Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-01-30

She must not think of him, ne was
nothing to her. She was to be mar
ried to another man, even now she
was almost a wife-but battle as she
might the struggle went on.
There was the sound Of step on
the path. Betty turned, supposing 1t
to be Tom; but it was not Tom, it was
Darlington himself who stood before
her. his face haggard and drawn. She
uttered an involuntary exclamation
and shrank away from him. Without
word he stepped to her side and
took her hands rather roughly.
For a moment there was silence be-
tween them. Betty stared up into
his face with wide scared eyes. while
he gazed down at her as If he would
fasten something on his mind that
must never be forgotten. Suddenly
he lifted her soft cold hands to his
lips and kissed them passionately
again and again; then he held them
in his own against his cheek. his
glance still fixed intently upon her;
it held something of bitterness and re-
proach. but now she kept her eyes
under their quivering lids from him.
What am I to do without your
his voice was almost whisper. What
is this thing you have done?" Betty's
heart was beating with dull sickening
throbs, but she dare not trust herself
to answer him. He took both her
hands i'm one of his, and slipping the
other under her chin. raised her face
so that he could look into her eyes:
then he put his arm loosely about her.
holding her hands against his breast.
IF / could have had one moment out
of all the years for my own-only one.
1 am glad you don't care. dear; it
hurts when you reach the end OF
something that has been all your hope
and filled all your days. l have come
to say good-by, Petty: this is the last
time I shall see you. | am going
away"
All in an instant Betty pressed close
to him. hiding her face I'm his arm; she
clung to him in panic of pain and
horror. She felt something stir with
in her that had never been there be-
fore. as a storm Of passionate longing
swept through her. Her words, her
promise to another man, became as
nothing. All her pride was forgotten.
Without this man the days stretched
away before her blank. His arm
drew her closer still, until she felt
her heart throb against his.
do your care?" he said, and SEEM
ed to wonder that she should
Bruce. Bruce, I didn't know-and
now Oh, my dear, my dear He
pressed his lips against the bright lit
tie head that rested in such miserable
abandon against his shoulder.
DO your love me?" he whispered.
The blood ran riot in his veins.
why have you stayed away-why
didn't you come to me? I have prom
ised him" she gasped.
81 know" he said, and shut his
lips. There was another silence while
she waited for him to speak. She felt
that she was at his mercy, that wheth-
er right or wrong. as he decided so 1t
would be. At length he said: Il
thought it wasn't fair to him, and it
seemed so hopeless after I came here.
l had nothing-and a man feels that
so l kept away" He spoke awkward
ly with something of the reserve that
was habitual to him.
If you had only GOMEZ" she moan
ed.
Il did-once," he muttered.
You didn't understand; why did
you believe anything I said to you?
1t was only that I cared-that in my
heart l knew | cared-I've cared for
YOU ever since that trip down the riv-
err. and now I'm going to be married
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Bruce-do you
realize 1 have given my promise? l
am to meet him at the Spring Bank
church at ten o'clock-and it's to-
morrow" she cried, in laboring
choking voice. For answer he drew
her closer. Bruce, what can | do?-
tell me what ! can do"
Darlington made an involuntary
gesture of protest.
II can't tell you that, dear-for l
don't know" His voice was steady,
but 1t came from lips that quivered.
He knew that he might have urged
the supreme claim of his love and in
her present desperate mood she would
have listened. but the memory Of Nor
ton would have been between them
always a shame and reproach; as
surely as he stood there with his arms
about her. as surely as she clung to
him so warm and near. he would have
| lived to see the shadow Of that shame
in her eyes.
II can not do it-I can not, Bruce.
she painted.
"Dear-dear-don't tempt me-" He
held himself in check.
Il am going to tell you-just this
once, Bruce love yOu-you are my
own for this one moment out OF
my life," and she abandoned herself
to the passionate caressing with which
he answered her.
How can | give you up?" he said
his voice hoarSe with emotion. He
put her from him almost roughly, ana
leaning against the trunk of tree
buried his face in his hands. Retty
watched him for Il monument III
wretched silence.
Don't feel so bad. Bruce" she said
IbrOkenly. II am not worth ii. l
tried not To love you--I didn't want
to-" She raised II white face to his.
Il am going now. Betty. Tou-y0u
shouldn't stay here any longer with
me-" He spoke with sudden resolu-
| ton.
And | shall not see you again ~
she asked. i'm low stitled voice.
It's goOd-by-" he muttered.
"Not yet---Oh. not IT. Bruce she
| IN, plnra6 "T can no.