Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-01-03
the least-you thought only of my for

/
Don't be too hard upon me, Doris
let us remain friends, If we cannot be
lovers. l now find myself in a very
awkward position. Old Hypo will be
furious-he has set his heart on our
marriage. Try to soften his wrath
against me-you have no end of influ-
ence with him, you know"
There was open contempt, not un-
mixed with bitter pain, in her large
frank eyes, as she answered:
Il decline to interfere. betwixt you
and Mr.. Sutton. He has great good
sense. He will not be angry because
you have sought release from a bond
that had become irksome. Why should
he, or any other person, wish our en-
gagement to be kept now? Surely you
are willing to abide by the choice you
have made?"
He frowned, and dropped his ring
into his pocket.
Yes" he answered, sulkily, II am
not ashamed Of the woman love. She
is incomparable-the one treasure on
earth for me. There goes the luncheon
bell l suppose we shall be expected
to appear before old Hypo as usual"
She looked somewhat unnerved. but
she answered.
Why not? The business Of life goes
on. whether engagements are broken
or kept. Come! Mr. Sutton Is quite
savage when he is made to wait, and
you seem to see the necessity Of pleas
ing, rather than exasperating him
today"
He followed her out Of the drawing
room, and into another apartment
where lunch was spread.
| A log fire blazed on the tiled hearth,
in merry contrast to the storm outside,
and before it stood a delicately nodded
man. as yellow as a Mongolian holding
chronometer in his hand.
| You have kept me waiting two and
half minutes" said George Sutton,
sharply, as the young pair entered.
For Heavens sake, shut the door Ra-
venel- feel a draught across the
back of my neck"
He was a confirmed dyspeptic, un-
reasonable, like all Of his kind-slightly
grizzled, with aquiline features and an
air of i'll health. Two or three Of Miss
Roliewood's dogs were stretched at his
feet--they looked up into his thin, sour
face, and wagged their tails affection
ately.
Pardon our unconscionable delay,
guardy," said Miss Rokewood, in a
cheerful tone-her clear eyes and smil-
ing lips gave no token Of the pain that
was gnawing her heart. Il am sorry
that we have put you out. How is
your liver, today?"
"Barbarous"" growled Sutton. IF a
man could manage to exist without
that wretched organ, he might be fair
| ly comfortable. My digestion is in a
sts Le of absolute ruin. Moreover, this
roSb, tell you. is full Of draughts. I
with I had the architect here-I would
puEch some fresh ideas into his head"
II fear you might find the exertion
tae Great. for you." smiled Miss Roke-
wood. Let me spread a dger-skin
across your lap. How heartless 1t
seems for ,.ealthy people to seat them
selves at table with a man who sighs
for an extinguished liver? Here comes
that naughty Juno. Do you think she
will annoy you guardy?"
The monkey had slipped into the
room with her mistress.
Not in the least" answered Sutton,
with resignation. 1.-The house Is at
your disposal, my dear. Transform 1t
into a menagerie-a circus, If you like.
IIeavens that draught again! Raven
ell, I must trouble you to ring for
muff1er-congestion is sure to follow a
chill"
The muffier was brought and put on.
Juno, who had meandered to the top
of Louis XIV cabinet, instantly gath
cred her gauze skirt about her hairy
throat, and gave a clever cough.
It was a dull luncheon. Ravenel
seemed gloomy and distrait. Miss Roke-
wood alone preserved the appearance
of cheerfulness. Presently George
Sutton passed a letter to his ward
across the damask cloth.
Here is an invitation" he said, for
you and me to spend few weeks at
Tempest Island with my friend
Hawkstone.. 1t seems that he has
abandoned the idea Of going abroad
again, and opened his house to guests.
Fancy the hutter which this piece of
news will create among managing
mammas and marriageable daughters!
OF course you remember Hawkstone.
my dear?"
She flung a bit of chicken to an Eng
lish poodle-a favor which brought
Juno. chattering angrily, from the cab
met. The monkey gave the canine
blow that sent him yelping under the
mahogany Some slight confusion en-
sued. When it was over, Miss Roke-
wood answered, sweetly:
YES, I remember him-an Edgar
Ravenswood, gloomy and grand, with
whom the world had gone i'll. He pos
sessed, in a marked degree, that fatal
gift Of beauty. which Byron wrote
about"
Pooh! Do you recollect that he
dined with US six years ago, just be-
fore setting out on his long exile?"
She nodded.
And he fascinated me so much that
could only stare at him. In return
for my dumb alteration, he sent me
Juno from Cairo. Without doubt, his
return to the world-our world-will
make a stir in society-everybody OF
any account knows the Hawkstones, OF
course. But there's a shadow hanging
over Prince Lucifer, as I have heard
him called-don't you know?"
She spoke very steadily, ignoring the
fact that Gabriel Ravenel had rapidly
changed countenance at this turn OF
the conversation.