Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-07-04
BOOK 1.-THE ROOT.
CHAPTER XIII-Continued.

beauty dominated by keen intelligence.
This portrait on which he stood gaZ-
ing as II in a spell was evidently paint
ed the second year Of their marriage.
He remembered now her diary had
given an account Of it when the painter
came over from the Continent to exc
cute the commission. He tried to re-
call her appearance the day of the as
sault. The impression was too blurred
by excitement to have much meaning
He wondered If she really showed the
ten years added to her age. At least
he knew that she had not been happy.
There was some consolation in that.
Her ceaseless efforts to win back his
friendship had left no room for doubt.
He sank deep into the great chair and
silently waited her coming.
When he suddenly heard the rustic
of her dress in the hall his heart be-
gan to pound. He rose with a move
ment of nervous anger. His boasted
self-control was a myth, after all.
When Mans radiant figure appeared
in the doorway, her bare arm extend
ed, her lips parted in tender smile,
Stuart knew that his face was red.
The fact that he knew it increased his
confusion until the whole room be-
came a blur. His feet refused to move,
and he stood staring at the approach
ing vision as If in a trance.
Her hand touched his. The shock
was SOLDERING; he remembered himself
and smiled.
What a long, long time, Jim!"
"A thousand years. think, Man," he
stammered.
Nine hundred to be exact, sir, but
better late than never. 1 began to
think your stubbornness would post
pone this call until the next world"
And we may not land at the same
place on the other side?"
"A compliment or an insult?"
Il don't know, do you?"
He was laughing quietly now, his
nerves stronger by the tension of the
challenge of her evident gaiety.
She smiled a gracious forgiveness Of
his dubious answer.
Mr.. Bivens was detained down town
on business. am awfully sorry he's
not here to join in my welcome"
We'll, I'm not"
He was looking steadily at her with
curious concentration.
She answered with a flash from her
dark eyes and critically looked him
over.
"Well?" he asked.
I'm awfuliy disappointed"
"Why?"
MY vanity is hurt. / expected to
find you, after nine years, with deep
lines of suffering written on your face.
You are better looking than ever. The
few gray hairs about your temples are
extremely becoming. Your honors
have given you a new repose, dig
nifty and reserve power l couldn't con-
ceive when saw you battered by that
mob"
Allow me to return the compliment
by saying that you are even a more
startling disappointment to me. 1 was
sure that 1 should find you broken"
And you dOn't?"
Stuart smiled.
I'D as we'll confess it frankly. You
are far more beautiful than ever"
The woman softly laughed.
You see no changer"
THE only changes l see merely add
to your power; the worldly wisdom
which marriage writes on every wo-
mans face, a new strength, warmth
and fascination and conscious joy at
which l wonder and rage"
why wonder and rage?"
She drew him gently to a seat by her
side, leaned forward and gazed smil-
ingly at him.
Stuart was silent a moment and
turned suddenly on her.
Because Nan, when l look into your
face tonight and see it's joy, l can't
help thinking such happiness is a
crime. l saw JOY like that once on the
face of an Italian l defended and ac-
Quilted of murder. l believed him in
nocent but when he was free he con-
Fessed to me his guilt, confessed with
.ch joy that 1 sprang on him and
choked him into silence"
And you think Of me as murder
ess, JIM
mo, no, my dear little playmate,
but when see you tonight in all this
splendor so insolently happy"
Nan sprang to her feet laughing.
You are delicious tonight, Jim, and
I'm so glad you are here. Come into
the art gallery. 1t will take you days
to see it; We'll just peep in tonight"
He followed her into a stately room
packed with masterpieces of art;
cleaning marbles and sombre bronze
in groups of bewildering beauty, with
every inch of wall-space crowded with
canvases in massive gold frames glow
ing with the soft radiance of concealed
electric lights.
Stuart gaZed a moment in rapture.
You must spend days here, Jim.
ed ideals, wouldn't YOU like to own
this?"
Il wouldn't dare"
Dare"
No. Not if l had the wealth of
Croesus."
why not?"
It's a crime to rob the world of
these masterpieces of genius. They
should be the free inheritance and in
spiraton of all the children of men.
The humblest child of the street should
own them because he is human. The
man who has the power to buy them,
of all men, should give to the people
whose lives and toll gave him his
power"
Nan gazed at Stuart in vague be-
wilderment and then a mischievous
smile crept into the corners of her
mouth.
You're trying TO throw dust in my
eyes, but | can tell you what YOU are