Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-12-02

Low at her corsage she wore bunch
OF priceless orchids whose purple and
violet hues shot with touches Of gold
blended so exquisitely with the fab
ric of her gown.
Grafton had eyes for no one but her.
He had known that she was beautiful
even in the simplicity in which she
had always been robed when he had
seen her. He had known that she
was the fairest of women, to him at
any rate, but he never realized until
now how magnificently royal she was
in her rare and exquisite loveliness.
His heart sank as he looked at her.
She was one in q world. Surely this
treasure in which Nature summed up
the achievements Of the past and an
ticipated the possibilities Of the fu-
ture could not be for him! But II not
for him, for no one, he swore. Yet he
felt an intense sympathy for poor de
Vitre, sitting haggard at the foot Of the
table, eating nothing, modify DRAIN
ing his glass and staring at Anne.
She was as far from him as Heaven.
Next to Anne, with the permission
of the guests on account OF the nature
OF the occasion, the marquis had
placed the Comte de Kersaint, whose
naval rank would not have entitled
him to SO high seat at the table.
Next to de Kersaint sat the gallant
rear admiral, st. Andre du Verger,
soon to die and win an immortal name
for his heroism in the approaching
battle. BY his side was placed Mon
sieur de Bompart, chef-d' Escadre, or
commodore, commanding division of
six ships of the line which had re-
Gently entered the harbor, aided by
the unfortunate gale which had COM
PEELED Hawke to break the blockade
for the time being-a welcome reen-
forcement indeed for de Contains.
The feast Of the evening had been
made to announce formally the en-
gagement of Anne to de Kersaint.
The countess had protested, and had
again directly broached to her grand
father the subject of her plighted
troth to de Vitre. The marquis had
refused to hear her; as before, had
pooh-poohed the whole affair as a girl
ish Irritation. What had maidens to
do with hearts? he questioned. Those
were luxuries reserved for married
women. In the ethics Of France In
that day a maiden's duty was obedi-
ence. AS for de Vitre, he was q cadet
of an obscure house, no match for the
last and most beautiful Of the de Ro-
hans. She surely was not in earnest!
Her grandfather's refusal would in
deed relieve her honorably Of the at
tentions Of de Vitre, since she had
expressly stipulated for his consent.
But between de Vitre and de Kersaint
she preferred the former, or, to speak
by the card. she preferred neither.
She wanted Grafton, and Grafton only.
She was in as great unhappiness
therefore in this new development as
before. Unable. or unwilling. at that
time, to break into open rebellion, es-
pecially now that she was separated
apparently irrevocably from Grafton,
Anne deemed 1t we'll to temporize. In
spite of her fight, her renunciation Of
him, she was waiting and hoping to
hear from the man she loved. She
had only stipulated. therefore, that
there was 10 be no formal betrothal,
and that her grandfather should con-
fine himself to the simple announce
ment at the feast that 1t was in con-
temptation.
| Like Grafton, she was fighting for
time. Indeed, in the engagement to
de Kersaint she really thought there
was a loophole for an escape before
her. Between de Kersaint and de
Vitre what might not happen? She
was fully resolved never to marry de
Kersaint, and her resolution with re-
gard to de Vitre was not so strong as
it had been. Absence, separation, both
pleaded powerfully for Grafton. So
she waited-and hoped still.
Laughter, jollity, merriment, sub
dued by the refinements and require
ments of good breeding, foated around
the table Joy and good humor were
reflected from every face except two.
Hearts beat high in anticipation. The
officers of the squadron. who had not
yet received orders for the departure.
felt that 1t was in the wind and eag-
erly anticipated it.
Grafton, who had ample time to
study the people in the dining room as
the banquet progressed, marked with
a thrill of happiness that the universal
Joy was not reflected in the face OF his
love. Never had he seen 1t colder,
paler, more filled with that ineffable
disdain he loved to note when not
meant for him. There was not the
slightest touch of mirth and happi-
ness in her features as her eyes rest
lessly swept the table. When her
glance fell upon the huge and happy
Frencbman who sat next her, Grafton
noticed that she seemed to shrink
from him. None but lovers eye
could have detected the movement,
but to him 1t was plain.
Gentlemen" said the marquis at
last, the repast having been concluded
by this time. before the Countess
Anne retires l wish you to drink
health with me-"
"A health! A health" cried the
men, ,hrusting their chairs back from
the table, seizing their full glasses and
rising to their feet as they spoke.
"Messieurs," cried the old man in
his high-pitched old voice, ~ give you
the health of the Demoiselle de Rohan
and the Comte de Kersaint, and | an
nounce to you the engagement which
has been entered upon between this
son and daughter Of Brittany, 10 carry
on and perpetuate the two ancient
races"
This was death and agony to Graf
ton. 1t was only by the strongest con-
straint that he could keep himself
from bursting into the room.
"Vive la Demoiselle de Rohan!"
"Vive de Kersaint!"