Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-06-19
CHAPTER XIV.
ACCORDING to the Rules.

be run TO the DOlanlcdl SarueHS anu
back. She wanted to be alone, want
ed breathing space, wanted the breeze
to cool her hot cheeks. For she was
angry at the world, angry at the
gentle consular above all,
angry at herself To have laid her
self open to the charge of indiscretion!
To have received a lecture, however
kindly intended, from the man she
loved and respected next to her faith
er! To know that persons were eX-
changing mods and whispers behind
her back!
1t was a detestable world. 1t was
folly to be honest, to be kind. to be
individual to have likes and dislikes,
unless these might be regulated by
outsiders. Why should she care what
people said? She did not care. What
made her furious was the absolute
stupidity of their deductions. She had
not been indiscreet; she had been
merely kindly and human; and II
they wanted to twist ano misconstrue
her actions, let them do 80.
She hated the word people. 1t
seemed to signify all the useless inef-
ficient persons in the world, massed
together after the manner of sheep
and cattle. stupidest of beasts, always
wanting something and never knowing
what; not an individual among them
And they expected her to conform
with their ways! Was it necessary for
her to tell these meddlers why she
had sought the cOmpanionship OF
self-admitted malefactor?-Oh, that
could not be! If evil were to be found
in such a man, then there was no
good anywhere. What was one mis-
step? Was it not written that all OF
US should make one or more? Ana
surely this man had eXpiated his. Zen
wears in the wilderness, ten long lone
ly years. How many men would have
stood up against the temptations OF
this exile? Few, if any, among the men
she knew. And they criticized her be-
cause she was sorry for the man.
Must she say to them: Dear people,
l spoke TO this man and engaged ms
companionship because l was sorry
for him; because he looked exactly
like the man l have promised to mar
ry,' 1t was ridiculous. She laughed.
The dear people!
Once or twice she saw inwardly the
will o. the-wisp lights of her SOUL
But resolutely she smothered the
sparks and bolstered up the pitiful
lie.
The coolie stopped suddenly.
Go on" she said.
But the coolie smiled and wiped his
shaven poll. Elsa gazed at the hotel
veranda in bewilderment Slowly she
got out of the rickShaw and paid Ehe
fare. She had not the slightest recol-
lection of having seen the gardens.
More than this. it was quarter TO
seven. She had been gone exactly
one hour.
Perhaps, after ALL" she thought
Il am hopeless. They may be right;
| ought TO have n guardian. / am not
always accountable for what l do"
She dressed leisurely and with cal
culation. She was determined to con-
vince everyone that she was beauti-
full woman. above suspicion, above re-
proach The spirit within her was not,
however. in direct accord with this
determination Malice stirred into life
again: and she wanted to hurt some
one. hurt deeply. 1t was only the
tame in spirit who, when injured, sub
mitted without murmur or protest.
And Elsa. only dimly aware of it, was
mortally hurt.
Elisa" said Martha, that frown
will stay there some day, and never
go away"
Elsa rubbed it out with her finger.
Martha. do you recall that tiger in
the cage at Jaipur? How they teased
him until he lost his temper and
came smashing against the bars? Well
| sympathize with that brute. lie
would have been peaceful enough had
they let him be. Has Mr.. Warning
ton called today"
No"
We'll. if he calls tomorrow, say
that | am indisposed.''
Martha evidenced her satisfaction
visfhly The frown returned between
Elso's eyes and remained there until
she went downstairs To join the con-
Sul-general and his wife. She found
some very agreeable men and women
and some of her natural gaiety return
ed. At a far table on the veranda
she saw Craig and Mallow in earnest
conversation.
She nodded pleasantly To the col
onel as the head boy came to announce
that dinner was served. Anglo-lndian
society had SO many twists and rem-
fcations that the situation was not
eyactIy new to the old soldier True
none had confronted him Identical To
this. But he had not disciplined men
all these years without acquiring
abundant self control. The little veins
i'm his nose turned purple, as Elsa
urophesied they would, but there was
no other indication of how distaStetul
the moment was to him. He would
surely warn the consul general who
doubtless was innocent enough.
They sat down The colonel blink
ed. Fine passage we had coming
down"
Was it," returned Elsa innoCently
The colonel reached for an olive and
hit into it savagely. He was no fool
She had him at the end of a blind-al
lev. and there he must wait until she
was ready to let him go. She could
harry him or pretend 10 ignore him
as suited her fancy. He was caught
Women all women, possessed AT least
one attribute of the cat. 1t was dlS-
-ing in the claw. hanging by it, and
hnredly looking about the world To see
what was going on. At that moment
the colonel recognized the sting OF the
claw.
Elsa turned To her right and engag'
cd the French consul diSCurSively; the
vandalism in the gardens at Versailles
tn. ,rl,rt nf vehicles in the lSOiS al