Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-10-01
CHAPTER XIII.

euest A letter received in answer to
the telegram sent on the day succeed
ing her accident had simply contained
the usual regrets, the news that her
mother was suffering from relapse
and instructions to remain where she
was until called for.
called for!" cried Sibyl. bitterly, "as
IL I were a bundle Of merchandise!
Could any treatment be more cruel or
unjust. Where Is Hammerton, Long
Island. Mr.. Varneck? l will not wait
10 be called for! 1 will go on alone.
"you will do nothing of the kind,
he answers, smiling. What new dis
asters do you yearn to encounter!
Await your mothers pleasure patent
ly. What lacks our hospitality that
Won cannot content yourself a little
longer with us?"
"Do YOU not see-is 1t not plain that
she hates me?" cried Sibyl, passion
ately. 81 shall soon begin to think l
have no mother-that some one under
that name is playing bitter jest with
mel"
do not think at ALL" he an
swered, lightly; Zoe happy with U.S.
oh. IL you must, for want Of better
subject. turn your thoughts toward
met"
So Sibyl remained shut up at Beech
wood with her host and his servants
She listened to his wild, wailing mu-
sic late into the small hours Of night;
watched him depart and return on
long moonlit gallops across country;
had his superb face and figure con-
stantly before her; tasted freely o1
his hospitality; was his honored guest
Could the odd ways Of this handsome
dreamer have, for a moment, any
charm for a proud, isolated, imagina-
tive girl of nineteen?
BY degrees the old country house be-
gan to assume the air Of an enchanted
palace to Sibyl and she seemed 10
live and move and have her being IN
a strange, splendid dream.
Down the broad, black stair she
came gliding one night and opened the
door Of the square, wainscoted room'
where Mr.. Varneck usually dined. On
the tiled hearth, between pair OF
enormous brass fire-dogs, hickory
fire snapped and roared, burning
away the damp Of the early summer
night. Sibyl, standing in the shadow
of the door like picture in a sombre
frame, looked in.
rich. dark room, the damask cur
tains flung back from the arched win
dows; the moonlight and freight
blending together on the black wall
Before the fire, in a great chair COW
cred with a spotted leopard skin, loll-
ed Serle Varneck, with half dozen
dogs stretched at his feet and fawn-
ing on his knees. At the opening OF
the door they deserted him in a body
and rushed upon his beautiful, young
guest.
"Down!" cried Varneck as they
leaped rude and loving upon her, lick
ing her hands, barking joyously-
down, you rude fellows, and keep
quiet! You have altogether alienated
my dogs affection, Miss Arnault-they
do not notice me when you are by. l
Deg you, come in and accept my chair
Of state"
He started up, and over his blonde,
bored face swept a swift and subtle
change. His bold eyes filled up with
sudden brightness. 1t was as II his
languid veins had been surcharged at
sight Of her with warm, fierce, ting
ing life.
mo, I did not come to stay" she
answered. Il thought you sailing on
the lake."
With her deer-like head weighed
down with purple black hair, her
swelling, white throat, her young face,
cut like an old cameo-how ovely
she looked in that blended light of
moon and fire!
Varneck walked over to one Of the
high, arched windows.
Sailing on the lake," he repeated;
alone? By no means! was wait
ing for you to bear me company
The water Is as smooth as glass to-
night-hardly wind enough to shake
the canvas. Shall I not ring for Pat
ty to bring your wraps?'
The blood burned hot in her cheek
but she shook her head.
Are you afraid to trust yourself
with me?" he urged, reproachfully
"Who knows what tomorrow may
bring forth? l never feel sure Of you
l may hear a summons at the gate at
any moment, and then you will go, and
my house will be left unto me desc
late"
"The danger Of that" said Sibyl, bit
terly, STOPPING to caress the dogs
seems growing small by degrees and
beautifully less"
"Ah!" he cried, briskly, now you
are relapsing into one Of your dark
moods. AS your physician, I entreat
you to accompany me at once, and
have the demon exercised out yondel
under the moon," and the bell ranG
smartly for Patty.
They made ready and went on
through the shrubbery, down a shad'
owy path, leading to the lake shore
Varneck's dogs following at theii
heels.
He carried the leopard skin to wraI
around her in the boat. for the master
of Beechwood still pretended to thinf
this guest an invalid.
How often in the dreary after-time
did Sibyl Arnault recall that walk
the deathly- dark evergreens dripping
with dew. the full moon in the sof
summer sky, a night-bird far off chirp'
ing dreamily in his sleep!
The lake lay fringed with willows
lust at the foot of the great, wide.
sweeping garden. A little pier hat
been built out into the water, am
there, at her moorings, lay Varneck:
boat.
He handed Sibyl in, disposed th'
leopard skin around her, and set TIT
sail They Plided ont from the Shad