Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-07-21
CHAPTER x.
At tho CAPE.


to try a week at Cape Desolation.
The night was intensely hot. the
great city lay painting under breath
less sky. Life therein had become
burden. Hume closed his medical
books, put out his lamp, and went to
bed.
'Tn CO." he said, recklessly. "At
any cost I'll get this wretched aftalr
out Of my head-otherwise 1t Will end
in a case Of dementia. Since the air OF
Cape Desolation can restore man al
ter an attack Of typhoid, it may also
be able to minister to mind diseased.
The next day he locked the door or
his poor lodging room, and started for
the cape.
A numbering old stage carried him
from the railway terminus over long,
bleak, barren road, to the door Of Ber-
rvs grocery.
That ancient building still stood as
on the night when it was first intro
duced to the readers notice-its
weather-worn front damp with the
spray of the hungry sea, its interior the
favorite gathering place of all the
gossips on the cape.
AS Hume scrambled down from the
top of the stage, a small fair young
man in glasses disengaged himself from
the group Of sunburnt fishermen who
were lounging around Berry's door,
and rushed upon the new arrival with
a whoop Of welcome.
80 you have really come, old man.!
he cried. II felt sure you would never
be able to resist my eloquent pleading.
Why, bless me! how ratified, and gen.
orally used up, you look! Too much
midnight old. It is plain that 1 did
not coax you from your books any too
sOon."
The two gathered up the few traps
which Hume had brought, and started
on down the village street
Let me look at you, Jack" said
Hume. "'Pon my word, you are vastly
improved. Twenty pounds heavier than
when you arrived here, eh?"
Forty, man! Air is charged with
ozone." He threw back his shoulders,
and inhaled a long, deep breath.
Didn't I-write you about the fishing
and shooting, and the abnormally pref
ty girls? Now, whatever was the row
with the aunt? You've had one.
noticed something wrong the moment
you got down from the stage. The Old
dame has cast you out Pouf! Her
aristocratic soul could not forgive the
gaucheries of a raw student, maybe,
or you did not salaam enough before
her, Or
Nothing of the kind" interrupted
Hume, feeling strangely reluctant to
mention the truth even to his dear
familiar friend. "She asked me to do
something; l refused; rupture was
the consequence"
so! And you've just escaped inher-
iting the Ellicott millions. don't
know whether to pity or congratulate
YOU. Unlimited wealth might have
spoiled you, you know. Go in now,
and make your own fortune, Hume.
You have the right stuff in you. Mean
while here we are at Widow Poles
door, and the worthy soul is more than
half expecting YOU"
Up a walk of beach stones he led the
way to a tidy cottage. AS the two
crossed the threshold an appetizing
odor of fried fish and baked potatoes
gave them cheerful greeting. This
fare. combined with flaky biscuits and
irreproachable coffee, was served to
the friends in a clean ow-ceiled room
lighted by oil lamps. Outside, the wind
was blowing in a way calculated TO
sweep a feeble man off his feet, and
the surf roared ceaselessly. At Cape
Desolation the Atlantic was not the
plaything of a summer day, but raw
ening and terrible power
Supper over, the two young men re-
tired to their own quarters to smoke
the pipe of peace together, and talk
between the whiffs.
"Bless me!" said Hume, with sudden
recollection. 81 have been in your COM
pany a full hour, Jack, and you have
not yet mentioned the sailor girl-that
dangerous combination of beauty and
herOlSH. Are YOU NSiS i''O t''' '''
boy?"
The blood rushed into Harold's
smooth, inoffensive face-he sighed
like a furnace.
Yes, Hume, I may as well confess
tim quite done for"
And do you mean to assume family
cares at once?" asked Hume, mocking-
w. "or will your ardor permit you to
wait till you are clear of the medical
school. and can hang out your shingle
in proper fashion,"
"Oh, bless you," answered Jack, with
q rueful grin. 81 never spoke a word OF
love to Miss Hillyer in my life. She
keeps a fellow always at arms length
She's beautiful and gracious, yet deuc-
edly forbidding, too. So | let conceal
ment like a worm in the bud, feed on
nv cheek Tomorrow I'll take you tc
Caleb's cottage, and you shall behold
the sailor girl, with your own eyes.
"All right" said Hume; "and the ter
rible case which you mentioned In
your letter-where shall I find that"
AT Caleb's, also"
Presently the conversation took an
other, and-to Hume-very uncomfort-
able turn. Harolds pipe went out, anc
as he was lighting it anew he re-
marked: when you come to think OF
it, the death of your cousin, Lepel Eli
colt, was a dismal affair."
Rather"
"I wonder If that statuesque creature
Miss Fassel has ever really forgiven
the poor beggar?"
who knows-who cares?" answered
Hume.
"At any rate, she doesn't go in for
broken heart and an early decline"
"Humbug!"
Through a cloud Of curling smoke
Harold beamed cheerfully on his friend
Let me see; all the society journals