Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-05-02
gu 0rigiual gtize Storg,
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
THEFATEOF MILDRED WEIR.
BY MRS. CLARA DARGAN MCLEAN.
CHAPTER XII.


CHAPTER XII.
"The bard has sung God formed a soul
Without It's own peculiar mate meet
It's wandering half; when pe, to crown The whole
MARIA DEL OccrDESTE.
They were all sitting at breakfastnext morn
ing in the pretty little salon which constitutes
drawing.room, parlor and dining-room in one
when Jack suddenly made the discovery Of
note of invitation in his pocket.
"Aunt Katherine, this was handed me b.
the Baroness Sterndorf yesterday afternoon
but really was so pleasantly engaged after
wards that forgot it. Pray forgive me TO
being so remiss."
He handed it to her as he spoke-a dainty
missive on tinted paper bearing crest. Mrs
Moreton opened it and read:
DEAR LADY: My husband and l will bt
very glad to have you all spend a sociable
evening with US tomorrow. A few Of oui
friends will be present. Come early, as 1t will
be entirely informal. ~ -.a.
Yours very sincerely,
WILHELMINE Won STERNDoRF.
ooh! how delightful" exclaimed Kate
"Now, Mildred, we can study those paintings
at our leisure, of which we only had a glimpse
the last time we were invited there. 1t was
such jam one couldn't enjoy anything. !
remember that ugly little pug-nosed Count
Altenberg kept his foot on my skirt, and turned
all my pleasure to pain as I was going into
raptures over that divine Guido"
"Yes, and you insulted him with your ter
rife frowns," Henriette said, as if personally
injured. HE was very nice young man,
and I am sure he will never come near us
again"
II most earnestly pray he won't" Kate de-
clared, rising and going toward the piano ;
"for must confess, my dear, that of all the
awkward creatures it has ever been my mis-
fortune to meet, this Herr Graft of yours is
the most unmitigated. And such fop, too,
in his light primrose kids, and laced like a
schoolgirl in her first season. These Bava-
rian officers are vainer than West Point ca
dets, and that is saying much"
She began strumming, but Henriette was
not to be silenced thus.
"Now, Kate, that is unjust. You have
taken prejudice to him because he tore your
dress with his spur. He made every apology
and seemed morti6ed-did he not, Mildred !?
Though he certainly spoke very bad English"
she added, apologetically.
Both the girls laughed at the plaintive tone
in which the admission was made and Mil
dred said:
"Your Count is perfect in his own language,
Eta, however he fails in ours"
"What is that?" Jack asked, looking up
from Gallignani, over which he generally
spent halfhour every morning. care you
going to be taken in with high-sounding
name and castle in Spain, Eta? hope
you girls will be more sensible than to be in
atuated by such empty honors."
"Listen at Jack preaching!' Kate cried, in
great amusement; 81 mean to make special
trial for title before I leave this land of
sounding brass. Eta, my love, how should
YOU fancy being written down the Frau
Hotrathin von AAeabergs I imagine I see
you spreading abroad your beauties and your
ancestral jewels-a silver broach and tor
toiseshell comb with lattice.work top-knot.
Eheu, my Posthume"
"Kate, Kate, you are growing positively
vicious" Jack said, laughing inordinately at
Henriette's indignant face. "Come, puss,
don't mind her. Petruchio will appear some
day, whether in the shape of German Graf,
a Russian Prince, or poor student, and then
there will be an end of her spiteful teazings.'
Kate irreverently twitched the ends Of his
long moustache, the only get-atrable point
about him, and received pinch on the cheek
for her pains.
Meanwhile, the others finished their break
fasts quietly and after their individual tastes,
Mrs. Weir assisting Cololonel Meredith and
Miss Lyle in discussing the ways and means
of an excursion to Schwaneck. As it was
only few miles up the river, most Of the party
preferred walking but in consideration of the
elder ladies, it was at length decided that
faere was to be obtained, and those who fan
cied pedestrial exercise should be allowed to
enjoy it.
The ladies were each employed in their
morning occupations-Mrs. Weir ard her sis
ter working, Henriette reading, Mildred paint
ing, and Kate practisinga Volksleid she had
lately heard, when the house-hell rang, and
shortly after tap at the door of the salon,
followed by the appearance of their landlady'
"Will the gracious ladies forgive me, but
his excellency, the Herr Graf Won Altenberg
has called, and I could not think of allowing
him to come up, gracious young ladies, with
out first announcing his excellency.''
The fat little soul stood in the doorway, her
blue cotton gown looped up on each side, a
huge white apron adorned by long silver
chain upon which were suspended pair oil
scissors and pin-cushion in small ivory ring
her black hair elaborately braided, but half
concealed with striped handkerchief, bound
Enthusiastically around her head on the whole a
most comical yet picturesque figure as she
stood putting with haste, and glancing around
at the GRACIOUS ladies" with her small black
eyes.
Kate was the first to speak. "Tell him We
are not at home," she began but Mrs. Weil
rose and went to the door.
"Ask the Count to walk up," she said, hel
German as yet being quite limited.
The fat little frau hobbled away, smiling
and waving her hand. The honor was over
nouerino To her sim nle mind Won Altenherf