Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-02-06

For how long, Tom? Do you know
They were to go home after break
fast this morning; the daughters t.
come out again tomorrow and sta!
with Betty until she leaves"
What's that you're saying?" criet
Murrell.
She's going back to North Caroline
to those friends Of hers; it's no con-
lcern of mine, she does what she likes
without consulting me-" There was
brief pause during which Murrel
scowled at the planter.
Il reckon your hearts tender, too!'
he presently said. Wares dull glance
shifted to Fentress, but the coloners
lcold and impassive exterior forbade
the thought that his sympathy had
been reused.
1T isn't that" Ware muttered
moistening his lips. He felt the utter
Ifutility Of opposition. II am for letting
things rest just where they are" again
his voice slid into a husky whisper
You'll be running all our heads into
a halter, the first thing you know
and this isn't any place to talk over
such matters, there are too many peo-
pie about"
There's only Bess and the old wo-
man busy outside" said Murrell.
What's to hinder them from stick
ing an ear to chink in the logs?"
Go on and finish what you've got to
say, and get 1t off your mind" said
Murrell.
well, then, I want to tell you that
I consider you didn't regard me al
all in the way you managed that busi-
ness at the church! If I had known
what was due to happen there, do you
think I'd have gone near the place?
But you let me go! I met you on
the road and you told me you'd learn
ed Norton had been to see Bowen, you
told me that much, but you didn't tell
me near all you might" Ware was
bitter and resentful; again he felt
the sweat of a moral terror drip from
him.
1T was the best thing for you that
1t happened the way 1t did" rejoined
Murrell coolly. mo one will ever think
you had a hand in It,"
1T wasn't right! You placed me In
the meanest kind of a situation" OBJ
jected Ware sullenly. mopping his
face.
Did you think was going to let
the marriage take place? You knew
he had been warned to keep away from
her." said Murrell. There was a
movement overhead in the loft, the
loose clapboards with which 1t was
floored creaked under heavy tread.
Who's that? Hicks?' asked Ware.
1T isn't Hicks-never mind who 1t
is, Tom," answered Murrell quietly.
II thought you sent him out Of the
county?" muttered Ware, his face
livid.
Look here, Tom, don't ask your
help, but 1 won't stand your interfer-
ence. I'm going to have the girl"
John, you'll ruin yourself with your
damned crazy infatuation!" 1t was
Fentress, no longer able to contain
himself, who spoke.
mo, I won't, colonel, but I'm not go
ing to discuss that. All / want is for
Tom to go to Memphis and stay there
for a couple of days. When he comes
back Belle Plain and its niggers will
be as good as his. I am going to take
the girl away from there tonight.
don't ask your help and You needn't
ask what comes of her afterward.
That will be my affair" Murrelrs
burning eyes shifted from one to the
other.
| "A beautiful and accomplished young
lady-a great heiress-is to disappear
and no solution of the mystery de-
manded by the public at large!" said
Fentress with an acid smile. Murrell
laughed contemptuously.
What's all this fuss over Norton's
death amounted to-" he said.
Are you sure you have come to the
end of that, John?" inquired Fentress,
still smiling.
II don't propose to debate this fur
ther," rejoined Murrell haughtily. In
stantly the colonels jaw became rigid
The masterful airs Of this cutthroat
out of the hills irked him beyond
measure. Murrell turned to Ware.
How soon can you get away from
here, Tom?" he asked abruptly.
"Ey God. l can't go too soon!" cried
the planter, staggering to his feet. He
gave Fentress a hopeless beaten look
l"You're my witness that first and last
I've no part in this!,, he added.
The colonel merely shrugged his
shoulders. Murrell reached out de-
tanning hand and rested 1t on Wares
arm.
Keep your wits about you. Tom
land within week people will have for
gotten all about Norton and your Sis
ter. 1 am going to give them some
thing else to worry over"
Ware went from the cabin. and al
the door swung shut Fentress facec
IMurrell across the table.
i've gone as far with you In this
affair as I can go; after all, as yor
say, it is a private matter. You rear
the benefits-you and Tom between
you'll shall give you wide bertf
until you come to your senses. Frank
ly, If you think that in this late day ir
the world you can carry off an unwill-
ing girl. your judgment is faulty"
Hold on, colonel-how do you know
she is going to prove unwilling?" OBJ.
jected Murrell, grinning.
Fentress gave him a glance Of un.
disguised contempt and rose from his
seat.
II admit your past successes, Johr
that Is, I take your word for them
but Miss Malroy is lady"
Il have heard enough" said Muir
rell angrily.
so have l, John," retorted the COL
onel in a tone that was unvexed bu
final. "and l shall count 1t favor II
you will never refer to her in my hear
IIa ,,onrad in diractiOn Of thf