Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-07-31

Rose-it is wicked-wicked! What has
Mr.. Hume been saying to you?" stern
ly
Nothing" answered Rose, with a
curl of her short red lip. He tried to
make me happy for a little while to-
night, because he knew, I suppose, that
was miserable-anybody would know
that He is kind and pitying-nothing
more. How could there be anything
more?" with a flash of temper. HE is
we'll aware, is he not, that 1 am Andy
Gaff's wife? Let us not talk Of Mr..
Hume. l am opening my heart to you
now, Bess, and tell you plainly will
yet free myself from the chains that
hold me. will not be cheated out Of
my youth. my opportunities. Should
anything happen, recall what l said to
you in this very room. If ever do
wild, mad, reckless thing, remember
chat you kept me in constant state of
repression-that for two years you
forced me to live under the same roof
with Andy Gaff, though l repeatedly
told you that you were driving me to
DESPERATION
She stopped abruptly, as though she
perceived that she was going too far.
Tossing back the disordered hair from
her pale face, she began to laugh dis
cordantly.
How startled you look, Bess! You
think l am meditating something very
| lo{ hof
ask you to humor me in one little
whim. Write your answer to Mrs. FL
licott's letter before we sleep"
Rose, it is one o'clock"
Never mind" answered Rose, few
erishly. 81 cannot close my eyes to-
night. 1 fear you will change your
mind about Mrs. Ellicotts offer-you
will never be able to resist such a
temptation, Bess, feel it in the very
marrow Of my bones-you will surely
accept that fortune!"
How weak you must think mel"
said Bess, little Indignantly. Have
l not promised to stay with you and
Uncle Caleb? Very we'll Since you
as we'll as your own, get pen and pa
per, and you shall dictate an answer
to Mrs Ellicott to suit yourself"
Changeable as the wind, Rose sprang
from the sailor girls arms, put pen,
ink and paper on the table beside the
oil lamp, and drew up chair for Bess.
Then, half unrobed, her hair sweeping
her shoulders like a yellow cloud, she
leaned on her cousins knee, and die
tated a reply to Bess Hillyer's unknown
kinswoman.
1t was brief and plain.
Elizabeth Hillyer thanked Mrs. Eli
cott but, having other and nearer
relatives whom she dearly loved, and
could not possibly abandon, even for
wealth and ease, she begged permission
to refuse the offer Of the Ellicott for
tune.
Bess laughed, as she wrote the few
curt lines.
Mrs Ellicott will bless Providence
for my decision, Rose She will say.
What a disagreeable creature! l am
glad she declines to comet Now, do
you feel quite satisfied about my sim
cerity. dear? In the morning carry this
letter to the village, and post it your
self"
| "Oh. Bess. you are very good" said
Rose, with a sudden ring Of remorse
in her voice. How can you give up so
much for our sakes? I am sure you
love US better than we love you"
Then she crept TO bed, and fell asleep,
with her golden hair nesting close to
that CO the girl whom she meant to
deceive and betray.
Early next morning Uncle Caleb
went off in his boat, taking Andy Gaff
with him. An hour or two later Rose
lazily descended the stair to the table
that Martha Bray had left waiting.
The sky was dark with gathering
clouds
Make haste Rose" said Bess, cor
the rain will catch you before you
reach Berry's grocery"
Rose did make haste. The writing Of
the letter had evidently removed
weight from her spirits. She looked
uncommonly bright and gay as she
put on her hat before the glass.
Mr. Harold went away very early
last night-did he not?" she said. "He
did not dance once. I'm afraid our
poor cove people failed to amuse him."
The sailor girl did not move an eye
lash.
How could you expect a man like
Mr.. Harold to find amusement in the
antics of a lot of fishing folks? He
has lived in cities, and knows the
ways and refinements Of what is called
polite society,"
A shadow fell on Rose Gaffs fair
face.
Il long to live in a city," she said
Il long to understand all the meaning
hidden in that exhaustless word, soci
ETY. Good-by, Bess. Is my hair quite
right? Am l lovely in this pink gown?
Mr. Hume told me last night that both
Harold and himself must soon leave
the cape"
THE sooner the better" replied
Bess Hillyer, dryly.
Rose went off down the path. She
walked rapidly till she reached the
cliffs; then her pace slackened. The
salt coarse grass ratified, the bayberry
sent up its pungent sweetness from
under her light feet The wind. damp
! with coming rain, blew boisterously
upon her A gull flew landward. its
dazzling wings shining white as snow
against the background OF viOlet-black
, sea. Rose looked upon ii all, and
loathed it in her heart-yea, as much
as Bess loved it, she loathed it. could
II borrow that gulrs wings" she
thought. II would fly far-far-and
never come back to this hateful Maine
shore again-never come back to I'm
! Gle Caleb or to Bess, even"
She reached a lonely hollow between
the cliffs. Not living thing was any
where in sight. She flung herself down
in the grass. and tearing the gloves
from her hands, began to dig a little