Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-28
CHAPTER xxx.
Two Years Later.

Two years have passed away
changeful years to every one of the
persons with whom this history has to
deal.
1t Is a spring morning, balmy and
sweet. Down at Deepmoor Hall, in fiat,
fenny Lincolnshire, the primroses and
violets are blooming, the leaves are all
out in the great park, and the lawns
and terraces are like living emeralds.
In green places among the fern, the
red deer browse; the high espaliered
garden walls, and clipped beechen al
leys are stepped in hot sunshine; the
larks sing in the blue overhead; and at
a window in the great Elizabethan
house Sir Valentine Arbuckle stands In
the morning light, looking out upon his
goodly possessions. He has not chang
ed much since we saw him last. The
hazel eyes that CLEAN under his rugged
brows are Val Blacks frank, honest
eyes. His red hair, his loose-jointed
figure, his square, strong mouth are all
as unhandsome as ever. His good Tor
tune has wrought no material differ
ence in the outer or inner man. Two or
three big hounds frisk about his legs
Sir Godfrey's dogs. He pats their sleek
heads absently, and keeps his eyes fix
ed on the sweep Of park beyond the
long window.
Its a grand place, eh, ladder" says
voice at his elbow. He turns and
finds Miss Affry Black standing there
smiling up into his face.
A cap Of the finest lace covers her
gray hair. She wears a fashionably
made morning dress Of some soft, rich
material, and gold-rimmed glasses
stuck into her defective eyes. Miss
Black has assumed an air Of impor-
tance, although the county families, re-
membering her antecedents, look down.
is the aunt of a baronet, and the mis-
tress of Deepmoor Hall, and she is nc
longer a cripple, for the London doc
tors and the waters of thes German spas
delivered her long ago from her old foe
rheumatism.
There's but one thing now wanted
at Deepmoor, and that is-a BRIDE
says Miss Black.
Sir Valentine shrugs his shoulders.
What! harping still on that string
Aunt Affry?"
Yes, and why not?" she answers
with irritation. You will be twenty
eight in a few weeks, and you are the
last male of your race. / am sure you
can have your pick among the county
families, Val. Then there are your
who visited US at Christmas-lovely
girls as one could wish to see-either
Of them would be glad to be lady here
was sure-absolutely sure, Val, that
something would come Of this stay with
with us; but dear me! you scarcely
showed them common civility. Tha,
pretty Elsie often said to me In Sc
cret that you were an incomprehensible
American bear"
Miss Elsie Is lady Of penetration,
smiles the baronet, serenely; far be /,
| from me to question her decision 1r
any matter. I'm very grateful for your
solicitude, Aunt Affry, but couldn't you
turn your attention to a more profit
able subject? 1t is not in the least
probable that l shall ever marry"
Never marry! Merciful Heaven!
And why not. pray?"
The baronet gnaws his bristling rec
mustache.
"I am not matrimonially inclined
Aunt Affry! moreover, the present mis-
tress of Deepmoor Hall gives me en-.
tire satisfactioneI prefer to keep hel
in her present position"
Miss Black eyes him keenly through
her gold bowed glasses.
"Laddie, laddie! you cannot deceive
mel" she storms. "The secret of the
whole matter is this: you have not ye
| forgotten that-that-girl!"
A moment Of silence. The barone
stares steadily out Of the long window
You forget Aunt Affry, that you ant
| once agreed never to allude to certain
passages in my past life, knowing tha
we should find 1t Improbable business
I beg leave to remind you of that COM
pact"
"A slip of the tongue, Val-forgive
me-" she answers, dryly. Bah! I've
no patience with you! You are not II
the least like the Arbuckles. The late
Sir Godfrey thought only of his rent.
rolls and his family pride; you care fol
neither. Here you are. baronet witt
an income of twenty thousand pounds
! per year, and you seem no whit happier