Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-02-10


of haberdasher and outfitter In the
city Of Reuton, fifty miles from here.
I taught the Beau Brummels OF the
thoroughfares what was doing In Lon
don in the necktie line. sold them
coats with padded shoulders and COL
lars high and awe inspiring. / was
happy. twisting a piece OF SILK over
my hand to show them how it would
look on their heaving bosoms. And
then-she came.
Mr.. Bland puffed on his cigar.
Yes" he said, "Arabella sparkled
on the horizon Of my life. When l
have been here in the quiet for about
two centuries, maybe 1 can do justice
to her beauty. I won't attempt to de-
scribe her now. 1 loved her-madly.
She said 1 made a hit with her.
spent on her the profits of my haoer-
dashery. 1 whispered-marriage She
didn't scream. / had my wedding
necktie picked out from the samples
of a drummer from Troy.
From here on-the tear l spoke or,
please. There flashed on the scene the
man she had known and loved In Je-
sey City. 1 said flashed. He did
lust that. A swell dresser-say, he
had John Drew beat by two mauve
neckties and a purple frock coat.
had a haberdashery back of me. No
use. He outdressed me. I saw that
Arabella's love for me was waning
With his chamois gloved hands that
new guy famed the ancient flame"
He paused. Emotion-or the smoke
of the cigar-choked him.
Lets make the short story short
er," he said. She threw me down.
In my haberdashery 1 thought 1t over.
was blue, bitter. 1 resolved on a
dreadful step. In the night l wrote
her a letter and carried 1t down to the
box and posted it. Life without Ara
bella, said the letter. was Shakespeare
with Hamlet left out. 1t limited at the
river, carbolic acid. revolvers. Yes;
1 posted 1t. And them
And then" urged Mr.. Magee.
Mr.. Bland felt tenderly Of the
horseshoe pin in his purple tie.
This is just between us" he said.
AT that point the trouble began. 1t
came from my being naturally very
brave man. l could have died-easy.
The brave thing was to live. To go
on day after day devoid Of Arabella-
say, that took courage. l wanted 10
try 1t. I'm Il courageous man, as
say"
You seem So" Mr.. Magee agreed.
Lion hearted" assented Mr.. Bland.
IT determined to show my nerve and
live. But there was my letter to Ara
bella. | feared she wouldn't appreci-
ate my bravery. Women are dull
sometimes. 1t came to me maybe
she would be hurt If 1 didn't keep my
word and die. So had to-disappear.
/ had a friend mixed up in affairs at
Baldpate. No, l can't give his name
| told him my story. He was impress
ed by nv spirit, as you have been
He gave me key he had-the key OF
the door opening from the east varan-
da into the dining room. SO l came
up here. 1 came here to be alone, to
forgive and forget, to be forgotten
And maybe to plan new haberdash'
cry in distant parts
Was it your wedding necktie." ask
ed Mr.. Magee, that you threw into
the safe when you saw me coming?'
No" replied Mr.. Bland, signing
deeply. "A package of letters, writ
ten to me by Arabella at various
times. / want to forget 'em. II
kept them on hand l might look al
them from time to time. My great
courage might give way. You might
find my body on the stairs. That's
why l hid them"
Mr.. Magee laughed and stretched
forth his hand.
Believe me-" he said, your touch
ing confidence in me will not be be-
trayed. l congratulate you on youl
narrative power. You want my story
Why l am here? l am not sure tina
it is worthy to follow yours. But j
has its good points--as l have though
it out"
He went over to the table and pick
ed up a popular novel upon which MI
gaze had rested while the haberdash
er spun his fabric of love and gloom
On the cover was a picture of a yer!
dashing maiden.
DO you see that girl?" he asked
she is beautiful, is she not? Ever
Arabella in her most splendid mo
ment could get a few points from her
l fancy. Perhaps you are not famili
ar with the important part such
picture plays in the success of a move
today. The truth is, however, tina
the noble art of fiction writing ha
come to lean more and more heaVil,
on it's illustrators. The mere word
that go with the pictures grow les
important every day. There are doz
ems of distinguished novelists in tn
country at this moment who might b
haberdashers If it weren't for the lone
lean. naughty, ladies who are scat
tered tastefully through their works
Mr.. Bland stirred uneasily.
II can see you are at loss to kno'
what my search for seclusion and pri
vacy has to do with all this" contin
ued Mr.. Magee Il am an artist. Fo
years l have drawn these lovely ladie
who make fiction salable to the mass
es Many novelist owes his motorca
and his country house to my brusf
Two months ago 1 determined to Civ
up illustration forever and devote m
time to painting. / turned my bac
on the novelists. Can you imagin
what happened"
my imagination is little tired,
: apologized Mr.. Bland.
Never mind. I'll tell you. TIL
leading authors whose work i had s
long illustrated saw ruin staring ther