Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-01-24
CHAPTER XXI.

But at the doorstep of the Methodist
church Nat hesitated. The building
was dimly lighted, for it was choir
practice night, and the door was ajar'
but he couldn't bring himself to enter.
Raving and ranting with the eXtraN-
agance of youth, he passed through
the village, out into the open country,
and, in the course of an hour and
half, back, all blindly, circling back to
the store, in the course of his WANDER
ines. as instinctively as carrier pig
con shapes it's course for home.
II was with incredulity that he found
himself again in that cheerful, cher
ished, homely place. But there ne was
when he came out of his abstraction
there in those familiar surroundings,
with Tracey's round red face beaming
at him over the cigar stand ike
lively counterfeit of the round req
moon he had watched lift up into the
skies. back there in the still country
side, Just as he paused to turn back TO
town.
HE TeCOllSClSu Ills N'.
sumed command of himself sufficiently
to acknowledge Tracey's greeting with
a moody word.
"All right, Tracey" he said abrupt
". You may go now. I'll shut up the
store"
He looked at his watch and was sur
prised to discover that it was no later
than half past s. He seemed to have
lived a lifetime in the last few hours.
Thank you, sir" said Tracey, with
gush of gratitude. I'll be glad to get
Off Angles waitin."
Angler"
Good evening. Mr.. Duncan"
"Oh. Miss Tuthill!" Nat discovered
that little rogue. all smiles and dim
pies and bushes, not distant from his
elbow. 'I didn't see you'll was think
ing"
Guess we know what you was
thinkin' about" observed Tracey.
bringing his hat round the counter.
Everybody in towns talkin' about it,
About what?"
"Ah. you know about what, and
were mighty glad of it, and we want
to congratulate you, don't we, Angler
"oh, yes, indeed, Mr.. Duncan. It's
Just too sweet for anything"
20 Lord" groaned Nat.
I'm awful glad you done it when
YOU did" pursued Tracey, oblivious to
Nat in his own ecstatic temper. L
guess I wouldn't never we got up the
spunk to-to tell Angie what l did to-
night f it hadn't been we was talkin
bout your engagement to Josie. Then,
somehow, it just seemed to bust right
out of me, like l couldn't hold it no
longer. Didn't it, Angler"
"Oh, Tracey, how can you talk so!'
Then you're engaged, too?" Nat in
ouired, rousing himself a little and
smiling feebly upon them.
Yes, sir
I'm glad to hear it. It's great news.
Now, run along, both of you, and don't
forget you'n never be so happy again"
With what he thought an expiring
flash of humor he raised his hands
above their heads. BLESS you, ms
children!" he said solemnly. Now, for
heavens sake, beat it,"
Alone he went TO the prescription
desk and, opening one of the drawers,
took out the firms books. After that
for some fifteen minutes there was
nothing to be heard in the store save
Mats breathing and the scratching of
his pen as he figured out a trial bal
ance.
Brisk footballs disturbed him. He
sighed and moved out into the store
80 find kellogg there, suave and easy,
an always, yet with that in his man
ner. perceptible perhaps only to
friend of long standing like Nat, to be-
tray a mind far from complacent.
Oh, you're here," he cried, with a
distinct start of relief. I've been look
ing all over for YOU"
Il just got in." Nat brushed aside
explanations curtly, intent upon his
purpose. Harry, I've got something
10 say to you. I'm not going through
with this thing"
You're not?"
No, and that's final. l was just on
the point of drawing you a check for
three hundred-that's all my share of
the profits of this concern so far-and