Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-05-22
CHAPTER xxx.
By-the-Way,


her letter from Jasper Jahnway while
she was in London. Early as it was
sent, early as it came to where she
had resided-and it reached there
early, in spite of some little delay which
no one. probably, could have explained
she had started earlier.
There was nothing for those who
had served her to do but to forward
the letter to Naples. So to Naples 1t
went. And it happened, as such
things sometimes will, that she met
with one or two little annoying delays,
while the letter went to her Neapolitan
address with the greatest of speed ana
directness. 1t was waiting for her
when she arrived.
Elsie Sem was waiting for her, too.
She had waited patiently, loyalty
faithfully, during all the time OF silence
and of doubt. The news which had
come to her from America had been
terrible indeed-but she had said, over
and over again, to herself that it would
be all right when Lurline came.
And Lurline came She felt it, when
she heard the carriage stop at the
door: she knew it, when she heard the
step of the woman she loved fall upon
the steps below. She sprang down
the stairs, met her when she had
scarcely passed the door, and the two
women were clasped in each others
arms. kisses were falling in wasteful
profusion considering the fact that
only ladies were presently on lips and
cheeks.
Where have you been all this cruel
while?" asked Elsie, the sunshine of
her eyes sparkling through her tears.
Where l told you, dear; there, and
in Scotland. have inherited an i'm
mense fortune"
Il am glad, very glad, for your sake.
Where did it come frOm?"
I.urline replied. She told her we'll
learned lie with an easy grace that
as-was-shan l say admirable or
shall l not?
And now, please never mention 1t
again, Sle SdlQ. mere are SOlllS
memories of pain connected"
PAIN" cried Elsie; pain? Did you
suffer-"
NO" replied Lurline; some one else
suffered"
Have you heard the evil news from
American" asked Elsie.
Lurline had seen something Of 1t in
the London papers: only brief and
meagre account, of course, and an
swered accordingly. She was too wise,
even with so loving and unsuspicious
a woman as Mrs. Sem. to be betray-
ed into seeming to know more than,
under the circumstances, she should.
She repeated the little she knew, or
ought to know; she eagerly asked for
more particulars.
Elsie told her all. She shed some
tears in the telling; the listening Lur-
line shed more. Such love and SYM
pathy had rarely been witnessed be-
fore, even in the hot realms of Italy.
where one expects to find passion and
sentiment. Us it not sad to remember
that passion and sentiment sometimes
hurt as we'll as heal0
And am a beggar," said Elsie, in
conclusion. "or worse than one"
mo matter" cried Lurline, coming
and kneeling down beside her. and
putting her arms around her; mo mat
ter. have enough for both"
ho uan Do
you know that one of the hardest
things for me to bear in the whole ma
ter is the fact that l cannot pay you
the allowance my father left you in
His will? l had rather all the rest
should suffer, if any must, than that
you should be defrauded out Of one
penny of that which is yours"
Lurline brushed her filmy lace hand
kerchief across her eyes. Perhaps 1t
was to wipe away a tear, for Miss
BannOttie was q cOnsummate artist,
with tears and smiles ever at COM
mand. Or Perhaps it was to con-
ceal something which shone out OF
her eyes then; something of danger
ana luCllOSSs HOlllSNllilS " HiS'i '''N
could not keep down and cOnceal-thr
truth regarding her, possibly, glaring
up from her fierce soul. as hell's threat
of ruin sometimes shines from the
mountain horror. which sits in av full
majesty to watch over Naples-fc"
ever.
Your father was very liberal" she
said. He gave me more than shonld
need. were that all l had. And now !
do not need it. Besides, you are not
legally holden for it,
1T is a moral obligation, Lurline.
Yes. Elsie, l suppose it is. But 1t
j. not a legal one. dear"
Il wish it were; since l must receive
So much from you; since you have
promised to do so much for me, can
only wish that you were to do ALL"
L.urline turned away her head. She
knew herself very thoroughly, did this
woman. and governed her actions ac-
cordingly. She did not dare let Elsie
Sem, the woman who had loved and
trusted her ever since she could re-
member look upon the malignant tri-
umph which she felt glittered in her
eyes and distorted her lips just at that
time.
Il wish so myself" she said, and her
tone was not very unsteady OF her
manner very unquiet. Il wish so too.
You have done so much for me, You
and your good dead father. that |
should be very happy in feeling that
| had some claim upon you which You
could not meet and satisfy. 1t would
give me so much of pleasure - feel
that | was giving where l might have
claimed: that /"
Exactly. Lurlne Bannottie! Did
YOU not dare to finish? Did you not
dare to trust yourself to Speak-for
fear your tongue might get the better
Of YOU and tell the truth?
Il suppose it could be made le-
gal" said Elsie, hesitatingly.
"Oh, yes. suppose So" replied Lur-
line. carelessly.
Che roSa and went tO a handsome desk