Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-09-28
CHAPTER XII.
By Eta w. PIERCE.

I'D TO TRENT
he bent over the PROSTATE man.
Don't be fool" he answered
shaking off her hold, impatiently. Call
the servants! 1t looks like q ht
which, as you ought to know, is. very
alarming in a man OF his years.
Acting upon this suggestion Hilda
soon had the room swarming. The
general was lifted to sofa and res
toratives administered. Paulette ano
Miss Burr, both pale as ashes, stood
looking on. He opened his eyes d.
rectly and gazed around him.
"Liar!" he cried, thickly, glaring al
the cold face of Trent. What put
that madman's fancy in your head?
will not hear youl Arthur is my heir
not a penny Of the estate shall go
to any other than Arthur"
"Hush-pray, hush!" cried Trent
claiming his hand upon the speaker
mouth Don't you see that we are
not alone? Let us talk no more to-
night. You are worn out and had
better get to bed"
The old general leaped to his feet.
Never mention the accursed matter
to me again!" he cried, shaking his
clenched fist at the lawyer. "When
am dead you may tell it to the whole
world. Don't look so frightened, little
Polly-go back to your room. snail
be all right tomorrow am subject
to such attacks in over-excitement.
Warnings they are, bidding me DO
what I have to do quickly"
Crisp, his body servant, led MIN
away. Paulette followed after to her
own room. Trent and Hilda Burr were
left once more alone together.
He leaned against the wall, pulling
his rather thin beard and regarding
her thoughtfully as he stood with
flashing eyes, waiting for MIN 10
speak.
How very unbecoming that desha-
billie is to you!" he said. Really,
Hilda, you should never wear white
II is not suited to your style. You
have aged greatly within the last few
years"
"Thanks!" she answered, laconical-
ly. What did the general mean just
now when he called you liar?'
Faith" replied the lawyer, a1riiy'
what does any man mean when ne
calls another by that endearing name!
Observe the hour, Miss Burr, and don't
let me detain you here
She put herself before him.
You long to be rid Of me, but will
not go. If you have brought secret
TO Hazel Hall, must and will know
II. You hate Arthur Guilte. You are
raking up some foul, dead-and- buried
matter to ruin his prospects with the
general"
Mr. Trent laughed.
II do not know why 1 should love
him. Taken all in all, l have always
considered these Guiltes a bad lot. My
first trouble with, them began when
Ernest was my rival in your favor, my
dear Hilda-when we two worshiped
at the same shrine and the rich plan =
ter's son was preferred to the penni-
less young lawyer, as Is ever the case
in this mercenary world"
She colored crimson.
How cruel you are!" she stammer-
ed. You will never forgive me the
choice 1 then made-never forgive the
dependent girl of seventeen, because
she longed for wealth and power.
How pitiless you are! l did not love
Ernest Guilte-you know it! Why do
YOU so delight to torture me at this
late day."
Torture you?" cried Mr.. Trent, ut
terly ignoring the passion in her
voice; forbid it, heaven! Let the
past go-it is not a pleasant subject
to either Of us. We were speaking or
Arthur. The lad always hated me
from a child, and hate is prone to be-
get hate. l do not mind confessing TO
you that 1 would rather see any living
creature the generals heir than he
Look at this scar"
He tossed back the hair from his
low forehead, and ran his fingers care
lessly along cicatrice that marred It's
almost womanly fairness.
He gave me this blow" he said;
"our young, fiery Arthur, years ago.
when he was a mere child. 1t was for
some light word which 1 dropped re-
garding the general. Only the inter-
ference of black groom save me from
crushing the young viper dead. The
general applauded him greatly when
he heard of the matter"
Il remember" said Miss Burr; "he
was proud of Arthur's spirit"
Trent laughed shortly.
"The true Guilte fire! Well, as
said before, l have never particularly
fancied the boy since that day. Just
as surely as I shall carry this scar to
NV grave. Arthur Guilte shall never
inherit so much as a grave at Hazel
Hall! Remember this. And now, my
dear Hilda, pardon my frankness, but
you look painfully haggard. After
twenty five few women can safely in
dulge in late hours"
She flashed him one curious look
then turned her back without another
word and ascended the stairs to her
own room. AS she passed Paulette
door she stopped to listen, but all
within was still as the grave. Cen
eral Guilte's ward was sitting in the
soft summer darkness of her chamber
motionless as stone. pondering the
things she had that night heard
thinking, most of all. Of Sibyl Arnault
proud. beautiful. queenly Sibyl!
Could there be, she wondered, any
connection between her mysterious
mother and the Jewess who had work.
ed such destruction to the Guiltes?
For moment she was tempted to
seize pen and paper and write her
friend all that Hida Burr had disclos-
ed.
Can 1 bring myself to deal her such
a blow?" murmured Paulette. 1T will
break her proud heart. No, no: can
not! Besides. it may be a mere coin