Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-09-01

AS a sensible IIlStIl, II vas I1ulliS d
duty to laugh at this outbreak; but
unIuckily, he had presentiments of
his own, so he only said:
"Be calm, Mrs. Latimer. You are
making yourself i'll for nothing"
"Ah, doctor, can you wonder that
the bare thought of another love af-
fair betwixt a Fassel and any crea-
ture of the Ellicott blood quite un-
nerves me? Remember Edith's hu-
miliation-her blighted hopes-her
broken heart
Aunt Latimer!"
From the far end of the room,
where she had been concealed in
shadow, Edith Fassel gIded quietly
forward. Her trailing dinner dress
shone with dull blue lustre. In her
hair a diamond star sparkled like
fire.
MY heart is not, and never has
been, broken" she said, sweetly.
When you talk like that, you make
me feel like a gigantic cheat, dear
Aunt Latimer." Her mystic eyes put
on a weary look. 1T is hard to main
tain a falsehood year after year, you
know, even when ones motive is
good"
my dear?" cried Aunt Latimer,
helplessly.
do 1 not make my meaning plain
to you? 1 am tired of Lepel Ellieotts
name. I never loved him living or
dead. True, 1 was fond of him in a
sisterly way, until 1 discovered what
a poor weak coward he was-after
that I simply despised him."
Edith" cried Aunt Latimer, in
shocked amaze.
She had not once looked at Hume,
but, somehow, her words seemed d.
rected to some other than the old
woman in the chair. Her voice took
a cheerful, almost joyous tone.
For Mrs. Ellicott's sake, l have
held my peace, and let the world
think as it would; but one grows
weary of dissembling-of being al
ways misunderstood. The humilia-
ton that Lepel brought upon me was
not too great price to pay for my
escape from him. Had he married
me I must have been the most miser-
able of mortals."
II am astonished at you!" said poor
Aunt Latimer.
She drew a deep breath, as though
she had thrown off some burden.
IT am astonished at myself, Aunt
Latimer," she answered brightly" at
my own prolonged Hypocrisy. Pity
for Mrs. Ellicott must be my ex-
cuse. 1 feared to speak the truth, lest
I should open al her old sad wounds
Hume's heart was beating with sur
locating strokes. Suddenly she turn
ed her proud, dark glance upon him.
and with smile, said:
Or. Hume, 1 wish you would induce
YOUR patient to come down to the
drawing room again, and entertain her
guests, and forget her forebodings."
He remembered the sight he had
seen in the hall window, and shook
his head.
Mrs. Latimer will do we'll to remain
here for the rest of the evening. l
will leave her a sedative."
And soon after he turned to go.
Miss Fassel, standing by her aunts
chair, watched him quietly.
20 CT
moment?" he said, in a low, emoar-
rassed voice. II have something to
tell you which Mrs. Latimer must not
hear"
Without a word she followed him.
He closed the door on his patient. A
cluster Of lights burning near showed
him the vivid crimson pulsing in Miss
Fassers cheek.
do not be alarmed" he said, stittiy'
81 am not going to allude to any past
madness of mine" 1t was an untor-
tunate beginning. A woman does not
like to hear that her sway is a thing
of the past. Miss Fassel grew a trifie
more regal 1T is difficult for me to
pick my words" he went on, with
studied coldness, but you must be
warned. 1 beg to ask if your brother
is engaged to Miss Hillyer?"
She drew back step.
"I am not at liberty to answer that
question, Dr. Hume"
Let us hope that he is not, for Miss
Hillyer can never marry him."
And why?" she asked, coldly.
For reasons that have existed fol
years-good and sufficient reasons" he
answered.
Perhaps you will mention one"
Unfortunately, l cannot"
"Ah." she said, with a faint curl oi
the lip. you have no friendly feeling
for Miss Hillyer-she is your aunt'S
heiress!"
The words were not out when she
would fain have recalled them. He
grew pale, as though she had dealt hin
a hard thrust.
You dislike me too much to bt
lust" he said, huskily; but l war;
YOU again-Miss Hillyer cannot marry
your brother"
why do you say this to me? Would
| it not be better to go to Paget, or t
Miss Hillyer herself?"
without dOubt-pardon my stupid
| ty." he answered, in bitter voice; ant
with a flush of anger on his face N
went off down the stair.
The mOonlit window was now de-
serted. Hume, inwardly cursing TIT
fate which had entangled him with al
these people, passed out through th'
entrance door at Windmere, and de-
scended the steps to the long driveway
There a slender figure, .hatless, cloak
less. darted from the shelter Of th'
| nearest tree, and faced him in tn
moonlight-MignOn.
"Oh, Dr. Hume" she said, in sharI
appeal. what do you mean to do?
THAT is a question which might
with good reason, PROFOUND to you,
he replied, sternly.
She pressed her hand to her heart
"Oh, do not speak so loud! I stol
away from the drawing room to NEE