Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-06-26

thought perhaps you didn't, either,
when we did it together"
Little boys shouldn't think; it's a
bad habit" she said, severely; besides,
you talk like L in the Dolly Dia-
logues'"
At this Vincent's face grew desper-
ate. and / saw that she had goaded
him into asking her the question that
had been on his mind all day, and l
nearly fell off the sofa in my efforts
to hear without being seen.
DO II" he said. We'll, that's be-
cause I've something I've been want
ing to ask you all day long. It's some
thing very personal, and, of course,
I've no right-that is, you won't think
So" the boy was stumbling pitifully,
but I've got to know; it's so hard to
believe that you would do it deliber-
ately. Is it true?'
Lord Wilfred," said the girl,
Strengthening up, you must speak
more clearly if you want me to under
stand what you have been saying"
It's this" said Lord Wilfred, facing
her abruptly and terribly in earnest.
Someone told me last night that you
were a married woman. Is it true?'
l could not see the face of the Sec
retary, but could not help perceiving
the ring of truth in her voice.
I'm not married" she said, simply.
81 told Mr.. Terhune SO because |
wanted to dsabuse him of a false i'm
preston he was laboring under. But
what is it to you?"
This" said Wilfred, ard he leaned
toward her suddenly and grasped her
hands and put his face within an inch
of her-I could see by the freight its
look of determination and ineffable re-
lief. The secretary gave a little cry
and drew back. l cOnjectured that
Wilfred was on the point of making
an irretrievable ass of himself, so L
interrupted proceedings by knocking
a book off the sofa and rising to my
feet. At the first sound Of the book
falling the two had jumped to their
feet and stood, the girl shrinking close
to Wilfred and Wilfred with his arm
thrown around her. ... r.-
who goes there he said, sternly,
as he discovered my figure in the
gloom, and "Ah!-its you, Terhune,"
as 1 came into the circle of light in a
tone l hope l may never hear from him
again.
AS the secretary saw who it was she
sprang away and was gone from the
room in a second.
Well" he said, with a sneer, as the
curtains closed behind her, caves
dropping. meddling as usual. What can
do for yOu?'
| sat down on the stool. "Sit down"
| said with quiet authority, "and we'll
talk it over" He sat down. In mo-
ments like this he forgets his inde-
pendence and remembers that at one
time he used to obey me habitually.
I wanted to comfort him, but l knew
nv duty better Vincent" l said, ap-
pealingly, don't you see it won't do?
She's no match for you-a girl with no
family and no money, and. of her sta
ton in life Give it up, implOre you.
Think of your father. There has new
er been a mesalliance in the family;
it would break his heart"
Vincent raised his head. Mrs. Ar
mistead says her family is perfectly
respectable" he said. Il asked her.
Perfectly respectable!" 1 repeated,
contemptuously. Think Of a Vincent
marrying a girl who has nothing in her
favor but the fact that her family was
perfectly reSpectable!'
Vincent sighed pathetically and
delivered one more blow. Think /
said; your brother Edmund is over
40. unmarried, and a sufferer from
rheumatism of the heart, as you know.
Suppose he should die-wOuldn't you
make a more creditable heir to the
title if you hadn't tied yourself up to
a wife of obscure Origin-a pennileSs
American girl? And if you don't come
into the title you're only Il younger
son, and you know yourself your pro-
penSity for getting into debt, and the
foreign office for q boy of your age is
not a paying business. No, Vincent
YOU'RE not cut out for making money
and it's certain you can't depend on
your father forever. Can't you see
how rash and foolish you are to con-
slider such a thing"
l leaned over and put my hand on
Vincents shoulder He turned his
head. and when | felt his smooth
cheek against my hand l knew that
the battle was won.
I'm awfully sorry, Arch" he said
that | was such Il beast last night
I'm never forgive myself for trying tc
strike you. Only, you see, l lost my
head. and | didn't know quite what
was doing" "Of course" | said, Il un-
Iderstand--" But he would not let me
stem the tide Of his remorSe. And
then, you know, what you said wa!
very hard to bear, and you see, after
Ian. it wasn't true. She told me il
wasn't. Did you hear herr"
Yes assented. "and l believe she
told you the truth"
''Of course: but then you're alway:
fright, Archibald, always right. Wher
IL go away from here and never SEE
her any more"-his lips quivered un'
controllably-"I may be able to forge
Iher."
"Of course you will" l assured him
cheerily. though there was a lump II
Imy throat Men have died. but no
for love. Many have been as hard hi
las YOU and have recovered"
"Oh. yes" agreed my patient. bu
without enthusiasm: but at any rate
II had gained by point. and Vincent hat
lagreed with me that marriage will
the secretary was too rash and FOOLS!
for him to contemplate.
"By-the-by, Arch" ne said. careless
Iv as we still sat before the fire try
ling to make believe that the inciden
Iof the secretary was closed, 81 have