Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-04-02

breath. She did not nnd her voice a.
once.
Everything here belongs to a for.
mer tenant Of Wolfsden," she said, al
last, "a gentleman in the theatrica
line-my knowledge extends no far.
ther. The owner Is expected to remove
his goods shortly, so the room Is kept
ed you to intrude in such a place
The hand which she held out for hel
keys trembled. Il must beg you tc
retire at once, young ladies'; If this
matter reaches Colonel Rivers ears,
shall be greatly blamed"
BE at ease," said Sergia, lightly;
I'VE will preserve dead silence on the
subject"
She drew me out Of Bluebeard's gar
ret, and we went below, to dress fol-
dinner.
"a former tenant Of Wolfsden," MUIR
INJURED Sergia. why, the house had
been empty for years when Colonel
Rivers bought 1t, and some of those
clothes, I am sure, were fashionably
cut. There was neither rust nor dust
on anything. Very odd!"
YES" assented, mechanically.
In my heart did not believe word
of Mrs. Steele's story. All my doubts
of the woman began again to wake and
stir; but I would not speak them, even
to Sergia. Under that roof meant
never again to talk Of Mrs. Steele.
Heron and his friend Vivian dined
with us that day; the colonel cultivated
amicable relations with his neighbor,
even though he called him "pestifer-
GUS" in private. Heron chanced to be
in a bad humor. At table he main
tained a morose silence, and occupied
himself with scowling at Sir Griffin
Hopewood, who was exceedingly at
tentive to me.
Mrs. Van Vert was diverting the
colonel with her countless airs and
graces. The learned professor had TAX
en- Miss Carbury in hand, and was
talking Of phantasmatography and the
plurality Of worlds at the poor be-
wildered creature. Sergia was thus
left to Mr.. Vivian. The two carried
on a conversation Of their own, under
cover Of the general buzz and hum.
Sergia looked uncommonly sweet and
dangerous-the young evangelist, Ike
a man on his guard.
IF may be allowed to contribute to
the work." heard Sergia say, in a SOFT
pleading voice, ut will seem as though
I actually had part in it. Indeed, l
shall consider it a great privilege, Mr..
Vivian-particularly as I have never
given anything to African missions"
She was begging leave to bestow her
money on the Hottentots! I had not re-
covered from my astonishment when
we arose and returned to the drawing
room. Colonel Rivers sat down to the
grand piano and played I'll Bacio," and
Sir Griffin accompanied him upon the
flute. Sergia and Mrs. Van Vert sang
something know not what, for Heron
had crossed the room to my corner, and
was leaning on the back Of my chair,
muttering as follows:
you seem to be getting on very well
with that Englishman."
Il should hope so." answered, "see-
ing that we are guests underline same
roof"
HE plays the flute abominably. If
he is half as bad at ecarte and poker,
no wonder the colonel fleeces him
nightly at cards.
I stared, and he stopped short color
ing hotly.
beg pardon! did not mean to say
that, you know-the words slipped out
unawares"
"Ecarte-poker!" I gasped. Are
those games at which men play for
money!"
sometimes. The first is French-the
latter American
Does Sir Griffin play with the colo
mel for money!"
gossip of his man servant, who talks
more than is good for him. Anyway,
the baronet's friendship for Rivers
seems not to have suffered. Perhaps,
in his present state Of mind"-with dis
agreeable irony-"such trivial matters
as losses at cards cannot affect him."
I thought Heron extremely ill-natur-
ed was glad when he made his
adieux. On my way to my own room
that night I stopped at Sergia's door,
and looked in. She stood, tall and
white, before her toilet table, with her
unbound hair streaming around her In
yellow torrent, and she was talking
in this wise to Miss Carbury:
II have been released little more than
a week from Francis Heron-don't, I
beg you, be looking about this soon
for his successor, Miss Carbury! Re-
member, If ever marry, will consult
my own will only. 1 will go my own
way always"-with a flash Of defiance
-"and no other. No living person
shall persuade or coerce me. My own
will-my own way!-yes-that I must
have!"
Il hope you may get it, my dear!"
groaned poor Miss Carbury. "If you
do not, the rest of us will be likely to
suffer-"
Then Sergia saw me at the door, and
cried:
Come in, ma chere. What was Fran
els Heron saying to you in the draw
ing room tonight"
THAT Sir Griffin and Colonel Rivers
play ecarte and poker, and that the
colonel wins the money" answered.
What a delightful topic for a tete-
a-tete with a lady!-how like dear
Francis!" cried Sergia. He was so
jealous of the baronet at dinner that
he actually turned green know very
little about masculine amusements,
but doubtless many gentlemen do play
ecarte, especially those who have lived
in France"
And as for poker" put in Miss Car
bury, Mortified, 'the very name is
n-disgusting-not admissible