Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-08-20

wife'S last illness .he had gone deeper
into the mire. A curate who marries
on the magnificent income Of $3.50 ayeaI
Is either a very gallant gentleman oI
a very stupid one; but Agnes Courcy
so Keppel thought, had been wearing
out her life as a governess quite long
enough, so he persuaded her that
quick marriage was infinitely better
than a long engagement.
For a time all went we'll. Jack KEEP
pei and his wife were perfectly happy
perfectly devoted to one another
and until the children came there was
no difficulty about meeting the week
ly and quarterly bills.
Keppel had one great failing-a fall
ing which would have been virtue
had his pocket always been full in
stead of nearly empty. He could not
resist giving away money to his. poor
money that he could not afford to
give.
But somehow things drifted on
There were plenty of poor in Merton
Somerford, the little country town in
the south Of England, where Jack
chanced to be curate-in-charge Of a
mission church; and they adored KEEP
pei.
His appearance, as a parson. was
against him, so far as the ladies were
concerned. A huge freckled-face giant
with red hair, Jack was not what one
would call a drawing-room man, but
his jolly, infectious laugh was always
welcome.
But on this morning the gloom had
settled on his soul. He had worried
more than any one knew. except per-
haps his friend Dick Valentine, the To-
cal bank manager, who had pressed a
loan upon him out Of his own pocket
when the twins had arrived. But at
last the crisis had come. Keppel had
for the first time been threatened with
a writ. He had been foolish enough
to go to a money lender that he might
be able to pay the butcher and the
baker, and the money lender had
come down on him with the callous-
ness of his kind; because he had fall
ed in the monthly payment.
Jack flung himself into a chair and
sat brooding until the little maid-of-
all-work entered with a ha-penny Lon
don paper. Wearily he glanced over
It. There were the usual headlines
naval review, cyclone havoc, the kings
visit to Aldershot, conference on the
veto, the Marlborough murder, air
ship trials, Arizona Joe's challenge not
yet accepted, and so on.
The twins were romping in the room
above, but Jack had not the heart to GO
up and join the scramble on the floor
and presently Mrs. Keppel entered.
She greeted Jack with her usual
cheerfulness, but he fancied that an
other blow was coming when she hes
itated a little before asking him to
read a letter which had just arrived
from a tradesman who was himself In
difficulties and who begged Keppel to
settle his bill without delay. But al
last she handed 1t to him.
What can we do, Jack?"
Agnes" he said. I'VE must clear out
of Merton Somerford. / must write
to the bishop and tell him why. can't
stay here any longer, and yet it drives
me mad to think that must go away
leaving debts behind me-debts which
I may not be able to pay for a long
time"
What shall tell Wilson, dear?" she
asked. HE Is waiting"
Tell him he shall have his bill paid
within a month";" said Keppel. sudden
ly.
She looked at him for an instant
doubtingly; then went softly away. The
door closed.
Keppel took up the paper again
then dashed it down and began tc
tramp the room, muttering thickly.
YES" he said at last. "rll do 1t!
No one will know, not even Agnes, un-
til it's all over. And then-well. ther
I don't care what happens"
That evening Keppel went for long
walk in the country, and visited bat
tered old character who lived at vii
lage some miles from Merton Somer-
ford. 1t was late when he returned
and he was very tired. But the even
ing walks continued, and Agne:
thought they did him good. He usu'
ally came home in splendid spirits, ane
he looked harder and leaner, and there
was a lightness in his step such as she
had not noticed for years. He wen
among his poor as usual; he spen
recklessly money which Agnes thought
should have gone to Mr.. Wilson.
But Jack cried: "Hang Mr.. Wilson!
Haven't l said he shall be paid within
a month? Listen, Agnes! I'm going
away next week ~ a few days. I've
seen the vicar; Eve told him / wan
leave OF absence for urgent private
reasons He grumbled, but consented
Now, don't ask me single question
Be content to know that I'm going u
try to get some money to pay all ou'
debts-all Of them!"
Two days later Jack Keppel hat
vanished from Merton Somerford.
Mrs. Keppel. busy with the twins
went out very little during the follow
ing week; and was rather glad whel
a friend called one evening to ask he
to GO to an entertainment at the as
sembly rooms-an ugly building use'
for lectures, concerts. political meet
ings and occasionally as theatre.
It was a wet, stormy night and tn
hall was thronged. The entertainment
was of a kind that appealed to Merton
Somerford-a little comedy, snor
concert, and finally the cinematograpr
Sir Joseph Molloy, a generous
pompous gentleman, had paid for nj
norton Of the entertainment, and
great shout went up when stout ma
in dress clothes, announced that n
had a surprise in store.
In a word, ladies and gentlemen
cried he, 81 am about to show you IN
most wonderful series Of pictures tina
ever you set eyes upon. l believe
am the first to exhibit them. Present
ly. ladies' and gentlemen, you snail sc