Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-08-29

ing?"
She nodded, and began to gather ur
the half-finished stage-dre from the
floor.
What did he say?" demanded Rob.
ert Greylock.
1.-The baby cannot live" she answer
ed serenely; "he was surprised to fine
her still breathing. She has some
dreadful thing-congestion, or a kin
dred ailment."
He surveyed her in mingled con-
tempt and wrath.
And following that information
Mrs. Greylock, find you posing and
gyrating like a wild creature, before
the glass here-making ready to ap-
pear as usual in the ballet tonight"
The weak, red mouth took a suller
droop.
And why not? Baby will not die
any sooner for that, and the housemaid
Martha can watch her quite as well
as anybody, and give the medicines in
proper time. 1 must start for rehear-
sal in just twenty minutes" glancing
at clock on the mantel-"money must
be earned for the doctors bill, for the
rent of this miserable room, for a hun
dred -and-one things. I do not dance
for pleasure altogether. Be kind enough
to recollect, Robert Greylock, that OF
late you have contributed very little
to the family purse"
He Redeemed to his eyes.
True" he muttered, with a short
forced laugh. Curse the newspapers!
They will buy nothing Of my wares!
1 suppose 1 have no talent for writing
in fact, I have several times been
told as much. I must try fresh fields
and pastures. new-something in the
hod-carrying line, or maybe I might
successfully turn railway porter, or
waiter at a cheap restaurant. All, it's
a thousand pities, Iris, that I did not
wait to master the profession for which
my father had destined me before
committed the folly of matrimony
Then I might have earned you a de-
cent living"
She answered not a word. The cha
grin and misery in Robert Greylock's
voice did not move her in the least.
There was a brief, uncomfortable 81
lence; then the young fellow stepped
over to the cradle and lifted a blanket
from the wasted face of the sick baby
the offspring Of most unlucky mar
riage. The little thing now lay In a
sort of supports moaning had ceas-
ed. 1t looked like a crushed snowdrop.
The wee body was but a bundle OF
bones; the tiny hands lay spread like
claws on the blanket; the long lashes
closely yelled the sunken eyes. Plainly
the hours of that short life were num-
bered. Greylock stared moodily down
at his child.
Poor little wretch" he burst out.
with all your soothing syrups and
your sleeping potions. and your gross
neglect, Iris, you have brought her to
this Just as well, perhaps-the
daughter of Robert Greylock could
have known only misfortune in the fu-
ture. She is happy in making so early
an exit from all this"
And he glanced around on the power
ty and discomfort of the room. Mrs.
Iris waxed resentful.
Great Heaven! Do you expect me,
with my own living to earn, to give all
my time and strength to that atom?
hate babies-crying, fretful things!
You must have been drinking, Robert
or YOU would not be so disagreeable."
Standing face to face there in that
untidy room, over that dying baby, TINS
married boy and girl. with whom life
was all awry, made a striking picture
he. with his blond, high-bred face
wretched and full of smothered fury
she, so darkly handsome, and bristling
with the defiance of one who had Sc
cretly determined her future course
and meant to follow it at any cost.
NO" he answered, slowly, Il have
not been drinking; l do not believe IN
that mode of drowning difficulties
Iris, YOU went to an oyster supper last
night with the other ballet girls, after
the play was over, and that fellow
Kenyon was there"
She snatched up a cheap gilt orna-
ment from the table and crushed 1t un-
consciously in her nervous fingers.
We'll, what of that? He is at all
our suppers."
Il dare say. Take care! Do not ex-
asperate me too much! l am scarcely
the husband to stand that sort oi
thing. Now listen, Iris. have had
quite enough of Arthur Kenyon and OF
Your other associates. We must turn
our backs on the life we are now lead
ing and begin a new one. 1t is plain
that the child is doomed, but we have
each other-we will start out together
on an untrodden track"
She opened wide her lovely eyes.
Yes" she replied, I'VE have each
other but. unluckily, that is a posses
sion which neither of us seems to
value. And what do you mean by a
new life? hate riddles"
II have heard of an opening in Col
orado--on a sheep ranch. new coun-
try is the place for a man like me. II
is useless to wait about here longer foI
nv fathers forgiveness. Till the crack
of doom he will never forget that l de-
fled him to his face. He will never re-
ceive YOU as his daughter. So good-p!
to hope i'm that direction. Good-by tc
a fortune that will come by inheri-
tance. must make one for myself
We are yOung-why, our combined
ages are less than forty years. Surely
it is possible for us to retrieve our past
mistakes, is it not, Iris"
CONSERVATION. wrath, disgust. strug-
gled together in her fair young face
She drew quickly back.
COLORADO, Nev"r!" she cried; "as
well say the Feeiee Islands. would
die first"
For Gods sake, think again, Iris!
It is my only chance
IL. g.,