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

der OF the Atlantic heet on the day TIT
haggard, as If with nights vigil.
The next moment he had opened the
gate, and was walking rapidly away
toward the station.
Sibyl clenched her white hands. He
asked her to trust him for a few
hours. She must-she would! Why
did Patty's story about 1.-The low per-
son" buzz through her head like
wicked bee? She put 1t resolutely
away, and dressed herself for the day
the weary, interminable day that
must pass before his return. 1t had
dawned drizzly and cheerless-doubly
cherries for succeeding such a night.
"Mr. Varneck," said Patty, as she
attended Sibyl at breakfast, left the
key of his library for you, miss, and
bade me say he should be back in the
evening train without fail"
He has gone-where has he gone"
asked Sibyl, turning upon her desper-
ately.
I'm sure I don't know. miss; he
didn't so much as hint. To see his
mother, most likely"
His mother! Sibyl had not thought
of her. She said no more, but, listless
and heavy-eyed, walked about the
house, followed by Varneck's dogs. In
vain she strove to read his books. She
sat down at his organ and played a
few sad, wailing notes. but an unac-
countable weight oppressed her. The
house seemed like q tomb. She wan
dered off to the lake, escorted still by
her four-footed friends; but there the
cold, gray mist hung like pail, the
little pier was sloppy and desolate,
and Barney had hidden under shelter
the boat in which they had sailed the
previous night, Aeolian harp and all.
She returned to the house and dined
at three o'clock. Then sat herself
down in Varneck's great chair, in the
sombre, wainscoted dining-room, to
wait.
She was at all times a remarkable
looking person-this Sibyl. Today her
pallor and the sadness in her great,
grand eyes, enhanced her beauty two
fold. Half lost in the chair, her lus-
trous hair ripping over the spotted
leopard skin, she was sitting with
clasped hands and eyes fixed on the
flame, when the door beside her open
ed suddenly, and two persons appear
ed on the threshold.
One was a blonde woman in a rich
travelling dress, high, featured, thin
faced, her faded hair dressed in curls
on her forehead, gold-rimmed eye
glasses stuck in her severe, light-blue
eyes. Like a Nemesis she stood star
ing at the girl in Varneck's chair.
Her companion might readily have
passed for her daughter. The same
stylish dress, the same thin, aquiline
face, with pale lashes and brows, The
same cold, blue eyes fixed frigidly on
Sibyl But the younger lady wore
her twenty-five odd years with less
grace than the elder did her half a
century.
Sibyl rose slowly to her feet. For
a moment the three stood and survey
ed each other. Said Sibyl:
You wish to see Mr.. Varneck? He
is not here"
She of the eyeglasses looked over
the speaker from head to foot with
cruel scrutiny.
1--WE have missed him somewhere on
the road" she answered. you, un-
doubtedly, are the young person who
has been stopping the last few weeks
at Beechwood?"
Sibyl bowed
And l." she continued, "am Mr..
Varneck's mother and this is my niece,
Miss Lucy Varneck." She then turn
ed to the housekeeper, who had fol-
lowed them in. You can prepare
rooms for us-we shall remain several
days. Lucy, your smelling salts!
Mrs. Hare, we have not dined. Take
our outside garments-we will sit
here by the fire till our rooms are
ready. l wish to talk with Miss
ahem! 1 think I have forgotten the
name"
."Arnault," prompted Sibyl, as cold
and rigid as stone.
Il really" protested Lucy Varneck
snuffing at the salts before passing
them to her aunt, and darting with
ering look from her pale-blue eyes al
Sibyl-'I really cannot and will not
sit down among these dreadful dogs
How 1 hate dogs! And Serle knows
it, and yet he will keep the house full
of them. Mrs. Hare, take them away
"They are great pets with Mr.
Serle," explained the housekeeper
mildly. HE allows them here so much
that they think it their rightful place.
do you hear?" cried Miss Varneck
gathering her rich skirts about hel
and pitching her voice in the highest
feminine key: take them away!