Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-06-21
CHAPTER III.
! Might Have Known 1t.

man? And it was only putting off dis
covery anyhow. Sooner or later, she
would learn of the divorce, and Just
at that instant my eyes fell on Mr.
Harbison-Tom HARRISON, as Anne
called him. He was looking on with an
amused, half puzzled smile, while peo-
pie were rushing around hiding the
roulette wheel and things Of which
Miss Caruthers might disapprove, and
Betty Mercer was on her knees wind
ing up a toy bear that Max had
brought her. What would he think?
1t was evident that he thought badly OF
us already-that he was contemptu-
ously amused, and then to have to ask
him to lend himself to the deception!
With a gasp l hurled myself after
Jimmy, only to hear strange voice in
the hall and to know that l was toe
late. 1 was in for it, whatever was
coming. 1t was Aunt Selma who was
coming-along the hall, followed by
Jim, who was mopping his face and
trying not to notice the paralyzed ST.
lence in the library.
Aunt Selma met me in the doorway
To my frantic eyes she seemed to tow
er above us by at least foot, and be-
side her Jimmy was a red, perspiring
cherup.
Here she is," Jimmy said, from be-
hind temporary eclipse of black oak
and travelling bag. He was on top OF
the situation now, and he was menda-
ciously cheerful. He had not said
Here is my wife" That would have
been a lie. No, Jimmy merely said
Here she is" If Aunt Selma chose
to think me Bella, was it not her res
possibility? And If I chose to accept
the situation, was it not mine? Dallas
Brown came forward gravely as Aunt
Selma folded over and kissed me, and
surreptitiously patted me with one
hand while he held out the other to
Miss Caruthers. I loathed him!
I'VE always expect something unu-
sual from James, Miss Caruthers," he
said, with his best manner, but this
this Is beyond our widest Dreams
Well it's too awful to linger over
Anne took her upstairs and into
Bella's bedroom. 1t was a fancy OF
Jim's to leave that room just as Bella
had left it, dusty dance cards and IA
vors hanging around and pair of dis
carded slippers under the bed. l don't
think it had been swept since Bella left
It. I believe in sentiment, but l like II
brushed and busted and the cobweDs
off of it, and when Aunt Selma put
down her bonnet, it stirred up a gray
white cloud that made her cough. She
did not say anything, but she looked
around the room grimly, and saw her
run her finger over the back of a chair
before she let Hannah, the maid, put
her cloak on it.
Anne looked frightened. She ran
into Bella's bath and wet the end of
towel and when Hannah was changing
Aunt Selinas collar-her conc" "ssion tc
evening dress-Anne wiped off the OBJ
vious places on the furniture. She did
it stealthily, but Aunt Selma saw her
in the glass.
What's that young woman's name?
she asked me sharply, when Anne had
taken the towel out to hide it.
ANNE Brown, Mrs. Dallas Brown
replied meekly. Every one replied
meekly to Aunt Selma.
Does she live here?
"Oh, no." said airily. They are
here to dinner, she and her husband
They are old friends Of Jim's-and
mine."
Seems to have a good eye for dirt,
said Aunt Selma and went on fastening
her broach. When she was finally
ready, she took a bead purse from
somewhere about her waist and took
out a half dollar She held it up be-
fore Hannah's eyes.
Tomorrow morning" she said stern
ly, you take off that white cap and
that fol-de-rol apron and that black
Henrietta cloth, and put on a calico
wrapper. And when you've got this
room aired and swept, Mrs. Wilson
will give you this"
Hannah took two steps back ano
caught hold of a chair; she stared
helplessly from Aunt Selma to the hall
dollar, and then at me. Anne was try
ing not to catch my eye.
And another thing" Aunt Selma
said. from the head of the stairs. 81
sent those towels over from Ireland
Tell her to wash and bleach the one
Mrs. What's -her-name Brown useo
as a duster."
Anne was quite crushed as we went
down the stairs. I turned once, hall-
way down, and her face was curious
mixture of guilt and hopeless wrath
Over her shoulder, I could see Hannah
wide-eyed and puzzled, staring after
us.
Jim presented everybody, and ther
he went into the den and closed the
door and we heard him unlock the cei-
larette. Aunt Selma looked at Lena
bare shoulders and said she guessed
she didn't take cold easily, and CONVEX
sation rather languished. Max Reeo
was looking like a thundercloud' ano
he came over to me with a lowering
expression that I had learned to dread
in him.
What fool nonsense is this ne de-
manded. What in the world possess
ed you, Kit, to put yourself in such al
equivocal position? Unless'-he stop
ped and turned little white-"uhless
you are going to marry Jim.
am sorry for Max. He IS such
nice boy, and good loking' too II Only
he were not so fierce, and did not war'
to make love to me. No matter wha'
I do, Max always disapproves or II.
have always had a deeply rooted con-
yiction that if l should ever in weaF
moment marry Max. he would disap'
proved of that, too, before l mad dohe
it very long.