Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-06-02

back and idly watched the batsmen.
And then she heard voices.
she is Elsa Chetwood. l remember
seeing her pictures She is a society
girl, very wealthy, but something Of a
Snob."
Martha's ears tingled. A snob, in
deed, because she minded principally
her own affairs!
They think because they belong to
the exclusive sets they can break as
many laws of convention as they
please. Well, they can't. There's al
ways some scandal in the papers about
them. There was some rumor Of her
being engaged to the Duke of What's
his-name bur it fell through because
she wouldn't settle fortune on him.
Only sensible thing she ever did, prob
ably"
And did you notice who sat next to
her at luncheon?'
"A gentleman with a past, Mr.. Craig
tells me-"
Il dare say Miss Chetwood has past
too. if one but knew. To travel alone
like this"
Busybodies Martha rose indignant
the deck Meddlersl What did they
know? To peck like DAVIS at one so
far above them, 50 divinely far above
them. Her natural impulse had been
nd yil
tongue flashing they deserved. But she
had lived too long with Elsa not to
have learned self-repression, and that
the victory is always with those who
stoop not to answer. Nevertheless, she
was alarmed. Elsa must be warned.
All Elsa said was: MY dear Mar
tha, in few days they and their title
tattle will pass out of my existence, ad-
hitting that they have ever entered it.
repeat, my life is all my own, and
that | am concerned only with those
whom | wish to retain as my friends.
Gossip is the shibboleth of the medic
ere, and, thank heaven, l am not me-
diocre."
While dressing for dinner Elsa dis
covered a note on the floor Of her cab
in. The writing was unfamiliar. She
opened it and sought first the sigma
ture. Slowly her cheeks Redeemed, and
her lips twisted in disdain. She did not
read the note, but the natural keenness
of her eye caught the name Of War
rington. She tore the letter into scraps
which she tossed out the port hole.
What vile thing the man was! He
had had the effrontery to sign his name
He must be punished.
1t was as late as ten o'clock when she
and Warrington went up to the bow
and gazed down the cut-water. Never
had she seen anything so weirdly beau
tiful as the ribbons of phosphorescence
which fell away on each side, lumin
ously blue and faked with dancing
starlike particles, through which, ever
and anon, flying fish, dripping with
the fire, spun outward like tongues of
flame.
Beautiful, beautiful! This is the
one spot on the ship. And in all my
travels | have never seen this before.
All silence and darkness in front of us,
and beneath that wonderful fire.
Thanks for bringing me here. | should
not have known what l was missing"
often, when | was stoking, during
an hour or so of relief, l used to steal
up here and look down at the mystery,
for it will ever be n mystery to me. And
| found comfort"
Are you religious, too?'
In one thing, that God demands that
every man shall have faith in himself.
How deep his voice was as compared
to Arthurs! Arthur. Elsa frownel
at the ripping magic. Why was she
invariably comparing the two men?
What significance did it have upon the
future, since at the present momen.,
it was not understandable?
There is a man on board by the
name of Craig" she said. Il advise you
to beware of him.
Who introduced him to you?" The
anger in his voice was very agreeable
to her ears. who dared to-"
NO one. He introduced himself on
the way up to Mandalay. In Rangoon
l closed the acquaintance, such as it
was, with the aid of a hat-pin."
"A hat-pin! What did he say to
you" roughly.
Nothing that | care to repeat
Stop! | am perfectly able to take care
of myself | do not need any valiant
champion"
He has spoken to YOU about me-"
"A letter. | saw only his name and
board. Let us go back. Somehow, ev-
erything seems spoiled. | am sorry |
spoke"
Il shall see that he does not bother
you again." ominously.
They returned to the promenade
deck in silence.
When Warrington found Craig the
man was helplessly intoxicated. He lay
sprawled upon his mattress, and the
kick administered did not stir him.
warrington looked uoWll 1T lllt Souueh
wretch mUudily.
Craig's intuXication was fortunate
for him. otherwise he would have been
roughly handled: for there was black
murder in the heart of the broken man
standing above him. Warrington re-
laXed his clenched hands. This evil
breathing thing at his feet was the
primal cause of it ALL he and a mans
damnable weakness. Of what use his
new found fortune? Better for him had
he stayed in the jungle, better have
died there hugging his poor delusion.
oh. abysmal fool that he had been.
(TO he COntinued)