Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-09-24
CHAPTER XI.
By Eta w. PIERCE.

its broad VeranderS oVerrun WIFI jas
mine and Virginia creeper; before II
a magnificent lawn dotted with
clumps of century oaks and a massive
stone gateway opening on a high road;
on one side the blue Chesapeake fash-
ing through grove and thicket, on the
other servants quarters, wide topac-
co fields and a stretch of fertile coun-
try unsurpassed in all Maryland. This
was Hazel Hall, the splendid cradle oil
a bold, bad, splendid stock.
Without, the stars had begun to
glimmer. A night bird sang In the
budding roses. Within, in a parlor
whose French windows overlooked the
splendid lawn, lights burned, and two
persons awaited together the arrival
of General Guilte and his ward.
The first was a woman no longer
Young. in a dinner dress of yellow silk
with pearl powder judiciously laid on
her sallow, dark skin. She was
1.-the and sinuous, thin in the face, the
arms and the shoulders. She mad
dead black hair, elaborately dressed
and black eyes, sharp and piercing TO
an uncomfortable degree.
Her companion was a man, VINO
stood leaning his back against the
wall near her chair, in rather pored
and weary attitude. He might have
been thirty or fifty. He had light
hazel, tigerish eyes Of great depth and
brilliancy, lightish bristling hair, part
ed in the centre Of his somewhat low
forehead, and a pale, well-preserVeo
countenance as expressionless in re-
pose as stone.
'If there is one thing above all 9TH
ers ruffling to the temper, Miss Burr,
he said, consulting his watch, 1T Is
waiting for ones dinner. Should the
general and his ward not appear with
In the next ten minutes. propose that
we order ours without further delay.
Miss Burr, whose eyes were con-
stantly seeking his face, who had the
appearance of hanging breathlessly on
his words, turned uneasily in her
chair.
"All men are born gormands," she
answered, with some irritation. do
YOU find 1t so very dull, then, here
with me? The general would never
forgive us such a breach Of etiquette
on this particular occasion"
He gave her a languishins glance,
though he looked intensely wearied.
Dull? With you? How can you
ask it? But waiting does not agree
with my temper-life is too short for
such a luxury. Do you chance TO
know anything about this Miss Rale?'
"No," she answered, shortly, her
black eyes surveying him over the
top of her fan, "only that she is just
from school and still smells Of bread
and butter. Bah! what we are to do
with her at Hazel Hall I don't know
T hear" he rejoined, languidly,
that she is immensely handsome"
"Humph!' said Miss Burr. Il have
a foreboding that her coming will not
add to the generals happiness or mine.
He tells me she was left to his care by
some friend in the north; but tell you
frankly, George Trent, 1 do not be-
lieve it."
"And why?" queried Mr.. Trent
pulling his neutral-tinted beard. why,
my dear Hilda?"
Don't address me in that manner!'
she cried, angrily. Il don't believe it,
because in all the time I have lived
with him and written his letters and
known his friends, wide and far,
never before heard that silly, French
sounding name-because my feminine
instincts, which always trust, have
scented something wrong about this
ward from the beginning"
Mr.. Trent laughed.
'Lo! the manner in which you wo-
men rush to your conclusions! 1 fore
see that you and Miss Rale will not be
friends"
VERY likely" said Miss Burr, dry
ly; "one seldom takes kindly to RI
val, and she will be mine, not only in
the generals favor, but in a thousand
other things. But why, may l ask,
are you here to meet them? Could
not General Guilte have brought Miss
Rale home without the presence of his
legal adviser?
How uncommonly sharp you are
tonight" answered Mr.. Trent. plain
lively. Il come by command"
She started up with a flush over
spreading her sallow face.
"Ah! he means business at last,
then; he has sent for you to draw up
his will?"
Really" protested Mr.. Trent, "how
can I know? HarkI wheels on the
gravel. My dear Hilda, compose your
self. Our travellers are come. Let us
go and welcome them and see what
this Miss Rale is like"
He ran with boyish vivacity into
the hall, already thronging with black
servants. Hilda Burr, rising and shak-
ing out her yellow silk, followed.
The travellers had descended from
the carriage and were mounting the
broad steps. General Guilte led his
ward by the hand. Her veil was
thrown back; the hall lights flashed
full upon her dusty little figure and
the marvellous beauty of her face.
Welcome to your home, my dear,
said the general, heartily, and con-
Quoted her into the midst of the as
sembled household. How are you,
Trent? You received my message,
them" as his keen old eyes fell on
the impassive face of the lawyer. Hill
da, this is Miss Rale-make her well
come Hope we've not kept you wait
ing for dinner?"
Nothing to speak Of" said Trent
bowling low to the generals ward
Miss Burr merely touched her finger
tips.
will you come at once to your
room?" she asked. You would prob
ably like to shake off the dust OF
travel before dining. I will call my
own maid to attend you"
Il. -