Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-07-26

the old draWing-room. Sne was tne
one calm, unruffied thing at Rookwood.
Il am the happiest creature in the
whole wo''d," lie said, as she lifted to
him her fair serene face. Il do not
think could be happier. To have you,
and papa, and a new sister all at the
same time, seems quite too much!"
Happiness is queer thing!" an
swered Shirlaw, looking quickly around
the drawing-room. mo sooner does
one begin to exult in it than it takes
to itself wings. l do not see your Sis
ter here"
A shadow fell on her fower-like
face.
mo, Esther keeps to her own room
have scarcely seen her since her ar
rival She is very shy and reserved
homesick, too, and out Of spirits. By
and-by l hope to understand her bet
ter"
He felt strangely relieved. 1t was
plain that Mignon knew nothing Of the
ATTEMPTED suicide.
my sister Is wonderfully handsome,
Is she not, Victor?" added Mignon, af-
ter pause.
He put on a profoundly Indifferent
air.
Handsome? I dare say, If one ad-
mires that startling style of beauty.
An alabaster woman with fixed
brows, one might call her. She does
not resemble you in the least, my darl-
ing. l should never guess that any tie
of blood existed between YOU"
AS the party was about to move out
to dinner there was a slight stir at the
door, and Esther wye. dressed In black,
and white as stone, glided In. The
cattle king went forward to meet her.
and Shirlaw heard her say, as she
stared defiantly into his threaten
ening eyes:
you commanded me to come, and
1 am here"
Like an automaton she took her seat
at the table She looked at no one,
spoke to no one. To Shirlaw she SEEM
ed splendid meteor overshadowed by
some mysterious cloud. The dinner
passed off agreeably. The cattle king
showed plainly that ranch life had not
affected his good manners. He had
the savoir vivre of his race; he was
affable. witty, entertaining. He talked
with everybody, he told amusing sto-
ries Of western life; in short, he was
a perfect success. But as the company
rose from the table he suddenly dis
appeared. Shirlaw, standing a few
minutes later at a drawing-room Win
dow saw a horse and rider burst Que
Of Philip Yves stable, thunder down
the drive and vanish through the gate
of Rookwood like the wild huntsman
himself.
Hal" said the voice Of Philip Wye.
at the brown captains shoulder;
habit is strong! My brother has evil
IDENTIFY had enough Of us for one day.
He is but a rough frontiersman, so
we must excuse his unceremonious de-
sertion."
Gilbert wye, oppressed, perhaps, by
toe much civilization, had gone off N
wild gallop all by himself. 1t was
dark night, with rain falling. After
the departure of his guests Philip wye
went down into the walk, and stood
there for a long time waiting for his
brother to return. hour was wax
ing late when horse and rider appear
ed, shining with wet, the animal utter
ly blown, the man sitting in the sad
die like a centaur, his eyes cleaning
under his slouched rain -drenched hat.
Good Heaven, Gilbert" said the
master of Rookwood, irritably; when
you go off on another flight like this
don't choose the best horse in my sta
BILE. Whittier have you been? The
beast is ready to drop"
Gilbert wye slipped lightly out of the
saddle and flung his bride to a groom.
II could not stand your hot-house
air any longer" he drawled. my dear
Philip, you must not forget that 1
have a good deal Of the untamed saw
age in my nature. l was choking for
free breath. Your horse? Pooh! l
wouldn't give a dozen Mexican dollars
for the brute! Anything that the wind
can outstrip is worthless to me. Where
have | been? Not more than fifty
miles, l assure you. and that's but only
very short spin after the owls be-
gin to hoot."
Reckless fellow! You ride a great
deal, of course"
| 81 live in the saddle" shortly; in
deed, 1 may say that I know no hap
piness out of It. Where is Mignon?"
Gone to bed, and your other daugh-
ter-the handsome Medusa-also."
Deuce take that moping jade! L
have half a mind to shoot her!"
With this burst of paternal tender
ness, Gilbert wye shook the raindrops
from his slouched nat and stalked off
along the terrace.
| Society at the Dale was stirred to
its depths by the arrival of the cattle
king. AS Lispenard had prognosticat-
ed he straightway became the lion Of
the hour. Mignon's betrothal also
made a ripple Of excitement in the
exclusive little realm. Everybody said:
How delightful Just as 1t should
be- And how like Lispenard to assist
at the happiness of the young people"
| Lunches, receptions, grand dinners
and high teas were given in honor OF
the cattle king. The cultured Boston,
ese found him highly interesting
They admired his splendid person
his fine manners, slightly favored with
western freedom, and his talk Of lone
ly trails and wild ranges and vast
herds. for openly and everywhere
yea, in Philip Yves very ears, this
oi-distant cattle king made constant
mention Of his ranch at Happy Valley
and the life he lived there with cow
boys and cattle. And Philip wye al
ways kept a face as expressionless as
stone never betraying by word or sign
that he possessed any deeper knowl-
edge of his brothers private affairs