Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-03-28

again.
"Take care Ninon has bloomed out su
perbly."
"And still hides the thorns, presume" he
laughed. "Well, she is certainly 'excellently
we'll done, if nature did ALL lam not averse
to wearing such rose in my button-hole-at
least so long as it does not fade. But at the
end of few seasons she must regard that
change as inevitable Sic transit" &c.
"Why, Jack, you are become veritable
hereto in despite of beauty" said his father
"This comes of your Continental experiences
"Oh one doesn't require tour of Europe
and the Holy Land to grow sceptical on such
subjects Indeed I don't doubt if l had been
sojourning in the Fejee Islands instead, l
should have arrived at the same conclusions
with regard to the charming creatures who
tattoo themselves with the very same aim and
end for which our more civilized damsels like
wise paint"
Then suddenly changing his bantering tone
while the laugh at his ridiculous comparison
continued, he asked:
"What has become of Waldemar? / haven't
heard from him in an age. Last letter had
was about six months ago, while he was in
the full sweep of Irritation with. But nc
matter. He's an incorrigible; no end of man
gled hearts and that sort of thing, but real
good fellow for all that
Mildred listened with tingling ears she had
never heard Waldemar discussed before, and
had quite forgotten Kate's warning.
"Oh harmless sort of amusement for a
young man of Waldemar's circumstances in
life. Rich, talented, idle, with not single
restraining tie, if his guardian be excepted"
"Is Colonel Meredith related to him p
Mildred asked, drawn out in spite Of herself
by the interest she took in the subject; and
then added halfapologetically, while slight
color tinged her cheeks:
"Mr. Waldemar told me he was the ward
of our friend and nearest neighbor, Colonel
Meredith but did not speak of any relation
ship existing between them"
"There is not" Mrs. Moreton replied.
"Colonel Meredith's younger brother was be-
trothed to Creole heiress of great beauty.
They were shortly to have been married; but
she met in society here Polish nobleman,
and without word Of explanation or fore
warning to her former lover, was welded to
this Count Waldemar. It was such cruel
shock that young Meredith never recovered
he literally threw himself away. Elise Wal
demar and I had been thrown much together
during our first winter in society, but lost
sight of her entirely when she went abroad
shortly after her marriage. We heard that
she lived in great retirement on her husbands
estate near Warsaw, and that he spent all his
time and fortune at the German baths where
many of our friends met him-but never
Elise. Jack was scarcely four years old
when she returned to this country crushed
and saddened woman, her husband having
been killed in duel with Russian officer.
Alexis was then child of five or six, and l
we'll remember how struck I was with his
beauty when I went to call on his mother and
saw him playing in the shrubbery with cum
ming little black-eyed girl, the niece Of Colo
mel Meredith's housekeeper, we were told.
Madame Waldemar, as she was called, her IT,
tie being tacitly ignored, had thrown herself
on the magnanimity Of her murdered lovers
brother but so noble and chivalrous was
Charles Meredith that he gave her the place
of sister. No one knows the particulars,
but the whole city was dumb with surprise
when it became known that they were living
Madame Waldemar and her son-at Col
onel Meredith's country-house OH Bayou La
Fourche. 1t was there saw them while on a
visit to your mother twenty years ago. Elise
was faded, but still possessed those fascinating,
high-bred manners which have been so directly
transmitted to her son. Poor creature! be-
lieve she died true penitent, only surviving
their return to this country few months.
Alexis lived with Colonel Meredith till he was
fourteen, from which time till last winter he
was abroad, part of the time with his fathers
family in Poland, who I understand are peo-
pie of the highest consideration. Jack and
he were at Heidelburg together, and after
ward at Berlin and St. Petersburg-were you
not?"
"Indeed we were," Jack said, looking up
from bunch of Malaga grapes, with which
he had been intently occupied during his
mothers interesting recital, "and gay time
we had of it. Those simple trduleins never
could understand what the musical Polish
student would be after in his love-makings
but the Russians were one too many for him.
Their masculine, independent style over
whelmed him. But I thought you were 60
ing to the opera, tonight" he added, taking
out his watch eff it is to be Faust, | am not
willing to miss bar of it."
Several voices began to protest that as he
had just arrived the opera ought to be given
up for the pleasure of his society; but he
laughingly declared they would see quite
enough of him while Marguerite was singing
and shortly the whole party-including as
rare treat, Mr.. Moreton-adjourned to the
opera-house.
Of course, before the evening ended Jack
had found his way to the box where his old
enchantress was weaving her spells around
halfa.dozen men but he did not remain long
"She is too franc ct ais6," he muttered with
drawing down of the corners of his mouth
extremely significant. Pulling his moustache
grimly for moment he turned suddenly to
his cousinwho sat listening intently to the
music. He watched her face long, and then