Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-07-09
many things to learn about each otf

pa? You only are to blame for that
| 1t is you who have driven him from
my thoughts Of late. Remember how
few were my opportunities for CONVEX
sation with you before our marriage
and since that event, all our talk ha:
turned on one subject"
"True-our love for each other
Esther"
Then, too, papa is very far away
and l have not seen him since my
babyhood. Indeed, if he should appear
before us here, at this very moment
he would be as great a stranger tc
me as to you. My mother died at my
birth, and papa left me, an infant
with Aunt Deb, and went to seek his
fortune in the west. He has found II
in the silver mines of Colorado. Oh
Guy, look at the lovely little shells
which the tide has washed into the
crevices of this rock! Here's q
sprawling jellyfish, too. and a piece OF
coral. The dear, beautiful sea! l am
glad papa has never attempted to
take me from it. l am sure that life
at Leadville would not have pleased
me at all"
She drew off her wrinkled, gray
glove and began to gather up the pref
ty shells from the salt pool in the rock
His eyes followed the movement, and
a sudden, startled cry broke from his
lips. He seized her hand with uncon-
scious force, and pointed to band OF
gold on the first finger
For Gods sake, tell me, Esther" he
gasped his handsome face growing as
white as chalk, where did you get
that ring?"
She looked up quickly, startled by
his violence.
THAT ring? Oh, got it, dear, from
Leadville-from papa-he sent 1t to
me only few weeks ago. 1t is an odd
little thing, is it not? An opal Some
people do not like opals-they are said
to bring ill-luck to the wearer."
Sea and sky seemed dancing before
Guy Fleetwoods eyes. A sickening
thrill went over him.
"Will you permit me to examine it,
darling?" he said, steadily.
She drew the fatal trinket from her
hand. A thick band Of gold, set with
a big opal, and on the inner surface
these words engraved: Sans Dieu
rien." There could be no mistake. 1t
was his mothers gift-the very ring
of which that notorious outlaw, Black
Dave, had robbed him months before,
on his route of the Overland Mail
company. He returned it to his bride
of a week, with a CHASTITY smile.
And all the pretty trinkets that
have seen you wear, are they your
fathers gifts, also?"
Certainly" she replied "he sends
me great many ornaments-some OF
them very lovely-I have never worn
half of them. l often wonder where
he buys such charming things. This
ring" slipping it again upon her nm
ger, II put on today to-to-please
YOU. Here is another-a real diamond
this he sent me in his last letter.
you do not notice this" in a surprised
tone.
A strange mirthless laugh escaped
him.
Yes, that Is fine. but 1 do not ad-
mire diamonds, Esther. l want to ask
you a question, and if you love me
answer me truly-don't look in my
face, please-look off on the sea-
am not quite well-those old wounds
received in the far west, and about
which l have told you, are troubling
me today-now, my darling! are you
Concordia Tempest"
She seemed to detect the secret pres
ence of tragedy. She arose involun'
tarily to her feet. Her great eyes
opened wide.
I?-oh, no." with a shadow of
smile. 1T seemed so very, very odd
Guy, that a person like you should be
searching for the owner Of that name
at Cinderville. l was puzzled, and
wanted to tease you, so I did not tel
YOU the truth, as l might have done
| as, perhaps, l ought to have done
Concordia Tempest iS-Aunt Deb
| Cinderville people always call her Deb
bic Runnel-many, dare say, suppose
that to be her proper name, but sh'
is only the stepdaughter of gran'thel
my mother was. of course, her half
sister. Now, Guy, dear, was 1t all
jest, or did you really come to Cinder
VILE to find her Ohough when yol
two met at the Light, you did not rec
ognize her, you know. And pray
pray what could you want of Aun
Deb?"
Wait" he gasped; wait one mo
ment. Does your father write Letters
to Aunt Deb here. at Cinderville?"
The surprise in her face grew ant
grew. What could all her bride
groom? Had he-oh, frightful suspi
cion? Had he been drinking?'
Certainly. All letters for the Rocl
must come to Cinderville-it is tn
nearest mail-station, and papa some
times incloses letters for me in tn
same envelope with those meant TO
Aunt Deb. For several days | hav
been wondering if he will be angr!
when he hears of our marriage.
dare say Aunt Deb has already writ
ten him news of it. His letters to m
are kind enough, but somehow-some
howl feel half-afraid of my unknow
father"
"A miner in Leadville!" stammere
Fleetwood. in almost idiotic fashiof
DO you say he is a miner in Lead
ville?"
Yes" she answered. 'and l thin
he must be very rich. Men often max
a great deal of money in the silVe
mines. do they not?" Fleetwood ignor
ed the question. Did you correspon
with your father while you were a
Barton academy. Esther" he asked.
"Of course"
Did you. on one occasion, writ
thanking him for some birthday gil
which he had sent you, and Stain
II n your fellow students were enViou