Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-08-21

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on the very night Of my release from
the fishhouse, and have never heard
from the place since. That girl Bess,
meditatively, was noble creature!
You must have been mad to shift your
burdens to her shoulders, and then
abandon her, as you did"
Mad with despair-with the sicken-
ing hopelessness Of my life! An OPP
portunity was offered me- seized it.
I am not sorry!" with feverish reck-
lessness in her tone.
well, settle that with your own
conscience. But I have word Of ad-
vice for you-find out If Andy Gaff
still lives!"
81 feel know that he is dead!" she
shuddered. What may not have hap
pened at Hillyers Cove in eighteen
long months God has given me my
release before this time-I will not
think otherwise!"
MY poor child, make the proper in
quiries, and you will probably find that
Andy is very much alive. He was
physically strong. and Bess, without
doubt, has cared for him we'll. It
will hardly do for you," severely, "to
act as though the desires Of your heart
had really been granted you"
He was dismayed to see her quail
and grow white.
HE is-he must be dead!" she re-
peated, wringing her hands. HE Is
his woes and my own began. Do not
intimate anything different. cannot
bear it,"
A dark suspicion flashed across
Hume's mind.
"Who is the man." he said, sternly,
that has made you wish for Andy
Gaff's death?"
She broke from him quickly.
II hear footsteps. We shall be dis
covered. I cannot stay another mo-
ment here" she whispered, and slip
ped out of the embrasure, and vanish
ed instantly.
Follow her he would not, even at a
distance. She should be placed under
no espionage. For long time after
her departure he stood in the window.
thinking his own thoughts. Why had
he come to this wretched ball? Sim
ply to catch one more glimpse of Edith
Fassel. Well, his rencontre with Andy
Gaff's wife was likely to disturb him
not a little. Determined to give her
every possible chance to escape him,
he purposely avoided the supper ta-
bles, and spent the rest Of the night In
little card room, where few elderly
people were playing whist. There he
trumped his partners tricks, and be-
haved generally like a man all astray.
At last he prepared to leave the revel.
AS he was crossing the hall he look
ed up, and saw two ladies descending
the staircase-an old woman in black
fox fur, and young girl in a long
cashmere cloak.
my dear Mignon, you will be quite
worn out tomorrow" the elder party
was saying. in strangely familiar
voice 81 ought to have carried you
away an hour ago.
IT am not fatigued in the least dear
Mrs. Ellicott," the girl protested. Il
could easily dance till daybreak."
At the foot Of the stair Paget FaSsel
stood waiting for the two. A passion
ate happiness burned in his gray eyes;
his air was that Of tanned and con-
quered creature. Just as she reached
Fassel Mrs. Ellicott chanced to espy
her rejected and disgraced nephew. 1t
was their first encounter since the
rupture Of the previous year. She
beckoned him forward
How do you do?" she said calmly.
Let me present you to Miss Hillyer-
my heiress" making a superb gesture
toward Mignon. Il hear that you are
getting on in the world, nephew. That
does not displease me, for I bear you
no i'll will"
Thank you, my dear aunt" replied
Hume, dryly.
The little grotup looked hard at each
other for a moment. Mignon's breath
semed suspended on her lips. She
made a slight inclination Of the head
toward Hume, then gave her hand to
Paget Fassel, and hurried to the car
riage. Fassel entered the vehicle with
the two ladies, and 1t rolled away into
the night. Like a statue Hume stood
gazing after 1t.
Miss Hillyer!" he muttered. Moth
ing more likely than that she should
resume her maiden name. But heiress
to the Elicott fortune, and successor
to my own unlucky self-gracious
Heaven!"
To he Continued