Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-04-16
,elody, which was instantly caught up

women in the ancient Assyrian cos
tune, copied with great exactitude
from the memorials of that vanished
era. Dancers were crowdlng upon the
floor. Quadrilles formed as If by
magic. One caught glimpses Of IA
nous men in; the world Of art, and
among them. dominating the scene
were the beautiful women Of that
world. the famous models, garbed In
costumes the most magnificent or the
most simple. some shod In gold leath'
er. others barefoot, some shining with
Jewels, others, garlanded with cheap
posies daintily put Oh.
And they all sang till the voices
drowned the great orchestra and the
roof rang with the song.
What is it?' asked Vera. 81 have
heard it In the street."
ut Is 'L'Heure Charmante,' the lat.
est craze of the Quarter" replied Oar.
rell. You know it. thenY for she had
begun to sing. Then why not? 1t is
In the air."
He added his own strong and clear
voice to hers. and they sang together
Justify.
Suddenly the people on their left
veered toward the dancing floor. Vera
turned quickly. her eyes burning He
nodded. and their hands were clasped
together. Another moment and these
two. so strangely met, were dancing
among the revelers-this woman with
the scars of fetters on her wrists. this
man who was! alive because a bullet
fred half an hour before and meant for
him had gone astray. 1t was In har.
mony with the nights adventure that
they should dance and sing together In
this mad throng that whirled them
hither and thither. aimless as fate.
The music stopped with an abrupt
crash of the instruments and break
Of the voices from song to shouting
then to silence. All looked toward the
highest gallery. where appeared Lucia,
acclaimed the favorite model and now
proudly perched upon pedestal. She
was small Of stature, and her beauty
was not Of the type that carries" to q
great distance Her costume. however,
was wonderfully effective. She wore
a gown of pale green. brocaded with
irises, and she held in her hands a yell
low veil SO variable in quality under
the lights that 1t seemed to waver
round her body like tongue Of flame.
A famous artist made q quick sketch
of her as she stood there. snd then the
oldest of the students, giant. dressed
like q gladiator, gave her his hand. and
as she stepped down from the pedestal
he kissed her on the forehead, as If to
typify the reverence for beauty In the
hearts Of all that vast~assenbly of Its
worshipers. Applause rewarded him,
and then the band struck up once more
"L'Eieure Charmante." A thousand
voices seized upon the strain. the dan
GERS whirled away into new measures,
and upon the instant Darrell said in
his companions ear:
"There are the Gordons."
He had deserted his friends at the
edge Of the lower gallery.
1--WE must hurry" he added, "or they
will escape u.s." Then suddenly. Upon
my word. | am glad that we danced!
81. too." she replied. 1T is something
for me to have known this life II only
for a moment But am ashamed to ga
to your friends. 1t Is like asking fa'
vor. am too proud"
1--WE ask nothing" returned Darrell,
mot even advice. We merely tell our
amusing little story for their greater
joy In the midst Of this merrymaking.
/ 1t is q favor that we confer upon them.
HaSten!
1t proved to be easy to overtake the
Gordons, for they returned Immediate
ly to a table and IN unfinished bottle
of wine. The friar Of orders gray was
q stranger in their eyes as he approach
ed them and bowed gravely. as became
his character.
"PaX vobiscum." said he.
"And with you also. father" replied
Gordon. MAY l be permitted to In
quire-Jack Darrell! Well. upon my
soulw
"And Edithw cried Mrs. Gordon, fol
as much as could be seen of Vera in
mask and domino was not without q
suggestion Of Miss Lorrimer.
"You are in error" whispered Dar'
ren, STOPPING beside her chair. "This
lady Is Vera Shevaloff, princess by
right; an exile through injustice.
took her from the agents of the car
this evening. and one Of them, Robert
he added. looking across ut Gordon
"was our friend, the pirate, Ladislov.' y
Gordon rose hastily and bowed. while
bis wife extended her hand to Vera
for there was CLEAN in Darrelrs eyes
which meant, "If you are my friend. re-
ceive her we'll"
"And you are the man who forsWore
adventurew said Gordon aside. "Well
I am not surprised"
lit is this that is the test" replied
Darrell: my presence here. No man
can expect to dictate absolutely in the
matter of general peace and quetness
The thing Is too difficult for the house
may take fire over his head while he
lies asleep with his hands folded upon
his breast. But in regard to special
acts, most of us still retain the de-
lusion of choice. Therefore. in order
to set me definitely right in the matter,
fate has brought me to this spot. 9th
erwise | might have fancied that
was free to decide whether would OF
would not attend a ball: Let me dis
miss the notion. am thistledown fr