Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-06-11
HERON'S WIFE.
By Eta w. PIERCE.

CHAPTER XXXII.
Tho EIiaht.

watching at the drawing room WINDOW
turned and saw the colonel and MS
ward standing together on the thresh-
old-one with face Of passionate ex-
ultation, the other pale as ashes' but
carefully composed.
"All is WE'LL" announced Rivers, gay
H. Yes, more than well, Miss car
bury, for Sergia has just promised to
marry me! You cannot feel very much
surprised, for, with your penetration'
YOU must have guessed my secret
weeks ago!"
"Oh. my dear COLONEL" cried MISS
Carbury, flying toward the pair with
hands extended. my dear, dear Ser
gia. Nothing, l am sure, could please
me better! Accept my warmest con-
gratulations. What a delightful END
to all our fears, and what disappoint-
ment. too, for the fortune hunters VINO
are waiting to pay court to our de-
butante! always feared that Sergia
might fall a prey to some Of them, and
now she is safe!" She took the pale
girl in her arms, and kissed her. /
wish you a great deal of happiness,
child. and YOU will be sure to find 1t
with Colonel Rivers"
"Spare me, Miss Carbury," answered
Sergia, with a deadly WEAKNESS in her
voice; these things are stale-tire-
some-they are said over to every girl
We come to tell you that we must
leave Wolfsden Immediately. 1 can
not breathe longer in the place-help
us to get away at once!"
There was an agony Of impatience In
her tone. The colonel pressed her hand
soothingly.
Call all the servants to assist you,
Miss Carbury," he said, land pack the
trunks with the utmost dispatch. We
must take an evening train for town.
1 have just sent Martin to telegraph for
rooms in a quiet West End hotel, where
we shall neither be recognized nor
watched by the people whom we wish
to avoid Sergia has consented to mar
ry me there. We will sail for Europe
by the next steamer, and you shall go
with us.
Overcome by the shock of these
words, Miss Carbury collapsed in the
nearest chair.
"a girl of Sergia's social position
marry in that way?" she gasped. Oh'
colonel, no trousseau, no invitations, no
bridesmaids? Impossible!"
He laughed at her dismay.
You can purchase the trousseau as
soon as we arrive in Paris. Meanwhile
Sergia's wishes must rule us both. she
will have no preparation, no display
everything must be done swiftly and
in secret. First of all, she Is determin-
ed to quit Wolfsden this very night.
She fancies that she can never recover
her strength here. Haste! Haste!
That is now your watchword, Miss Car
bury"
Some indefinable fear seemed to as
sail the old woman. She ran to Sergia,
and looked up in her face.
my dear, is this really your wish?'
1T is really my wish!" answered Ser
gia.
You know my great faith in the COL
oneIs judgment-you have often laugh
ed at me for the same. But now l do
not like his plans. Is it weak, is 1t
wrong, Sergia, for me to acquiesce In
them? am too bewildered to think
for myself"
Sergia smiled drearily.
1T would be very weak, Miss Car
bury, for you to oppose will like Col
onel Rivers's. His desires are mine.
You and need not be parted-we will
travel together. Oh, l must go" fever
ishly; do not try to detain me, but
make all the speed you can, for my
sake-if l am kept here another four
and twenty hours, shall die!"
Miss Carbury, to do her justice, was
fond of her charge, and the distress in
the girls voice cut her to the heart.
Instantly she flung her scruples to the
winds.
MY dear, my dear, rely upon mel"
she cried, and flew to make the neces-
sary preparations for immediate de-
parture.
Sergia, reclining on a sofa in her own
chamber, watched the packing of the
trunks with an absorbed, far-away look
in her eyes. The whirlwind Of haste
and excitement that filled the room
brought no color to her marble face.
Her thoughts seemed far from Miss
Carbury and her labors. BY and by,
the old woman turned to the sofa, and
with an attempt at cheerfulness said:
81 never dreamed that you had found
your fate in the colonel, my dear! OF
course, your friends will be amazed at
your great haste, and Francis Heron
will rage and blame me-indeed, l am
sure to be blamed by everybody. All
the same, my conscience is clear-it Is
no mesalliance which l countenance-
the match Is most suitable. Your guar
dian is your equal in all respects"
Yes" assented Sergia, quietly.
"And his ardor-his devotion is some
thing amazing, Some men never WOO
in vain. All the world-the feminine
world, 1 mean-loves a lover"
Sergia tried to smile.
THAT being so, the object of his
choice should not be the only one to re-
main Indifferent to him, Miss Car
bury?"
"Oh, my dear, l hope you care a great
deal for the colonel. 1t seems to me
that he is worthy of a-a-supreme
passion"
Sergia stared out through the WIN
dow into the rusty tops of the chestnut
trees.
"A supreme passion-what is that?"
she queried, dryly: does 1t really ex-
ist? Is it worth the breath in which
the words are spoken? Rest assured
that my guardian is satisfied with such
love as l have to give-he knows that
| care more for him than for any other
person in the world" A red spot. like
a blossom of fire, flashed out on her
cheek BEST OF all. he is going to take