Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-11-09
By Eta w. PIERCE,

woman to break an engagement afte
twenty FIVE is simply ruinous-thougl
YOU know l hate that creature, ant
would die sooner than give you up t
her!"
Yes, she did hate Sibyl Arnault will
her whole heart, as such women ar
prone to hate younger and fairer RI
walls. Mr.. Varneck colored wrathfully
Lucy, 1 tell you frankly, I shall new
er marry you, If you hold me to thi.
engagement for half a century,"
THAT may be- replied Miss Var
neck, with great indifference; but a
least shall keep you from marrying
her. She has spirit-she will never
receive the addresses Of any other wo'
mans betrothed husband"
' Up the hill rolled the phaeton, cloud:
Of gray dust rising around them, set.
thing upon them. Serle was silent til
they reached the top, then he shook his
reins impatiently over the horses.
Lucy" he began, "let US compro-
mise"
She opened her pale eyes, as If at
loss.
Compromise! What do you mean?
81 know the motives that first
prompted you to think Of this en-
sagement You understand the value
of the Varneck fortune as we'll as any
one-perhaps better. You are tired, nc
doubt, on depending on my mothers
generosity, which is apt to be capri
cious. I will buy my freedom Of you
I will give you one-half my fortune
Lucy, to release me from this-1 must
say it-cursed engagement"
She stared. The next moment up
rose before her eyes Sibyl Arnaults
beautiful young face.
do you mean that?" she said.
Most certainly"
The fervor in his look-the fervor In
his voice seemed to exasperate her.
You love her so well as that?" she
urged
"I love her better than my life!" he
answered.
Then, let me tell you!" cried Miss
Varneck in a jealous fury. "th"+ not
for half your fortune, nor all yout' for
tune, will I give you up to her! She
shall never have you while I can hold
you apart. Oh, how hate her with her
staring, black eyes and her fine airs!
would see you dead sooner than know
that you were happy with her!"
For a moment Varneck looked stun
ned.
LUCY" he said, deliberately, I'm
ashamed of you!" then gathered up his
reins, and whipped the horses into a
tearing pace.
Like a whirlwind they swept on over
the country road. Lucy looked sulkily
askant at the big figure bolt upright
beside her, his face stern and set, his
eyes shining like steel. She set her
teeth viciously.
Yield such a man as this to her
lO 4Nol "bbhout q otA eoofSt
thought Miss Varneck.
Past tree and fence and scorched
summer field they flew, by cottage and
farm, when, Of sudden, in an abrupt
bend Of the road, they heard, shrill,
loud and close at hand, the whistle of
a locomotive.
Good heaven! there comes a train!'
cried Miss Varneck.
1t burst, as she spoke, from the heart
Of q wood just before them. with a
snort Of terror the horses bolted.
Don't leap, for Gods sake!" roared
varneck, as his cousin started up in
the phaeton.
He pulled her down by main force
and gripped the slender lines, taking
a turn round each hand. Headlong
they went dashing against the track,
but with tremendous pull on the drip
ping bits, Varneck turned his horses
heads to the right. The jerk Of the
pole flung the off one to his knees;
the phaeton gave great lurch and
went over, and the two occupants with
It. Varneck still holding with all his
mighty strength to the lines.
1t was something Of a shock and
several moments elapsed before Lucy
varneck picked up her scattered wits.
By that time the train had disappeared
round a curve, and from the wreck
Serle lifted her and held her support
ed on his arm.
Are you hurt?" he asked.
'T think not" she answered, shak-
ing herself to ascertain If all her bones
were there.
1.-The carriage Is broken" said he,
and this sun is broiling. You will
have to take refuge in a house l saw
a few rods back till 1 can repair dam
ages"
Rumpled and very cross withal, she
allowed him to conduct her through
the dust back to the place he had
1t was low cottage,
standing by the roadside. within a
llllON VI lliC SSShC OL SiiS oSSi
dent. To the door Varnecks knock
brought a woman. haggard and blear-
eyed. He made known their trouble
briefly, and asked permission for his
cousin to enter there and wait
Certainly. come in," said the wom-
an, and set a chair in a bare. white
washed room for the lady with the
rich dress and the sulky face. There
Serle left her and went back to the
wreck.
1t was painfully still in the cottage,
except for the buzzing Of flies on the
pane. After one glance at its humble
Miss Varneck began to
find the chair uncomfortably hard, and
the presence Of the blear-eyed woman
extremely irritating. The latter seated
herself on the threshold of the door,
asked a few questions about the mis-
hap. and as If overcome with weari-
ness, straightway began to nod. Miss
Varneck smoothed out her ruff1ed
plumes. looked at her Geneva watch.