Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-11-06
S. c.. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1908.

leve myself of the message. You
| dance?"
Rarely"
May | ask to be favored ??
She hesitated; then laid her hand
OH his arm and Aunt Dilloway watch
ed them moving down the room to-
| gether. vaguely wondering who that
tall fellow was-handsomer than a
dozen Mac Vaunces.
Aunt Diloway's meditations upon
the subject were interrupted little
later, by Mac Vaunce himself push
i ing by her and in the next set Miss
| Guenther found him as her vis-a-vis
| She was dancing again with Hal
stead-as lovely a vision as his artist
fancy ever conjured up.
There was not a CLEAN Of color on
the white Of her satin and lace, ex-
cept one scarlet rose, hundred-leaved'
and heavy with fragrance, fastened
carelessly on the embroidered bodice.
A flush like the reflection from the
passionate heart Of the flower, STAIN
ed her cheek; the soft, fragrant hair
that almost touched his shoulder was
but a shade darker than the eyes
the vivid red lips were half-parted,
the lashes drooping-she never look
ed once at Vaunce.
Were it not for that rose" he
whispered, as he passed her in the
changes, you would be an angel"
Halstead turned.
Mac! is it possible? You come
as the crowning glory of the whole" "
Vaunce flushed.
Il was detained by business, old
fellow"
Important"
Very"
Halstead was laughing at him with
those keen, handsome eyes of his
Somehow, in that moment, 1t flashed
across Mac Vaunce that in the strug-
gle to come the odds might be against
him.
A soft Spanish waltz stirred the air.
The circle of dancers widened. There
was a tinkle Of Moorish fountains In
the music, a sound Of southern palms
sighing-dreamy, delicious. Present
" that flake of scarlet fragrance
dropped from Miss Guenthers bodice,
as If the witching sounds had filled 1t
with life. She did not miss it for a
time, then she looked, to see 1t in
Mac Vaunce's hand and he breathing
in it's honeyed sweetness.
You have lost your rose said
Halstead, pointedly.
Vaunce turned-the scarlet flake
receded down the room whence he
was whirling to the last pulse of mu-
sic. She waited for him to return, a
mute blossom OF anger coming out on
her cheek He approached slowly,
with the rose between his lips.
Halstead's brow bent-he held out
his hand for it. The hand was ig-
nored.
Take it," said Mac Vaunce in Miss
Guenther's ear; my heart is in it."
Her fearless hazel eyes flashed their
disdain into his.
Thank you-it is a gift 1 do not
covet-Mr. Halstead-my FAM
A current OF blood swept slowly W
Mac Vaunce's forehead. He dropped
the rose and set his heel upon it.
II can wait, Ethel"
He turned away. Halstead placed
chair for Miss Guenther; then went
to answer a sign from Mrs. Oleander.
Ethel drew a deep breath.
MY love-" said Aunt Dilloway at
her elbow. you are dreadfully pale
/ would not dance again.
Somehow Miss Guenther had mixed
Mac Vaunce's image and her father
confusedly in her mind; she felt as II
the latter were calling to her.
Aunt Dilloway. 1 am tired!"
my dear, l wish Mac Vaunce was
in the Red sea-"
Ethel laughed.
Would that help me?"
Certainly. l don't see what your
poor papa can be thinking of"
Some one leaned over Miss Guen-
theirs chair suddenly. and laid some
thing in her lap. Snow-drops, wet
with dew? The gaS-light flashed
across them and told their secret bet
ter-they had been born in the SER
pent course Of an Indian river
milky, spotless pearls-Miss Guen-
theirs missing bracelet.
1T was found just outside my
door," said Erne Halstead. Il kept
it until we should meet-pardon me-
"Of all things" said Aunt Dillo-
way under her breath.
Miss Guenther" drew the bracelet
slowly on, looking up at him with a
surprised face.
II thought it was lost" she said
Erne Halstead leaned over her
chair. Aunt Dilloway smoothed her
point-lace ruffies in perplexity.
You gave me no chance" said
| Erne Halstead, ito thank you for
sour kindness to little Daisy; let me
do so now"
Miss Guenther fiuttered her fan,
with a little smile on her lips, and
hoped that Daisy was well. Erne
Halstead was pleased to assure her
that she was, feasting his artist eyes
the while on the white droop of the
lids-the long curve of Miss Guen-
theirs eye-lashes. 1t ended by tete-
a-tete on the alcove of the window.
He had so many entertaining things
to say-so much that it was pleasant
for her to hear of the arts-of Rome
of a thousand current topics, ana
everything was said with such perfect
grace and strength She caught lit
tie glimpses of his inner life-of him
self in everything. He was so manly
and self-reliant! Drawn toward him
in spite of herself, drawn out, too
tfeeling the hidden iron hand of his
will under its velvet glove, Miss Guen-
ther, naughty and petted belle that
she was. caught herself looking up to
him, half timidly, and the next mo-
ment recoiling from him, because she
| felt him master.