Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-08-09
lVt fOOVi Dy e
CHAPTER !.
THE MISSING COUNT.

THE hlSSlNG SoONi.
It was in the pavilion at Lords
that received the telegram which has
in way transformed my life. and it
all happened like this: We were play
ing our annual match against the M.
C. C.-but stay. You don't know as yet
who 1--WE" are Let me explain. "We'
are Tor, alas. were, in so far as l am
concerned) the boys Of Toddlestone
school. and it was our glory, as we'll as
the dread ordeal of those who took part
in the match. to appear once in the
year at Lords cricket ground. general
" about the first days of the summer
holidays. in order to exhibit our pro-
ficiency in the great game before the
eyes of delighted and admiring world
Well, it was my last term at school
for was in my eighteenth year and l
was due at Oxford in October-and /
think perhaps dear old Adkins may
have allowed this fact to influence him
a little when he gave me my colors.
emitting me to play at Lords. After
much vigorous play we won the game
by four wickets. in which l made my
first and CGly century.
Then came the congratulations at the
pavilion. following the cheers that greet
the path of him who retires in glory
from the wicket; then the refreshing
shower bath and the sense Of conviction
that this is the supreme moment OF
ones life, and that if it were not for
the hopes and anticipations that lurk
in the word varsity" one might ap-
propriately lie down to the cadence OF
"Nunc dimittis" and wake no more.
And then. just as-with many elated
and joyful school companions-1 pre-
pared to depart for that dinner which
was to crown the glorious day. then
the telegram.
"By George. Boris" said some one
as the pale. unwholesome looking docu-
ment was handed to me, your friends
are pretty smart with the congratula-
tions. The match must have been re-
ported in the evening papers l didn' t
know we were to be so honored. Did
you, Adkins9'
81 didn't know old Boris was going
to make centuryl" said Adkins.
tore open the envelope and read the
missive
GOOD Lord. what's the matter 7
Look at the color Of his face" / heard
some one say
"Let me sit down a minute and
think" said l.
sat and reread my telegram. while
the blood in my head seemed to surge
and prevent my brain working sutfi-
ciently to grasp the meaning of the
words
The message ran thus:
From Countess Landrinof, st. Petersburg, to
Count Boris Landrinof, Toddlestone:
Come to me as soon as possible. will have to
stay. Am in terrible distress about your father
"What is it. old mani Not bad news
hope" said Adkins.
Heaven only knows what it meansr
murmured. "Read it. will your My
head seems to buzz go. Is my poor IA
ther dead. do you thinkf"
/ believe l burst into tears or made
myself otherwise supremely ridiculous
The sudden blow was too much Of a
shock for me in the midst Of my deliri-
GUS joy.
Adkins read the message.
"Oh, no, old man, he said soothing
ly. II should say certainly not that;
not by this telegram. Cheer up. Well
wire at once for more news.
"Yes, We'll do that, said. 'I'm
sorry I'm such a fool. but l didn't
know the old man was even i'll
"Perhaps it's only money. " suggest
ed Toogood.
"Oh, no, it can't be that, l sighed.
1t could not, l was sure; for my father