eyes, as he turned
upon his nephew. He seemed about 10
leap at his throat; but Shirlaw maoe
an involuntary movement to step De-
tween them, and by some supreme et-
fort the older WYE recovered his COM
posure.
1T Is not always safe to startle a
man in that way, nephew!" he said,
with a ghastly smile. 1T would serve
YOU right to give you wholesome
choking for your impertinence. An!
mockingly, here comes the head or our
old and honorable house." as the figure
Of Philip wye appeared in the walk be-
low. IF you will come down into the
garden, Captain Shirlaw, beyond reach
of further interruption, we will con-
tinue our conversation"
Not tonight" answered Shirlaw'
wildly; pray excuse mel"
And waiting for nothing more ne
sprang down the terrace and rushed
of to the river.
He came upon Abel Lispenard In the
garden of faded lilies-poor Lilians
garden. The dwarf was pacing back
and forth there in the dubious light'
his hat pulled over his eyes, his chin
upon his breast.
stop a minute, Lispenard, crieo
Shirlaw, breathlessly: II have some
thing to tell you."
Lispenard paused.
81 cannot lift myself to your height,
Victor, so you must bend down TO
mine," he said.
Shirlaw did so, and was startled oy
the look on the others face.
by Jove! what has gone wrong with
you, old chap"
"I have tonight received tidings OF
that NANNY sisters destroyer"
1.-The deuce!"
HE is-but never mind. Your hand
shakes, Victor. You have something
to tell me; what is 1t? Speak out"
= And out he did speak-told his story,
wildly, hurriedly.
'I saw the resemblance on the very
night Of his arrival at Rookwood," he
groaned. "I tried to fight away the
horrible suspicious; I tried to believe
that I was laboring under an hulluci-
nation, that had lost my wits-any-
thing, everything, rather than the
truth! Now, in Gods name, Lispen-
ard, tell me, what am to do?"
Lispenard stood like a stone. His
face has assumed strange. rigid lines.
"Will you denounce him?" he an
swered, harshly.
mo, shall leave that to his rela-
tives. Cyril wye knows as we'll as do
that his uncle, the cattle king, Is no
other than Black Dave, the western
outlaw and road-agent! And Cyril
means mischief-yes, nothing less than
the destruction of the mani"
But Mignon," cried Lispenard, i'm
patiently: you do not say anything
about Mignon! How does this discov-
cry affect your love for herr"
Shirlaw changed color.
Heaven above! Lispenard, why ask
such a question? Would you have me
marry the daughter Of thief and cut
throat? Would you, in my place, do
it,"
In your place, 1 would marry Mig
non WYE If her father were the prince
Of the bottomless pitt" painted Lispen-
ard.
Impossible! l cannot" said Shirlaw,
with a shudder. my mother, my sis
ters? shall l show them no consider
alton? Would you have me bring dis
grace and shame upon them? That
man urged me tonight to marry Mig
non Immediately. He knows that ex-
posure Is near; he comprehends. l
think, something Of his own danger
Poor, lovely Mignon! l pity her with
al! my heart; but you expect too much
of me, Lispenard. What! Take, with
wide-open eyes, that man for my faith
er-in-law? Faugh! l swear l was
scarcely able to contain myself, as ]
stood with him over at Rookwood just
now, and recalled the encounter on the
Southern Pacific road. when first saw
the scoundrel with his gang Of desper-
ADDE'S"
Lispenards gaze seemed to be turn
ed inward
God pity that girl!' he groaned
Her father is her idol. How will she
bear this? how can she bear it?"
Don't ask me. Lispenard; you will
drive me mad"
"She is all that is desirable in wom-
an. She is as innocent of her fathers
inquities as an angel of light: but
see how it is. Victor; your love is not
equal to the trial. What do say, boy?
You do not know what love is?"
DO l not?" said Shirlaw, setting his
teeth; II think do-to my sorrow!"
Lispenard made a step nearer to his
kinsman.
"Ah." he cried. sternly; 'it is that
girl Esther"
Shirlaw WINGED, as though a hand
had touched some unhealed wound
but his lips were dumb.
II have not been wholly blind in the
last few weeks" said Lispenard, my
poor tickle. unstable Victor! But she
too, is the daughter of Gilbert wye
as near to him as Mignon. and equal
ly shadowed by his guilt"
"She cared nothing for me, Lispen-
ard"
II rejoice to hear that" dryly. 81
know not whether to pity or condemn
you. Victor. You have, indeed, beer
most unfortunate in your loves"
With distracted air, Shirlaw drew
out his watch.
pity me, old fellow; don't condemn
me! Doubtless I suffer as keenly as
falr hE