Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-11-16
CHAPTER XVII.

at the gate. The same dhs"ei "iS
had driven Faulette away In despair
awaited Sibyrs lover. Mrs. Arnauit
her daughter, and attendant were gone
"Rut where" cried the old woman
II don't know, and couldn't tell IL you
should tear me to death with wild
horses!"
Gone! And there he stood elate'
with news Of his freedom, burning with
q lovers raptures, eager to claim ner'
Was ever disappointment so bitter as
this?
Think" he implored; did not Miss
Arnault leave some word for me-some
farewell? She knew-she surely kne"
l would come again"
Not a word, sir" answered the I'M
perturbable old woman-"not fare-
well, for you or any other"
yarneck turned from the door, and
departed, as Paulette had done, IN an
guish of soul. He strobe back to the
station, but few rods behind that
small yelled figure, but so ABSORBED In
his own thoughts that Solomon, In all
his glory might have passed MIN on
the way unnoticed. He crossed the
ferry with her, and proceeded. In saw
age mood, to his hotel, where he found
awaiting him a letter from his mother
II was dated from Boston, whittier she
had gone with friends.
IF" she wrote, there is no risk OF
bringing that dreadful typhus In your
clothes, pray come and join me. 1 am
quite prostrated with the news OF
Lucy's folly. am sure she will regret
IL as soon as her first gratitude to you
Is over. BY this time, no doubt you
have entangled yourself in a new en-
gagement. Come Immediately, and tell
me about 1t"
He paced his room, thinking this
summons over.
LAS well 60 there as anywhere" he
concluded, gloomily; and the same train
that conveyed Paulette back to her old
life, carried Serle Varneck also.
He breakfasted alone. with his moth
er, in her own elegant rooms, overlook
ing Franklin Square.
Where did you leave Lucy?" she
asked.
AT Beechwood, guarded by a troop
of nurses and servants" he answered.
II hope!" she cried, adjusting her
charming breakfast cap, that you nave
brought no contagion with you--in your
beard, for instance. You seem quite
out Of spirits"
II am" he answred. Pray dc not
urge me to talk, mother-I really can
not
"Ah!" bristled Mrs. Varneck, that
means-what does it mean, Serle, That
girl-that Miss Arnault-no! it IL not
POSSIBLE that she can have refused
YOU"
Something quite as bad" he an
swered. "She has disappeared-1 can
not find her."
Mrs. Varneck looked rather pleased
than otherwise.
II really must beg to express hope,
Serle, that this later fancy may be as
short-lived as another which l remem-
ber. There! don't look so black! My
nerves are quite shattered this morn
ing. Remain the week out with me
here, and then / think 1 may venture
back to Lucy"
At another time he might have groan-
ed at the prospect. Now he regarded
1t with supreme indifference.
Consider me your faithful esquire
he said, whimsically land do with me
as you will"
The third night after his arrival, In
obedience to one Of his unaccountable
whims, he found himself sitting again
in the parquet Of the old Museum.
Oh, the music pealed, and the lights
burned, and in the surrounding seats
the same faces seemed clustered, as or
old, And as Varneck looked a figure
stepped forth upon the stage, in the
full blaze of the footlights-Paulette!
Paulette. in the full glory Of her ma
tured beauty, her golden hair flowing,
a smile on her parted lips, her dark
eyes brimmed with lustre! There she
stood, bowling to the applauding house
with the old grace which had taken him
so often by storm. Varneck stared at
the play-bill. Could he believe his eyes!
YES. the fair-haired enchantress he had
once worshiped so madly stood before
him again.
What a beautiful creature!" whis-
pered Mrs. Varneck, fumbling with her
glass and her play-bill Who is she,
Serle? Horror! No-yes-it must be!
You bad, deceitful boy! You have ac-
tually brought me, your mother, to see
that dreadful actress. that nearly cost
you your life"
"Pardon!" he answered. carelessly:
lit is you who have brought me! Yes,
there she is--lovelier than ever, too!
What a spoon she made of me once,
to be sure! There was a rumor cur
rent a few years ago that some rich old
party had adopted her. They seem
rather glad to see her here again"
Il really" said Mrs. Varneck, cannot
stay in the house another minute! You
need not urge met is out of the ques-
ton. wonder if all mothers have such
trials with their boys as do l with
you!"
They arose at once. and returned
home-Varneck a picture of listless in
difference.
He sat the weariSome evening out
over a chess board. till she fell asleep
i'm the midst Of her pawns and castles.
Long before her breakfast hour on the
following morning he lighted a weed,
and goaded by some restless demon. set
out on a stroll about the city. After
some random tramping about through
its southern borders, he blundered un-
consciously upon square, green as an
emerald, with a fountain tingling in its
centre, and tossing up showers of sill
yer into the sunlight. Rows Of trees
braided their shadows along its shaven
turf.
Varneck lounged mechanically into
the place, and had traversed half its