Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-12-16


annyw -s
think soT said Arnold Preston
lightly.
Its more-it's positively barbaric
What! Coerced into marrying a girl
you have never seen? Forced to live
with woman you don't like? Its
dreadful, unheard of, abominableP
"Now, don't get excited, Chester"
said easy-going Arnold, as he went
on with packing his valise. I'm the
one most interested, and I'm not COM
planning. My good old uncle, and he
has treated me like prince all my
life, is bent on what the noyelists call
a marriage Of convenience *
"Who is she? What is her name"
AZ have not the least idea in the
world"
"And sheT
Equally as ignorant as to my iden.
tity, l assume, and apparently of the
same filial, obedient mold as myself"
In the same equable frame Of mind
as that in, which he had thus con-
versed with his close college chum,
our Indifferent hero arrived at Twenty
Lakes the next day for two weeks
outing. ,.
Uncle Ramsey had arranged 1t all
outing, introduction to the preGestined
bride, afterwards partnership In
his extensive business, after that the
honeymoon.
Easy as falling off log-why
should / worry?" Arnold indolently
asked himself the next day, as he
started out to enjoy himself in his
favorite sport, rowing.
There was, indeed, fine chain Of
lakes connected by little channels and
full of fish, and the weather was
sublime.
"A new boarder down at Smiths on
the next lake." he heard his hostess
tell her husband at the supper table.
"That so?"
"Yes, very pretty young lady-a
Miss Hope Raymond, my neighbor tells
me. Mr.. Preston, you must meet
her.
Arnold was all eyes, as he passed
the channel into Smiths lake. Lo,
and behold! dainty sprite of
maiden was skimming the water in
light skiff.
Two days after that the skin was
not in much use. Pretty nearly <ali
day long the yawl held two, and
happy, careless, merry pair they were.
Arnold fancied he had never met so
artless, ingenious, attractive a girl as
Miss Hope Raymond.
They boated, they took long drives
along the charmlnslanes Their host
esses gave one or two dances, with
the rural population filling In.
1.-THE last day." rather mourned Ar
mold, as he started forth with his
yawl. Hope had come to meet him
in the skiG. An adverse breeze had
upset her frail craft, When he reached
her, going down for the last time,
she was insensible. He bore her
ashore to where there was aSrustic
bench. She recovered, shrinking back
froml his protecting arms. -.
II am so glad you saved me-" she
,breatfed-"oh, SO glad that 1t was
you"
The words inspired him. In tor
rent of eloquence, he told her of his
love, and then that they must part.
He was bound to duty, but he should
never forget her.
"And lam bound, tool" sobbed
Hope, cllnging to his hand, but face
averted and tear-stained. "Goodby-
goodby!"
That evening She. went home. The
day following Arnold also left Twenty
Lakes.
1t was dusk, and the lights were low
that eventful evening when lie and
his uncle were ushered into the draw
ing room of q palatial home in the
city. Arnold knew it to be that Of
the bride picked out for him.
A dignilied, impressive-looking gen.
tleman entered the apartment as uncle
and nephew arose from their seats.
"My dear old friend Ramsey" he
spoke heartily and moved aside cour.
teously to advance a charming young
lady by his side. my daughter, Mr..
Ramsey. And this, / presume, Is your
nephew? My daughter Hope, Mr..
Preston"
"Oh, father !"-and Hope Raymond
tottered almost into his arms.
Miss Raymond" gasped the as
tonished Arnold.
Met before-ha! ha! Raymond, we
are two old plOtters. Look at chem,"
exclaimed My. Ramsey.
mo, leave them to their happiness"
supplemented Mr.. Raymond.
And there, in perfect silence, Arnold
and Hope, with clasped hands, stood
looking into each others eyes.
A vague suspicion of the truth
flashed into Arnold's mind as he heard
his uncle chuckling in the next room.
"They sent us to Twenty Lakes pur-
posely to meet" said Arnold.
"Was there need, do you think?"
asked Hope, and then hushed and
trembled at her own temerity.
90 l,,4,. A.