Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-03-29
CHAPTER SEVEN.
In Which High Voltage Develops In
the Conversation.

In Which High Voltage Develops III
=. the Conversation.
1t was q warm, bright May day.
There was not cloud in The sky.
Roger Delane had arrived and the
pings were giving dinner that even.
ing. The best people Of Hazelmead
were coming over in motorcars.
Phyllis and Roger had long ride
together that day on the new Ken
tucky saddle horses. Mrs. Bing had
spent the morning in Hazelmead and
had stayed to lunch with Mayor and
Mrs. Stacy. She had returned at
four and cut some flowers for the
table and, gone to her roam for an
hours rest when the young people
returned. She was not yet asleep
when Phyllis came into the big bed
room. Mrs. Blng lay among the cush-
ions on her couch. She partly rose,
tumbled the cushions into pile and
leaned against them. i.
."Heavens I'm tired!" she e1-
claimed. "These women In Hazel
mead hang onto one like lot Of
hungry cats. They all want money
for one thing or another-Red Cross
or Liberty bonds or fatherless chill
dren; or tobacco for the soldiers or
Books for the library. My word! i I'm
broke and it seems as If each Of my
legs hung by a thread"
Phyllis smiled as she stood look
ing down at her mother.
e"How beautiful you look" the fond
mother exclaimed. "If he didn't pro-
pose to-day, he's a chump."
"But he did," said Phyllis. II tried
to keep him from 1t, but he just would
propose in spite Of me-"
The girls face was red and serious.
She sat down in a chair and began
to@remove her hat. Mrs. Bing rose
suddenly, and stood facing Phyllis.
A"F thought you loved him." she said
with look Of surprise.
i'a"So I do," the girl answered.
-"What did you say?'
" said no." ~
"What!"
II. refused him!"
! ."For., Gods sake, Phyllis! Do you
think you can afford to play with a
man like that7 He won't stand for
it.""t -
'Let him sit for 1t then and, mother.
you might as we'll know, first as last,
that am not playing with him."
There was q calm note Of firmness
In the voice Of the girl She was pre-
pared for this scene. She had known
it was coming. Her mother was hot
with irritating establishment. The
calmness Of the girl in suddenly be-
ginning to dig grave for this dear
ambition-rlch with promise the
very day when 1t had come submis-
siyely to their feet, stung like the
tooth Of q serpent. She stood very
erect and said with an Icy look in
her face:
"You young upstart! What do you
mean?"
There was q moment OF frigid
silence in which both Of the women
began to turn cold Then Phyllis an
swered very calmly as she sat look
Ing down at the bunch Of violets in
her hand:
"1t means that I am married
mother"
Mrs. Bing's face turned red. There
was u little convulsive movement OF
the muscles around her mouth. She
folded her arms on her breast, lifted
her chin a bit higher and asked In
q polite tone, although her words fell
Ike fragments Of cracked ice:
Married! To whom are you mar.
ried?"
I 'To Gordon King"
Phyllis spoke casually as If te were
"a piece Of ribbon thut she had bought
at store.
:; Mrs. Bing sank into chair and
covered her face with her hands for
half moment. Suddenly she picked
up slipper that lay at her feet and
flung 1t ut the girl. o
"My God!' she exclaimed. what
a nasty liar you are"
1t was not ladylike but, at that
moment the lady was temporarily
absent.
Mother, Pm glad you say that"
the girl answered still very calmly,
although her fingers trembled a little
as she felt the yiolets, and her voice
was not quite steady. ut shows that
I am not so stupid at home as all
ut school"
The girl rose and threw down the
! yiolets and her mild and Hstlcss man
ner. A look Of defiance filled her
face and her figure. Mrs. Bing arose
her eyes aglow with anger.
,"I'd like to know what you mean,
she said under her breath.
II mean that If ! am a liar, you
taught me how TO be it. Ever since
was knee-high. you have been teach
,np mn tn 5orpiro my father au