Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-07-26
DAUGHTERS OF GRIM
By Eta w. PIERCE
CHAPTER XXI.
The Brothers,

glided from the drawing-room, leaving
Philip wye and the cattle king togeth-
er
They stood face to face on the fire.
lit hearth. Over their heads hung a
portrait, by Copley, of a certain Judge
WE, in lace ruffies and peruke, haugh-
ty and uncompromising Of face; a
stern, infiexible Puritan, renowned In
his day for his wise administration or
Justice, and his answering integrity
Philip wye made slight gesture to-
ward this portrait and said:
Your grandfather and mine!'
Yes" was the cattle kings answer,
with supreme indifference.
He Is said to have been remark
ably upright and honorable old fellow"
remarked Philip, watching his brother
with queer intentness; Il wonder what
he thinks of his descendants-that Is,
you and me, Gilbert-as We stand here
on the family hearth of Rookwood to-
night?"
Gilbert wye set his back to the por-
+ trait and looked only at his brother.
Men have changed since Judge
Yves day." he answered, dryly.
And not for the better"
Possibly. You, at least, Philip, have
followed in his footsteps-you have
preserved his old home," glancing
around the handsome room, "and won
fame and money in the profession so
dearly loved by our judicial ancestor
Unfortunate investments have Grip
pied me sadly Of late" corrected Phil
ip wye. "Rookwood is mortgaged for
it's full value to a neighbor OF mine
across the river. Its real owner today
That is bad"
Very. I consider 1t a great misfor-
tune, Gilbert, that you did not remain
in the east and stick to law. You were
full OF inherited talent-indeed, you
might have been a judge yourself to-
day II you had walked in the ways OF
your fathers. 1t was you, the younger
son, who should have sustained the
reputation Of our family"
A queer expression passed over the
bronze face of the cattle king. He
threw back his broad shoulders, as
though he did not breathe quite freely.
The east! I am strangling here al
ready! God knows it might have been
better for me and for Mignon II I had
been content years ago with my law
books; butt was born for other ends.
There was a restless devil here" strik-
ing his breast savagely. that drove
me-that has been driving me ever
since, to perdition-ah. pardon!-I
should have said to fresh fields and
pastures new! Well, what I wish to
ask, Philip-what came east to dis
cover is this-who is the Captain
Shirlaw that wants to marry Mignon?"
Philip wye took up a pair of tongs
and threw a fallen brand back upon the
fire.
"An officer and a gentleman" he
answered, "and the heir-apparent OF
I.ispenard, my rich neighbor across
the river"
"Ha! You consider him a good
match, them"
Most certainly"
The cattle king took a few impatient
strides around the room, then came
back and stood by his slight, gray
brother.
II owe you my thanks. Philip, for
your kindness to Mignon during her
long stay in the east. but she seems
to have met with some unpleasant
things at Rookwood-the child has no
hn- fofh HnnW
Where is that cub Cyril. who insists
upon marrying my daughter, whether
she will or not?"
Philip Yves face remained as placid
as a summer morning.
cyril is at present in New York" he
replied. 1T is true that he has long
cherished a foolish passion for his
cousin, but her engagement with Shir-
law must necessarily end all that. II
he has annoyed her, his youth and ma
turally impetuous temperament must
be his excuse. For reasons OF my own
/ am very glad that Mignon rejected
my son. Cyril must marry an heiress,
and somehow, Gilbert" looking stead
lily at his brother II have an impress
sion that you are not rich man.
Gilbert frowned. Then, too, 1t seems
that you have another daughter to
provide for-the child of that early
mesalliance which so sorely wounded
the pride of the Yves. She is a start
lingly handsome creature, but l have
not yet forgotten the tempest which
the accidental discovery of your Sc
cret marriage with her mother once
raised at Rookwood"
mo more have l." said Gilbert wye,
gloomily; lit was unpleasantness re-
sulting from IT which finally drove me
west, and out of it grew a chain of
circumstances that marred my whole
life. Yes, have two daughters to
provide for, certainly. Every nature,
however strong, has some vulnerable
point-mine is a weakness for my own
offspring. My little MignOn is the
only thing l ever really loved in life!"
I'VE are wandering from our sub
ject." said Philip Wye, coldly.
True You wish to discover if l
am a rich mans that it?"
Yes"
Gilbert Yves face was as unreada-
BILE as stone. He leaned on the carved
mantel, under the very nose of the
bewigged and belaced judge. and look
ed squarely into his brothers cold,
gray eyes.
1T is probable that your ideas OF
wealth differ from mine, Philip. A
good horse and a wide range are
enough to satisfy me. Yes, decidedly;
know of no man richer than l."
That being the case" replied Philip
wye, "how did you come to part with
Happy Valley Ranch?"
The cattle king started back step,
and his face changed.
"Ip Gods name who told you that?"