Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-10-19
The Story Teller.
DECEPTIONS.

uNTNTVCv had responded, yes!
u&IESN1 Oh, yes; she was con
tent indeed. Through the
cloud of costly lace which enwrapped
her in it's snowy transparence she saw
the vast church all dotted with lights
resplendent in the dark gleam of mo-
saics upon golden backgrounds, AMI
mated by the slight movement or the
very elegant crowd that filled 1t, light
ed by oblique rays descending from the
nave, oil q glitter Of gold, Silks ano
brilliants, and 1t was her own future
that she seemed to see thus-the years
of luxury and wealth which her rlch
marriage was preparing for her. And
had It not been the dream for which
she sighed? She. the ideal blond. OF
eighteen years, with the tall and proud
figure, the pure, disdainful profile un'
der heavy curls like those Of an arch
angel. with naughty eyes sparkling
like blue gems under the golden frlnges
Of her long eyelashes.
She had been for long time poor
girl, the daughter Of citizens who had
seen better days, that marvellous hui
man lily. She had experienced all the
petty troubles. all the cruel daily suf'
ferings Of misery that conceals itself.
The poor and inelegant gowns. painful
ly remodeled every year: the insolence
Of creditors, ~humiliations. continual
tormenting thoughts Of money-she had
experienced them all. and In her little
heart, eager for pleasure and enjoy
ment, swollen with unsatlsfied long.
ings, q dream was arisen little by little.
occupying all the room. rendering her
insensible to all the rest-the dream OF
at last becoming rich.
She wanted It absolutely; she was
born for It; she was rich now. That
Eyes" which she had just pronounced
had by it's three magic letters changed
her destiny. and she was so content, so
happy. that 1t appeared to her 1t was
oil dream; that her Mechlln veil was
a cloud that transported her Into the
realms of the impossible. across a
sidereal heaven. Of which the diamond
pins thrust among her laces formed
the flaming stars. and In order to re-
turn to reality she must cast her eyes
toward her husband. Luigo Marchis.
kneeling beside her in the mystic. vel
vety shade Of the altar lit by the trem-
ulous brightness Of the candles.
Ah, there was nothing ideal about
him, poor fellow! In vain he straight
ened his correct person Of an elegant
man. with his accurately shaved face.
with slender brown mustache. and a
still fresh color that gave him some
thing the look of an actor. He re-
mained none the less old, with his
powerful shoulders a little bent, with
bis eyelids grown heavy and crows
feet toward his temples. with the gray
locks that appeared here and there
among his brown hair. with his forty
seven years, Of which the WEAKNESS
was more conspicuous beside that radi-
ant and blond spring.
Forty-seven years! How was it pos
sible? He felt his heart so palpitat-
in., full Of tears as in youth, and he
could not comprehend how so much
time had passed. He could not per-
suade himself Of the Incredible fact
forty-seven years passed without know
ing Gemma.
For they had been acquainted with
each other only two months! Marchis.
however much he had frequented So
ciety, drawn there by his banking con-
nections, had never let himself be talk
ed to of marriage. What! A wife,
children, troubles, cares. dlsappoint-
ment! Not even by idea!
And at forty-seven years one even
ing, present from motives Of curiosity
at ball to which the employees Of his
bank had invited him. he must needs
be smitten by the exquisite. vaporous
grace of that blond girl, dressed SIM
ply in white, entering on the arm Of
funny little man with baby face
and big. silvery beard-her father. a
modest clerk In the bank; a rather
ridiculous little old man who. beside
that divine apparition, slender In her
robes Of snow, made one think Of the
gnomes Of folk tales. always crouch.
ing at the feet Of fairies.
All, weakness Of hearts growing old!
That apparitlon was enough to shake
all the ideas Of Luigo Marchis con-
cerning matrimony, and as the old
gnome. despite his absolute nullity.
was an honest citizen. incapable Of re-
sisting the assiduities of the director
to his pretty daughter. the suitor had
been greatly pleased with the consent
of that little maiden of eighteen, that
beautiful creature, that blond being,
to become his wife. Now he trembled
with Joy. His eyes were misty with
vivid emotion-not perceiving that
that, too. was sign of old age-and II
was q voice choked with joy that to
the question Of the priest. Are you
contentT replied. "Oh, yes"
Now it Is done. Unted-forever unit
ed. Having risen to their feet. she
with an elegant and light inrulse. like
q lily wind-lifted on its stem. he with
a little effort and difficulty. wearied
by emotion. they go down from the
altar arm in arm. Now they pass
through the church amid the murmurs
of compliments which arise amid the
shadows Of the asleS. among the dull
scraping Of feet and the rustic OF
gowns. There on the peristyle. among
the white columns. Is living wave OF
sup and air which comes to meet them
like q recall to real life outside Of the
mystic dream Of the church. the creak
ing Of the line Of carriages that ad