Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-11-24
THE FLASK
AND THE
CRYSTAL


their disappointing inheritance. Al
least there was the unstable but
available homestead. They would
stay there during the summer with
Aunt Anne Pross and in the fall re-
sumo the teaching of music and draw
ing which on the death of their bach
elor uncle, Victor Duvall, they had
thought to abandon forever.
TT really won't cost us anything,
Estelle," explained Nance enthusiast
cally, what with the farm product,
the garden truck, the poultry and the
COWS. Then think how delightful 1t
will be to live on our own acres, joint
monarchs of all we survey, the fields
the wooded hill, this great roomy
houseI"
Cost anything" retorted Estelle.
why, we ought to make pretty pen
ny. Nance, from our provisions ana
rooms. The climate and scenery are
simply ideal"
Yes. we will take boarders," ex-
claimed Nance with clasped hands.
"Oh. won't that be just charmingly
droll!"
"They must be single gentlemen,
then" interposed Aunt Anna. MY
poor brother Victor would walk the
earth at the idea of any women out
side of his own kin and Dinah being
in his house"
81 should think he would walk 1t
anyway" returned Estelle. ITO live
like a hermit for forty years and yet
fritter away a handsome fortune
without anything to show for 1t or
even knowing where it went, after SOL
emnly promising to leave us both rich;
I'd walk backward for eternity II
were he as partial penance.
why, Judge Josiah Marcellus told
me that after the accountants mad
made every possible allowance for ex-
pense and loss there was over $lOO,-
900 that had simply vanished into thin
air. But what else could be expected
of such an old mole?"
You must not judge your Uncle
Victor. Estelle," said Aunt Anne Sc
yerely, from the way he impressed
Won the two or three times you saw
him in his latter years. He was as
handsome, bold and adventurous
Young fellow as ever lived. Went all
around the world and through its
waste places; explored the Arctic re-
gions and the unknown plateaus OF
the Himalayas-that was his last trip
when he came back he was chang
ed. as IL a fever had burned the heart
out of him. He shut himself up mere
and didn't want to see or be seen. once
or twice he dropped word to me that
made me think he was living in mortal
fear, but he never said much and he
wouldn't say more.
And to think that after all he died
peacefully in that chair by that very
window in his gown and slippers"
But. auntie DEAR" cried Nance, "old
Dinah says that she never saw such
look of fright on any ones face; II
makes me hate to be in here alone"
when you have lived as long as
have, my child, and seen as many folks
die. you'll know that the last thing
death expects, or gets for that matter,
when he comes unexpectedly, is well
come. Dinah is faithful and compe-
tent. but like all negroes she is very
superstitious.
But there, it is better to do than to
talk about doing. You girls get out
your advertisements and I'll put things
to rights for the boarders."
So well were these details attended
to that by the end of the week the sta
ton wagon brought three men and
their luggage to the Duvall homestead.
The first to alight was thin, sallow
man, with very white teeth and very
black hair, whose dress was conven-
tionally correct yet gave foreign i'm
preston. He glanced from one to the
other of the young women on the
porch, and though he glanced again
toward Nance he turned determinedly
to Estelle.
"I am the DR.. Frisch," he began,
who had the honor to address you the
alton before beginning my campaign in
the fall for Hindu independence. All,
this is what l need-like the hills of
my own country"
Close on the doctors demur heels
had pressed a broad shouldered young
fellow in gray, who tossed a suit case
into the corner.
Those are my books" he said at
once to Nance, "and they can stay
there for all care. I'm Harry Ken
nett. you know, come down to study
for the law degree just fiunked.
DO 1 do it? Well, not overmuch, I
should say from the present outlook,"
and he smiled engagingly. You are
Nance Duvall, aren't you?" he ratified
on. II knew your name must be
Nance; I'VE always had such a fond
ness for it. And that handsome girl is
your cousin, Estelle?
Excuse me, l don't mean a little bit
that you're not handsome too, but
there isn't any of the Greek goddess
about you, thank goodness. We are
sure to be great chums, even IL you 90
think I'm fresh; for what could you
do with those other two queer coves?
Il was sizing them on the way up
and to my mind that parchmenty chap,
the DOCTOR is older and worst than he
looks, while the professor, Prof. Enoch
Clary, is the geologist, is younger and
better. Do get on to him now. Isn't
he a character"
Nance looked to see the third man,
a substantial, stolid figure wearing
blue goggles and a duster, laboriously
lifting a small boulder from the road
way and tucking it under his left arm.
Then from the back of the wagon he
fished out an old fashioned carpet bag,
but in so clumsy a way as to dash
bag as smart and foreign in appear
ance as the doctor himself, to the