Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-06-04
CHAPTER xxx.
Hazel Speaks.

CHAPTER xxx.
Hazel Speaks.
A tvpical Boston day, with an east
wind sweeping in from the boisterous
harbor, and a sky full OF gusty, ieaaen
cIouds. Dashes of rain struck the
n,ats-slass windows of a certain BACK
Raw boudoir, where young person In
sombre garments was sitting alone at
tho upright piano, with music OF Chop-
ms and Schubert's spread before her'
and idle fingers resting on the silent
keys.
rne room, like all of its kind in these
modern days, abounded in panels anu
mirrors. brocade upholstery ana ART
silk draperies. On the hearth log
burned: An arched niche in the carved
chimney piece sparkled with kozan
vases and rare Satsuma. A very oio
and uely dog reposed in a satin-ined
basket by the fire-sole companion Oh
tho vouug person, whose eyes gazed
absently out on the wind-swept avenue
and whose thoughts were wandering
afar tn a chestnut knoll by river-to
a sunny, old-fashioned garden full Oh
pear-trees-to the steep roof OF Heron
croft fiecked with purple dove-wings
for the boudoir was nook In the city
mansion of the late Judge Ferrers, ana
the solitary person at the piano was
myself.
For three weeks had lived IN
strange new world Of ease and spien-
dor, growing daily more familiar WIN
the fact that I was now great heiress'
able to hold up my head with any IN
the land-that my life had suffered a
vast unheaval, and could never again
be as 1t had been. Three weeks? TO
me, the time seemed like three centu-
ries. y, Is, ~
arose from the piano, and walked
across the boudoir. AS reached the
mohogany door, 1t swung back, and a
voice, not altogether unfamiliar, said:
"Pardon-I begged your footman not TO
announce me-" And I saw MRS. van
Vert standing on the threshold OF the
room
She wore a tailor-made costume OF
green broadcloth, with a knot OF Parma
violets on the lapel Of her coat. Her
manner betrayed a slight emoarrass-
ment. and the smile on her lips was
meant to disarm me. She put out her
delicately gloved hand. took II
promptly-there was no bitterness In
nv heart, no resentment. I was hon.
estly glad to see familiar face.
"OhI" she cried, 81 am forgiven! You
bear no malIce-fhanKs awfuriy. There
were extenuating circumstances IN
that dreadful AFFAIR." really could not
be blamed.
LET us not talk Of it, Mrs. Van
Vert"
How delightful Of you! always
knew that you possessed the sweetest
nature In the world" She sank into
a deep chair before the merry log, ana
nestled her Cinderella feet in a rug OF
white fur. "And so you live quite alone
in this great house?" she said.
my grandfather's old servants are
here" I answered. "They take very
kindly to my rule"
She opened wide her laughing blue
eyes.
do you see any other human Great
ure?"
1.-THE family lawyer, Of course, and
few particular friends Of Judge Fer
rers."
MY visitor regarded me meditatively.
"Your position is certainly unique-a
girl in her teens, married, but not a
wife, living quite solitary, yet with
husband in the background-very much
in the back ground, it seems!- and
with the romance Of a titled and re-
Gently heart-broken lover lowering over
all! Entire nous, do you know that you
have made little ripple Of excitement
in the pompous, conservative HUB
that you are actually the latest sensa-
tion here?"
please, don't!" said, not attempt
ing to conceal my annoyance.
"Oh, but it is so, my dear! AS the
last of the Ferrers race, you must not
hope to escape the eyes and tongues
of the curious. At the Browning CLUBS
and the five o'clock teas, everybody Is
talking of your youth and beauty, or,
rather, such glimpses as they eaten OF
1t when you ride abroad in your natty
victoria, with that hideous dachshund
dog on the seat beside YOU"
Disturbed by strange voice, the
dachshund thrust his brown muzzle
over the edge of his basket, and blink
ed at me in silent sympathy.
Turk Is an old pet Of my grand
fathers, and has the right Of priority
here-so 1 make much of him." 1 said,
trying to smile. Il am sure that neith-
er of us cares to become the object OF
curiosity to strangers"
Mrs. Van Vert seemed to study the
pattern of the tiles on the hearth.
Frances Heron-ahem!-is not in
town." she purred.
felt the blood flame in my face.
mo"
'Of course, 1t Is very embarrassing
but 1 may speak Of him, may not:
Really, the marriage and separation are
known everywhere-impossible to KEEP
such things from the gossips- An
well, poor child"-as though the speak
er was offering me some precious sol
ace-"unhappy unions are not alto
gether irremediable. After suitable
time, one can always appeal to the d.
vorce court"
1 looked straight into the cracking
fire, and made no reply. My visitor
went on feelingly:
1.-THE day that Sir Griffin Hopewood
sailed for England, l CHANGED to &C
over to the East Boston wharf to see
friend embark on the same steamer
The baronet was absolutely crushed
He seemed especially bitter against
Colonel Rivers-called him an unscrup-
ulous cheat, and wondered how decent
people could tolerate him. Let nobody
a,,ar ,,oaptiop tba fallow'c papa In m,