Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-12-10

| tleman, sir" he said.
Meanwhile, outside on the veranda
Frances Durant and Lieutenant Son.
mers stood side by side in the dark
ness saying goodby. Back Of them
shut off with the heavy hall doors, was
the lighted house. In front, far be-
low, showed the bright windows of the
steel works, where the night shift toll
ed. Now and again, at irregular inter-
walls, the sky was lighted with a sud
den glare of the huge chimneys that
blazed up and then died abruptly, leav-
ing the night blacker than before. For
time they stood looking out at the
distant lights and the silence. At last
II was the girl who spoke.
And tomorrow night you will be
down there toiling, watching, waiting,
as they forge the gun which is to make
your fame" she said softly.
And you?" he asked, just as low.
In the darkness she looked up at him.
And T." she said-"I shall be up here
lust where I am now, watching the
lights and thinking and praying that
all will be we'll"
Again they stood in silence for
time.
Then the man sighed.
81 am afraid to come back again" ne
began unsteadily. II think I had bet
ter say goodby to you tonight"
She moved slightly closer.
"Afraid? It was taunt tremulous-
ly given.
Yes" he blurted. Il am afraid. and
you know why"
She did not answer, and he rushed
on, speaking low, eagerly, yet bitterly.
You know l can't tell you what
wish to say. haven't really the right
I am a penniless naval officer and you
the daughter of the biggest steel man
in the country. I haven't the right"
What is it you wish to say?" she
asked insistently. She was so close
their hands touched as he turned to-
ward her. And, touching, the hands
chung together.
you know what I wish to say" ne
exclaimed. IF I had the right I'd tell
you how much love you. I'd tell you
how from the first moment / saw you
1 wanted you. and you only. I'd tell
YOU how / never have lived until
knew you and the rest Of my life
must be one dreary blank Of grinding
duty because 1 must lose you. I'd tell
YOU that life with you would be more
happiness than any man has the right
to have. I'd tell you that I'd rather
have one year Of you than million
years on earth and all the honors that
men could give me. I'd tell you'-he
broke off bitterly for second, then
repeated-"Td tell you enough to make
you realize what an absolutely dream
ing, idiotic fool l am, but I'd tell you
enough to make you know how l suf-
fer because 1 haven't the right to real
ly tell you anything"
In the darkness the girl laughed a
low laugh of pure delight.
You are an absolute, idiotic, dream
ing fool" she said, so softly, so ten
derly, that he could not but under
stand.
"Frances!"
He barely breathed her name. Then
all reply was cut off, for she was in
his arms with her own arms about his
neck and their lips were tight together.
1t was nearly half an hour later
when Frances Durant, her cheeks
flushed, her eyes misty with happiness,
opened the big front door and stepped
back into the lighted hall.
So much had happened in that short
time. She had gone out an anxious,
worried girl. She re-entered a glow
ing woman, loved and loving, sure of
herself and happily confident of the
future. They were not engaged. No,
indeed! They had solemnly assured
each other of that feet. 1t would not
do at all for the penniless naval officer
to formally ask the hand Of the steel
kings daughter! But when his gun
had been a great success and fame
had come to him then he was to come
and make his formal plea and ask her
father for her hand. And she would
be waiting eagerly for her lover, ready
with her answer and prepared, no mat
ter what happened, to follow him to
the ends Of the earth.
Edward Pinckney looked up with a
sneer as she entered the library.
"Oh, he's gone. has he?" he said
contemptuously.
The girl was too happy to mind the
tone.
You mean Mr.. Sommers?" she said,
affecting to misunderstood. Yes; he's
gone"
"Of course l mean that naval whip
persnapper. Who do you suppose
meant?" he replied sharply. You
ought to have more sense, Frances,
than to stand out on that cold porch.
You're likely to catch pneumonia or
anything"
The girl smiled slightly.
'Oh, 1 WASN'T COlu, SHe Sdlu.
i've been waiting to speak to you,
began Pinckney again. It's about
something important"
Frances was in no mood for long,
dull conversation. She wanted to get
away by herself to think over the last
half hour, to feel again the thrill of
his touch, to near again in her imagi-
nation the sound of his voice. So she
spoke somewhat impatiently.
Won't tomorrow do. Edward?'
He shool- his head with decision.
mo: tomorrow won't do. Frances.
want to talk to you tonight about
something in which l an. interested
and in which your mother and father
are interested also-something which
we all wish to bring about
The girl yawned. She did not have
the least idea what he was going to
say.
"Oh. very well, Edward, if it's any
thing you wish and mother and father
wish too lust consider that / have