Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-05-19
|ss5S59sE5IeyIyIsSgGy5GD q N5(g(DGEekGg5es
CHAPTER III.
A Lovers Quarrel.

drizzling rain mixed with fog enVel-
oped the city. Somehow the chill founo
his heart. The windows of Mans room
were dark. For the first time in his
life he had called and found her out.
He rang the doorbell in a stupor of
disappointment. For just moment
the sense Of disaster was so complete
it was ridiculous.
A maid answered at last and usher
ed him into the dimly lighted parlour.
Miss Nan Is at home, Berta?" he
asked eagerly.
The little Danish maid smiled know
ingly:
Ma, but Meesis Primrose"
With a groan Stuart sank to a chair.
The maid turned up the lights and left
the room. He looked about with as
tonishment. Things had been nap
nening with a vengeance during his
absence. The entire house had been
redecorated. An oriental rug OF daZ-
zling medallion pattern was on the
newly polished floor. Instead OF the
set of Chippendale mahogany the
Primroses had brought from the
south, a complete outfit of stately
gilded stuff filled the room, and heavy
draperies to match hung from the tall
windows and folding doors.
On the table in the corner stood
vase filed with gorgeous red roses.
The air was heavy with their perfume.
1t made him sick. The mothers vel
vet hand he saw at once. or course
she had not borrowed the money from
Bivens. She was too shrewd for that.
But she had borrowed it beyond
doubt, and she had evidently gone the
limit of her credit without a moments
hesitation. He wondered how far she
had gotten with Bivens. Could 1t be
possible that Nan was with him to-
night? No-preposterous! He heard
the rustic of Mrs. Primrose's dress and
saw the smile of treacherous joy slow
ly working into position on her plausi-
BILE face before she entered the room.
She greeted him with unusual effu-
sion:
On, JlIIl, llllS 10 odSi oANA @NNS
surprise! Nan didn't expect you till
morning and she will be heart-broken
to have missed you even for half
hour. My dear, dear boy, you have no
idea how lonely both of us have been
without you the past two weeks" -
You missed me too, Mrs. Primrose?'
"Of course, / missed you, Jim!
You've come to be like one of u.s."
She leaned close and purred the last
sentence in the softest feline accents.
Stuart felt his nerves quiver as the
imaginary claws sank into his flesh,
but he smiled back his grateful an
swer.
It's nice of you to say that"
Whats more natural? You know
I've always loved you next to Man."
She spoke with such fervour that
Stuart shivered. 1t was sinister. She
evidently felt sure of his ruin. He
was too much dazed to find a reply,
and she went on earnestly:
I'VE needed you here so much to
help us fix up. We've had the good
luck to rent our second floor to a
young millionaire"
Mr.. Bivens, yes"
why, how did you know?" she
asked with a start.
DIR. Woodman has just received an
important letter from his dated here,
and he asked my advice about it."
oh"
where's Nan?" Stuart asked, with
sudden anger in spite of his effort to
keep cool.
why, she's giving a little box par
ty at the theatre tonight"
And our mutual friend, Mr.. John c.
Calhoun Bivens, is presiding?"
why, Jim, how could you he so alb
surd." she protested Indignantly. i've
been saving money for a month TO
give Nan this chance to return some
courtesies she has received from rich
friends. l need Mr.. Bivens's money 10
pay the rent of this big house. But
any attention on his part to Nan would
he disgusting to me beyond measure
Yet he's the sensation in high fl
nance just now," Stuart said, with ar
unconscious sneer. They say he's
destined to become a multi-million-
aire"
Come, come, Jim, it's not like you
to he nasty to me. You know as well
as | do his origin in North Caro-
lima His people are the veriest trash
He was at college with you"
And how did YOU know that"
Not from you, of course. You've
never mentioned his name in your life
He told me.
"Oh, Bivens told you"
Yes. when asked him if he knew
YOU he told me with a touch of gen.
uine pride that you were friends. HI
thinks you are going to be the Creates
lawyer in New York And told hin
we'd known that for long time"
Stuart turned his head to hide
smile.
But of course he's not in Mans So
cial set. | told her the day he came
that we would treat him politely bu
draw the line strictly on any effort:
he may make to pass the limits of ac'
uuaintance. The men who associate
with Nan must belong to her father:
world-to your world, Jim-the worlt
of good breeding and culture. I've
dinned this into Mans ears from baby
hood. You know yourself it was tn
greatest JOY of my life the day she tolt
me of your love-"
BY a supreme effort Stuart sup
pressed a laugh and answered seri
ouSly:
Your approval has always been al
inspiration to me, Mrs. Primrose.
hope to prove myself worthy of It,"
A carriage stopped at the door.
There's Nan now" the mother eX
claimed. rising to go. I'll leave you t.
surprise her jim"
Stuart heard the carriage door slam
and in a moment the girl he lOveC