Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-10-10


my prayers"
Monona entered this request with
precision on. Inas pastiest moments,
but she always rose, unabashed, and
went, motherly and dutiful. to hear
devotiops, as If that function and the
process of living ran their two d.
vided channels.
She had dispatched tltis errand and
was returning when Mrs. Bett crossed
the lawn from Grandma Gates, where
the old lady had taken comfort in
Mrs. Belts ministratlons for an hour.
Don't you help me-" Mrs. Bett
warned them away sharply. 81
guess I can help myself yet awhile"
She gained her chair. And still in
her momentary rule Of attention, she
said clearly:
81 got a joke. Grandma Gates
says it's all over town Di and Bobby
Larkin eloped or together today.
He!" The last was n single note of
laughter. high and brief.
The silence fell.
"What nonsensew Dwight Herbert
said angrily.
But Ina said tensely: 'Ts 1t non
sense? Haven't I been, trying and
trying TO find out where the black
satchel went? dr.
DIS laughter rose, but 1t sounded
thin and false.
"Listen to that, Bobby" she said.
'Listenr
"That won't do, d." said Ina. 'eYou
can't deceive mamma and don't you
try!" Her voice trembled, she was
frantic with loving and authentic
anxiety, but she was without power,
she overshadowed the real gravity OF
the moment by her indignation.
"AIrs. Deacon" began Bobby, and
stood up, very straight and manly
before them all.
But Dwight intervened, Dwight,
the father, the master of his house.
Here was something requiring him to
act. So the father set his face like
q mask and brought down his hand
on the rail Of the porch. 1t was as
II the sound shattered q thousand
filaments-where?
"Diana!" his voice" was terrible,
demanded a response, ravened among
them.
"Yes, papa" said Di, very small.
ANSWER your mother. Answer me.
Is there anything to this absurd tale?"
mo. papa," said Di, trembling.
Nothing whatever?"
Nothing whatever"
-Can you imagine how such RI,
dlculous report started?"
mo. papa"
every well. Now we know where
we are. II anyone hears this report
repeated, send thom to Dle."
"NVelI, but that satchel-" said ina,
to whom an idea manifested less as
function than as n leech.
zone moment" said Dwight. Zulu
will Of course verify what the child
has said"
IF you cannot settle this with d."
said Lulu, "you cannot settle it with
me-"
"a shifty answer" said Dwight.
"You have genius at misrepresent-
ing facts, you know, Lulu"
Bobby wanted to say something"
said Ina, still troubled.
"No, Mrs. Deacon" said Bobby,
low. 81 have nothing-more TO say"
In little while, when Bobby went
away, Di walked with him to the gate.
It was as If, the worst having hap
pened to her, she dared everything
now.
Bobby" she said, "you hate lie.
But what else could I do?"
He could not see her, could see
only the little moon other face, blur
ring.
"And anyhow" said Di, ut wasn't
a lie. We didn't elope. did WEI"
"What do you think 1 came for to-
night?" asked Bobby.
The day had aged him; he spoke
like a man. His very voice came
grufly. But she saw nothing, sof-
tened to him, yielded, was ready to
take his regret that they had not
gone on.
"WelI, I came for one thing" said
Bobby, "to tell you that 1 couldn't
stand for your wanting me to lie to-
day. Why, Dbl hate n lie. And now
tonight" He spoke his code al
most beautifully. "Id rather" he
said. "they had never let us see each
other than to lose you the way I've
lost you now."
Bobby"
"Its true. We mustn't talk about
It."
"Bobby! I'll 20 back and tell them
ALL"
you can't 20 back" said Bobby.
"Not out of thing like that"
She stood staring after him She
heard some one coming and she
turned toward the house, and met
Cornish leaving.
"AIlss Di," he cried, -f you're go
ing to elope with anybody, remember
it's with me-"
IIo- .1oFopca ,voe readv-har Iarph-