Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-12-30

against the fading light beyond. He
saw, too, that she was stiffening her.
self as if for some unequal contest.
1.-The invitation" she questioned
DULY, but with her head up and
steady.
Why" said Josie, Il sent you one
to the party, you know-my lawn feet
next week."
1 give the local pronunciation as it is
Did you?"
Il gave it to Tracey for you" per-
sisted the tormentor. Didn't you gel
it?"
Betty caught at her breath inaudibly
Only Duncan could see the little spasn
of modification and anger that shook
her.
"Oh, perhaps I did," she said short
you"
She swung quickly out into the hall
way, slamming the door behind her
and so darkening it that she didn't de-
tect Duncans shadowed figure. And
if she had meant to call him she must
have forgotten it, for an instant later
he heard her stumbling up the stairs,
and as she disappeared he caught the
echo Of a smothered sob.
He waited motionless, too disturbed
at the time to care to enter the store
and endure Josie's vapid advances,
and through the thin partition there
came to him their sharp comment on
Betty's ungracious behavior.
Well"
Josie said finally: "Oh, come on.
Don't let's wait any longer. l don't
think it's healthy to drink sody so
soon before dinner, anyway"
Angie glanced significantly at Josie,
saying:
And, besides, we only wanted to
hear
Their voices with their footsteps di-
minished. Duncan allowed a prudent
interval to elapse, entered the store
and began to bestow the goods he had
brought in.
While he was at work the light
failed. He stopped for lack Of IL just
as Betty came downstairs.
"Hello!" he said cheerfully. Know
where the matches are?"
Yes" She moved behind a counter
and fetched him a few. Are you
most done?" she inquired, not un-
friendly, as he took down from its
bracket one of the oil lamps.
Hardly" he responded, touching a
light to the wick and replacing the
chimney IT'S a good deal Of job"
Yes"
He replaced the lamp and in the
act of turning toward another caught
a glimpse of the girls face, pale and
drawn, her eyes a trifle reddened.
And with that common sense departed
from him, leaving him wholly a prey
to his impulse Of pity. "Oh, thunder!"
he told himself, thrusting hand into
his pocket. Il might as well be broke
as the way / am now." He produced
the scanty remains Of his "grubstake." J."
Miss Graham
"Yes?" she asked, wondering.
Gould you get a party dress for
thirty-four dollars?"
"Thirty-four dollars!" she faltered.
He discovered what small change he
had in his pocket. 1t was like him to
be extravagant, even extreme. And
fifty three cents?" he pursued, with a
nervous laugh.
Heavens" the girl gasped. Il
should think SOL"
Then go ahead" He offered her the
money, but she could only stare, in
credulous. "I'll stake you"
"Oh, no, Mr.. Duncan" she managed
to say.
"Oh, yes!" He tried to catch one Of
the hands that involuntarily had risen
toward her face in a gesture Of won-
der. please do" he begged, his tone
persuasive, "as a favor to me-"
But she evaded him, stepping back.
Il couldn't take it; couldn't really"
Yes, you can. Just try it once and
see how easy it is," he persisted, pur-
suing.
mo, I can't" She looked up shyly
and shook her head, that smile of her
mothers for the moment Illuminating
her face almost with the radiance of
beauty. But II thank you very
much-just the same"
But l want you to go to that party"
You're awful kind" she said softly,
still smiling, but l don't care to go
now. p
Don't care to go! Why, you were
insisting on going a little while ago."
Yes" she admitted simply. Il know
1 was. But I've been thinking over
what you said since then, and 1--we
made up my mind I'd be out of place
there"
Out of place." he echoed. thunder
struck.
Yes. I've concluded | belong here
In the store with father" She half
turned away. And l guess folks is
better off if they stay where they be-
long"
ITO be Continued