Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-08-09

sneered Cyril wye, "but what mercy
has she ever shown to me?"
"See me here at your feet, for hel
sake" groaned the unreasoning wom-
an. Spare her. Cyril!-do not make
me curse the hour you were. born!"
Mignon stood rooted in her tracks
unseen, wondering. For whom coulc
Elinor wye be pleading so abjectly, and
what was the fearful thing that was
not to be revealed? Cyril wye seemed
to deliberate for a moment, then he
drawled, carelessly:
"I will make a bargain with you, II
you like. mamma Pay my debts, ano
/ will hold my peace-at least, for the
present. My father declares he can nc
longer raise the money to meet my OBJ
ligations-do you assume the task, In
his place, and I promise to be-for
season, at least-as silent as the
grave"
81 will! I wilt" gasped Elinor WYE
Il will sell my jewels. Cyril. They are
valuable enough, as you well know, TO
cover your debts"
He gave a heartless little laugh.
Indeed they are! Greatly obliged,
I'm sure. BY my soul, what fools these
women be! They are never 80 happy
as when deep in heroic sacrifice. II
seems a great pity, though, for 1 have
her now in my power
NO. no, Cyril; I am here!"
mptuously-"pooh! It
Is fortunate for her that I am open to
bribes-that l must have money
Mignon heard no more. A sudden
panic. seized her. She turned noise
lessly and darted down the stair
trembling with a nameless terror.
"Eavesdropping is an Improbable
business" she said to herself, and she
tried to laugh, but could not
For days after the memory OF that
scene in Elinor Yves dressing room
haunted her like a nightmare.
your Uncle Philip has decided that
we must pass this season at the Dale,
said Elinor wye to her niece. He has
offered our Boston house for sale.
am very sorry for your sake, dear.
Winter in the country Is always lonely
for young people, and had hoped that
you would make your debut In society
before the holidays were over. But
signing deeply, ut has been ordered
otherwise, and We must submit"
Never mind, Aunt Elinor. I dare
say l am far happier here with you
than could be in town." replied Mig
non, cheerfully.
Philip wye was now rarely seen at
Rookwood. 1t was understood that a
great pressure of important law busi-
ness kept him in the city. Cyril came
and went, but he had changed his tac-
tics. OF sudden Mignon found him
deferential, unobtrusive. He no longer
exasperated the lonely girl with his
love- making. Only in unguarded mo-
ments his ferret eyes would fill up with
the old greedy, devouring passion, and
warn her that she was not yet safe.
No word came from her father, none
from Esther-none even, from Maud
LOTUS. She had told Lispenard that
she was forsaken by everybody, and
So indeed, she seemed to be.
You are the last friend left to me,
Aunt Elinor," she said, mournfully, to
Philip Yves pale wife.
God grant that we may not be d.
vided, dear, for long time to come, =
answered Elinor wye, with a queer,
frightened look. You need me, Mig
non; you do, indeed!'
"Oh, 1 know it, know 1t, Aunt Eli
nor!" answered Mignon, as she threw
her arms around the frail, gentle wo-
man. "You are the one barrier betwixt
me and evil; you are my guardian
angel"
Elinor wye fondly smoothed the
ruffied gold Of the girls hair.
"They have been very cruel to you,
she said, softly. Every one, and Cap
tain Shirlaw the most cruel Of all! All,
you still shrink at his name; but you
are young-you will forget him. Time
l., a wonderful healer. I wish-I wish
that we could find your sister Esther,
poor child, for If should die suddenly
you would greatly need her, Mignon-
indeed-she would be your only hope
do not talk about dying suddenly
Frto
break my heart! Surely you are not
ill?"
mo, oh, MOI" replied Elinor wye,
with a sad smile. "Only at times there
is strange feeling here" pressing her
thin hand to her heart; "but we Will
not borrow trouble, my dear"
After a while she went to the win
dow and looked wistfully out across
the snow covered lawn and garden to
the river.
Il wonder why Abel Lispenard
comes no more to see us?" she said, In
a musing tone He is still at his tow
er, and the servants tell me he has
ma 1e preparations to pass the winter
there l hope nothing has been said or
done here at Rookwood to displease
him."
why now that I think Of It," said
Mignon, in a surprised tone, 1--WE have
not seen him for weeks, Aunt Elinor!
True, 1 miss him greatly. We at
Rookwood are indebted to Abel Lis
penard for many favors. 1t Is only by
his generosity and forbearance that we
live today in this home Of your ances-
tors. Well, my dear, since, Cyril and
your uncle dine in town, you and / VIII
have a quiet evening with some of our
favorite authors. We are not likely
be interrupted, for, with the exception
Of Mr.. Lispenard. who no longer VISITS
US, all our friends are now gone from
the Dale"
Mignon went to the library, ano
brought forth some of Mrs. Yves IA
vorite books, and the two sat down TO-
gether in the quiet drawing room
Outside, the night fell gray and cold
with snowfakes floating. like scales ol
silver, through the frosty air. Mrs
WYE worked as usual, at her embrold-
ery, and MignOn, opening a volume OIL