Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-09-24

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with sudden. indifference; patience
my dear Hilda"
She advanced to his side, looking a
him askant.
"Well?" she queried.
"Well," he answered. with exasper.
ating GOODNESS.
What an extraordinary likenes:
that girl bears to some one once
knew!'
Does she? l never saw anything
in the least resembling her, except the
portraits of Venus as portrayed by
the profane Italian masters"
Hilda flung angrily back from him
BE careful you don't lose your hear
to her." she said, dryly; "the genera
might not approve"
"Ah! and why?" cried Trent, airily
more to torment her, it seemed, thar
anything else.
First of all, you are too old for sucf
folly" answered Miss Burr, with grea'
candor; then, even while 1 see thai
you nave luOfS Po"Si o'Si AiiAA S
any one else, 1t is also plain that he
yields to you from necessity rather
than choice. Certainly there is no love
lost betwixt you and your friend, the
general"
Trent laughed shortly.
What a penetrating mind you have
Hildai" he cried. "Yes, and what
heart! Keen as a cat in the dark
tool Would that 1 had a brandy and
soda, or even a glass Of port 1 find
conversation with you extremely weak
ening."
Miss Burrs sallow face grew more
sallow. She clinched her hands pas
sionately.
you mock mel" she cried, In
smothered voice; you insult me! and
yet, fool that 1 am, cannot hate you!'
and she turned from him and walked
off to the window.
The door opened and General Guilte
and his ward appeared.
"Iilda, my dear, take my arm" said
the master Of Hazel Hall. Trent,
leave Polly to you"
The lawyer looked at Miss Rale, saw
| that she had made herself dazzling In
spotless white, and accepted the charge
with eagerness. Over a slippery, pol
ished floor they entered great din
ing hall, with portraits on the walls
and waxlights burning. They took
their places around sumptuous
board, the generals black body SER
want, waiting behind his chair.
Il travelled by easy stages for Pollys
sake" said the old soldier. "She Is not
used to the hurry and fatigue. How
long have you been here, Trent?"
81 arrived this noon," answered the
lawyer. MAY I ask If Miss Rale has
always lived in the north?"
Always" answered Miss Rale for
herself.
my dear general" broke in the voice
of Hilda, do you not think her very
like "a late member of your own
family?"
What! do you, too, see it?" he an
swered, frowning.
IT do, indeed. I have already re-
marked it to Mr.. Trent"
"One is often puzzled by such unac-
countable resemblances," said the gen.
eral, coldly; 'let us not talk OF IT.
Have any letters arrived from Arthur
during my absence?"
There is one," answered Hilda, ION
your library table. 1t is postmarked
Paris. So it seems he has again re-
turned to civilized life"
Paulette felt as If cold wind had
breathed upon them all, so silently, af-
ter this, did the dinner go on. Hilda
Burr and the pale, hazel-eyed lawyer
watched her carelessly, the latter In
way that sent the blood tinglins to
her finger ends. The great hall, with
it's lights and pictures on the panels
and the black servants moving about
in attendance, oppressed her oddly
Nothing seemed good but the lion
faced old man at the head Of the
board. She was glad when at last they
rose up.
my DEAR" said the general, Il will
leave you now with Hilda. Trent and
have some dry business details to
talk over"
IF Miss Burr will permit me, will
retire." answered Paulette, smotherins
weary yawn. Il am very, very tired,
and she made one of her charming
stage bows to them all and departed
to her own chamber.
She sat down by the window and
looked out upon the night. What did
she think Of this great, grand home In
which she, a castaway, nobody, had
been so oddly installed?
Beautiful" she murmured, her dark
eyes wandering across the masnifi-
cent slopes, the clumps of century
oaks landing like giants under the pale
night sky, the blue bay glinting to the
light of the rising moon. Beautiful!
and oh! how happy shall be here
how happy should be, rather, were
it not for that Hilda Burr! She and
can never, never be friends! Sibyl
dear, I wonder where you are tonight?'
She had found already serpent In
her Eden. Presently she arose and
drew the curtain and advanced to heI
dressing table.
How haggard l looked tonight" she
murmured, surveying herself in the
mirror, "and my mark of Cain is not
more than half hidden"
She opened her travelling bag and
took from it that which she always
carried-a tiny box, filled with a flesh
colored substance, a delicate brush
with a handle of carved ivory. Dash
ing back the glttering hair from hei
throat, Paulette glanced with shud-
der at the birth mark showing family
under the sweet curved chin. then dip
ped her brush in the box. and begar
drawing it carefully across the Grim
son line.
| "Ahem!" coughed a voice close a
her shoulder
V1nN OF Nn'g