Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-04-11

stones of translucent aqua marina. Here and
there wreath of crystalized sea-weed min
gled with coral twigs caught up the graceful
drapery and a zone richly set in pearls and
diamonds defined the slender waist. Mildred
would have recognized her identity even be.
fore the sudden start with which Jack &C.
knowledged her presence revealed that the
siren was weaving her spells in spite of the
slight mask of white crepe which covered the
upper half of her beautiful face.
"And are you so late, sir Prince! You
were not won't to be 'laggard in love-"
were the words with which she greeted the
new conner, turning from her worshippers.
"Nor am 1 yet, fair goddess" returned the
Circassian chief, bowling his naughty head
over the profered hand. "Upon my faith, l
little dreamed of what awaited me upon
'many-fountained Ida Where is beautiful
evil-hearted Paris that may meas
ure lances with him for the smiles and favors
of Venus Aphrodite ?"
He looked at the surrounding masks as if
daring each to mortal combat; but the god
dess laughed in merry scorn.
"Here is my first favor" she said, bestow-
ing her hands with queenly grace. 'Your
majesty" turning to the grande monarq'e,
"will you lead forth the White Lady Of Av-
eral to the dance?"
She moved forward and took her place in
the circle forming for the German, while
Prince Schamyl, with his accustomed courte-
sy, could only acquiesce and follow.
Mildred soon recognized in her partner the
"beau des beauz," Mr.. Chetwynd, an English
gentleman of aristocratic connections and
great wealth, who had been lending the light
of his rather bovine countenance to the 80
ciety of the city for several months. He was
pleasant, but inclined to pedantry and patron
izing airs. The first pause in the dance was
marked by his volunteering an opinion of
Mardigras in very passable French.
"And what a number of splendid costumes
I had no idea you Southern people possessed
such resources of taste and-ah wealth.
Really some of the jewels I see here would
rival those displayed at our Royal recep-
tions %
Something at that moment prompted Mil
dred, as she returned a commonplace reply,
to glance at her gloveless hand.
The topaz ring was gone!
In another part of the room Waldemar was
standing, moodily watching each figure that
passed in the whirling gallop, to find ifpossible
his lost lady-love.
"Come and dance, man, and don't be ma
king such an Egyptian skeleton of yourself"
said one of his companions, slapping him on
the shoulder as the jolly Crew passed in search
of some fresh amusement.
"Dont let my disinclination to become a
Bacchanal incommode you in the least" He
was just angry enough to be ill'naturedly sar-
castle.
-aConfaunded iapudaaoal@" rolinking
Mystic muttered, as Waldemar sauntered
away; "Gets worse and worse the more these
women thin, by Jove"
From loge above white hand beckoned; /;
topaz ring cleaned on the slender finger.
In another moment Waldemar had bounded
up the stairs, and was in the lobby.
"Here, some of you'll" he cried to crowd
of attendants and OF polLoi who had gathered
there, "tell me which is the door to the second
proscenium-box."
Several hastened to show him, and his hand
was on the lock when a white domino came
forward, and taking his arm whispered in an
igitated voice:
eve will be observed here. Come with
me-"
Trembling with passionate joy Waldemar
halfsupported her as she led the way to pri-
vate entrance on the first floor.
"Where are you going?" he asked, seeing
carriage before the open door.
"No matter; if you love me say nothing
but come"
All was said in whisper; and, like one in
trance, the lover almost delirious with this
unexpected favor, lifted her into the carriage
and leaped quickly in himself:
The night had become overcast, and a chill
wind blew from the Gulf. The carriage-lamps
were not lit, and Waldemar strove in vain to
get a glimpse of the face of his companion.
"My own My darling!" he murmured,
clasping her unresisting form to his breast.
"How good this is of you! l never hoped
for 80 much. I know now that you love me !:
say that you dop
The topaz ring cleaned in the light Of a
street-lamp as they passed quickly by-and it
struck him that the hand he grasped so ten
derly was not so slight as he had thought.
This one brief idea afterward recurred to him
with terrible vividness.
"Will you prove your love to me?" the
voice whispered, the fringe of her domino
sweeping his cheek. evil you trust me
without word more?'
eyes as God is my witness swear will
prove my love and my faith in any manner
you suggest"
His voice was hoarse, and his breath came
fast and heavily,
"Then we will be married"
Waldemar was no longer his own master.
The excitement and suddenness of the whole
proceeding would have turned cooler brain 4:
this impulsive Creole in whom his first ardent
love had just reached its elimination, could
think of nothing beyond the blissful assur-