Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-10-27

i
of feeling and love. Too good natured
to contend, too absorbed to do more
than occasionally expostulate, Mr.
Monckton allowed the young Herbert
to wander as his mood called him.
Now in Verona, where he would stop
with Juliet at the Masque"; now in
Venice, rising with her train Of proud
towers; now at sober, learned Pa
dua"-now Genoa, "the city Of pal
aces" He would "see Naples and
die" and Rome-"the Niobe Of ma
tions-childless and crownless." and
Florence with its laughing climate;
none so fair-without; within, en-
chantment." Here he would rest and
| study the dust which Is in itself an
Immortality But first he would
dream in the valley Of Arno-its gar
den depths, its rock grottoes, dim and
cool-its hedges Of acacias and lau-
rels, its shaded avenues, their leafy
labyrinths, fitting retreat for the "lov-
ing and beloved" or mounted upon a
superb steed-for he was accomplish
| ed in the noble art of horsemanship-
he would ride through the green aisled
forests, peopled with the grace and
the chivalry Of flowers, his gay charg-
er keeping time in proud prancing, to
music of the Cascine.
His air and handsome face. with
his graceful figure and rich dress,
soon attracted the attention Of many
dimpled and rosy beauty, as they
rode along in their open carriages, and
in many a mute Irritation did the sus-
ceptible youth engage. An airy kiss
tossed from the tip Of lovely hands,
answered by a bouquet Of marvellous
beauty and fragrance, cleverly thrown
in the lap Of the owner Of that loving
gesture, or a graceful bow returned by
a smile of coquettish sweetness. was
quite enough for many twilight
dream, till capricious fancy would in
vest a new inamorata, with loves
fabulous charms.
One evening he had fingered longer
than usual, viewing the brilliant and
gay panorama. The sun had sunk be-
hind the snow-capped mountains, but
the twilight was gorgeously light.
Clouds Of light were piled in a firma-
ment Of glory, and the soft clear light
of that exquisite half tone which he
so loved in Claude Lorraine, was shed
over tree and flower. The beauty Of
the lovely Florentines, by this heav-
enly light, was enriched to soft vol
uptuousness, subdued to a dreamy
grace, perfectly bewildering. While
his heart was bounding and glowing
under this scene of enchantment, a
sudden fascination, caused him to
turn. Heavens, what a picture! Seat
ed in a phaeton, whose elegance and
liveries of scarlet and gold Of the SER
wants indicated wealth and nobility,
was a lovely girl-indeed child in
years-being scarcely sixteen; but In
all else a wondrous specimen Of glow
ing womanhood. Her glorious eyes,
dark as the night, tender and passion
ate, were fixed full upon him. Her
cheek, smooth and glowing, was warm
with the rich blood mantling its bru-
nette surface. Her mouth was proud
ly, sweetly full; lips richly tinted and
parted in eager scrutiny. The wavy
folds Of her black hair were wound In
immense coils around the small and
beautifully shaped head, till. as II
weary of still braiding, it fell in
glossy coils around the lovely neck;
and Physche. what figure! Full, vo-
luptuous-the falling shoulders. the
swelling bust, the round symmetrical
limbs. the dimpled hands, the tiny
feet from every grace, from every
beauty, the warm Promethean fire,
burning. glowing in elegant spells.
A robe Of crimson contrasted gor-
geously with the warm dark skin, and
the rich black lace Of the falling man.
tilla formed a lovely net frame for
this glowing picture. She was bend
ing eagerly forward as his gaze met
hers The rich blood mantled her
cheeks to a yet more sunny hue, as In
graceful gestures. she tossed the usual
kiss. and whispered tomorrow" as
the phaeton slowly passed onward. He
was tempted to play the spy upon the
movements Of this lovely stranger, but
his nice sense of honor forbade It,,
and, with every pulse quickened to
warm excitement, he hastened home
to weave with lovers madness, many
a dream of airy bliss. How impa-
tiently he waited for the morrow
again to meet the Hebe of his fancy!
The lettering twilight would never
come-the hour sacred to romance
luxurious, beautiful and fascinating!
1t came at last. Again the elegant
phaeton rolled leisurely along, and
scarcely awaiting the signal from
those melting eyes, he spurred his
horse to her side. Placing her finger
on her lip in a terror almost fierce,
she signified her disapproval Her
head was quickly turned-a little note
fiuttered to the ground and again the
mysterious beauty left him. Snatch
ing the tiny epistle, he hastily read
tomorrow"
"Pshaw!" he cried, II am but the
victim of some practical JEST will
think no more of It," :,
But that little note would not rest
so quietly. Again and again he drew
it forth, to study the fair italian hand
that had traced tomorrow" so tan
| talizingly. -
WELL" said he at length, "love and
beauty beckon. II a jest, 1t is a sweet
one, and I a willing victim; so once
more my Venus!"
TO BE CONTINUED.
FIVE MINUTES.