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

MaQan, can you tell IlS W "AOAI
this fan belongs?" replied the party ad-
dressed, and his deep, masculine tones
sent a vague alarm through Mignon
81 have just rescued it from the feet OF
the 'trampling multitude
why, that is Miss Fassel's property
painted by Laneret, too, and very
precious"
Permit me to return it," and the
male voice seemed to grow cold and
formal.
A moment later the silk curtain was
thrust back, and Edith Fassel stood be-
fore Mignon.
In one hand she held painted fan.
Evidently she had thought the recess
unoccupied, for at sight of the other
girl she recoiled.
You are welcome to share my re-
treat" said Mignon, laughing. How
white you look and cool-how unlike
any other girl in the room! Do you
never grow red and tired and disor-
dered, like ordinary women?"
Miss Fassel smiled.
Tired? Yes. I am blase and old.
My own debut occurred so long ago
that l do not care to recall it. Few
illusions are left me in Vanity Fair
1.-The days darken around me,
And the years
But you are fresh and young, Mignon,
and-imprudent, as you show by stand
ing with your bare shoulders in this
draught"
And she quietly closed an open win
dow beside the younger girl.
AS though touched by the act, Mig
non leaned, and pressed her lips to the
full white curve Of Miss Fassel's arm.
"Since first came to Mrs. Ellicott,"
she said, you have been very kind to
me, and have admired you more than
l can tell-perhaps because I find you
my opposite in observation-disclosures,
where 1 am crude; high bred, where I
am commonplace. I think" fixing her
large eyes solemnly on the other, 'if I
were in great trouble I would turn to
you for help sooner than to any person
in the world. am sure you would not
forbid me?"
Indeed, no. But the contingency
seems very far away, does it not?" re-
piled Edith Fassel, gently. you are
not likely to be in great trouble, Mig
non, while Mrs. Elicott and your other
friends are near to guard you"
"One cannot tell" sighed Mignon,
with a sudden sadness on her face, and,
forgetful Of the law student and the
errand upon which she had sent him,
she slipped out of the recess and was
lost at once in the crowd. .Sxa..
At the foot of the staircase. silk
draped, iowerwreathed, she came face
to face with Paget Fassel.
II have been looking everywhere for
you," he said, quietly, and drew her
into a little reception room, which
chanced to be entirely deserted. She
glanced once in his face, and grew
very pale.
"I must go back to Mrs. Ellicott," she
faltered; ut is not nice for a bud to
run away from her chaperon."
Mrs. Ellicott will not mind II you
are in my care, Darling, little darl-
ing" a great tenderness breaking into
his tone, give me a chance to speak!
You must have guessed how it is with
me. Will it detract from your happi-
ness tonight to know that love you
madly-exclusively- than life it
self-more than anything earthly?"
1t had come at last-the crisis which
she feared, expected, hoped for! Till
this hour the heart Of the girl had
slept All the previous emotions Of her
life semed now like breath on the face
of a mirror. She had found her mas
ter. For the first time she lived
amazed, shuddering, enraptured. She
lived: and memory and conscience
failed and went down beneath the flood
tide of passion which Paget Fassel had
awakened in her shallow, selfish ma
ture.
"Mignon," he said remember the
morning you came to me on my lonely
island. 1 loved you at sight who
had before defied the power Of love.
cannot longer live without you-oh, my
darling, can you live without me?"
He opened his arms. For a moment
she stood terrified then, reckless alike
of past and future. she cast herself in
to Fassel's embrace. Lips to lips,
heart to heart, they stood Far off the
music called, the hum Of the crowd
echoed. Dying roses poured sweets
around them, the colored lamps shone
softly
You are mine, Mignon," he whis-
pered, "to have and to keep forever"
Yes" she shuddered. whatever
comes, am yours"
By and by they both remembered
Mrs. Ellicott.
GO find her-tell her everything,
faltered Mignon, "and leave me here
to think"
He went obediently. 1t was the
maddest, proudest moment Of the girrs
life. Certainly her principles were all
astray, for she stood in that little room
with her hand pressed to her heart and
great rapture in her face, and MUIR
mured
How happy I am!-how happy
am"
At the same moment the door open
ed, and a man stepped into the place.
"Pardon"-he began at sight OF the
girl, then he started back in amaze
ment.
The fools paradise which Mignor
had made for herself crashed sudden
ly about her ears.
In the very moment Of her triumph
with it's light in her eyes. its flush or
her cheek. its ecstasy in her heart, she
turned. and found herself fact to face
with Nigel Hume.
CHAPTER XVI.
The Interview.
Neither time nor changed conditions
could disguise her for an instant.
Rose Gaff!" he exclaimed, in pro-
| found astonishment.