Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-03-26

/ Her nalr was gray, HeT lace ioh6, Pdio,
narrow. Was I dreaming, or did
really see before me a person, who,
though apparently older by many
years, still bore a strange, sinister re-
semblance to Miss Dee?
Come at once, Hazel, and change
your wet clothing" urged Sergia, and
like one dazed I went with her up the
stair, attended by the servant called
Jael
II the housekeeper had startled me,
so did this waiting-maid. watched
her in mute amaze as she set to work
upon Sergia and my bedraggled self.
She was far above the usual height
Of women, straight as pin, with
black brows meeting above the nose,
and eyes and hair like a crows wing.
The color of an autumn leaf burned
in her brown skin. Altogether she re-
minded one of gypsy queen.
What a remarkable servant!"
thought
She spoke not a word, her movements
were as noiseless as spirit, and her
hands so rapid and deft that was lost
in wonder and admiration. In an In
credibly short time she had brought
fresh clothing, and assisted us both to
bathe and dress.
| AS we stepped out into the corridor,
Sergia, said, lightly:
"Do you not find my waiting-maid
unique? There was a Jael In Scrip
ture, who drove nails and things into
peoples heads. / am sure this girl
would be capable Of doing as much on
provocation."
where did you discover such a
treasurer" l asked.
"Oh, she Is a native, that Colonel
Rivers, engaged before came to
wolfsden. All the servants were IN
the house when arrived"
"Sergia, did you ever look closely at
that housekeeper, Mrs. Steele?"
mo. Generally speaking, I am not
interested in my interiors"
when you have an opportunity, ex-
emine her face critically, and tell me
II she does not bear a striking re-
semblance to Miss Dee" -.
Sergia stared.
Hazel! Why, Mrs. Steele Is twice
the age of your dreadful, ill-omened
Dee creature! You must be dreaming,
dear, or your imagination has grown
morbid with long brooding over ter
rible matter"
| Perhaps she was right. 1 remained
silent, and Sergia, with her mind full
of another subject, burst out:
"You must know, dearest Hazel, that
there Ia a real live baronet In this
house Sir Griffin Hopewood, Of Hope
Hall Kent-one Of my guardians Eng
lish friends. He Is young and .rly
good looking in a blonde way, and ne
vastly admires the American girl OF
the period"
| At the foot Of the stair Colonel Riv-
ers stood, ready to conduct US to the
drawing room. There we found Miss
Carbury, with the other guests Of the
house, learned professor, worn with
much study and bad health; his Sis
1 ter Mrs. Van Vert, a young, red-hair-
ed widow, very rich and very pretty;
and Sir Griffin Hopewood, the English
baronet already mentioned-a faxen-
haired, long-limbed Saxon, who was
talking to Miss Carbury as we enter
ed about the dog Punch.
80 sorry" I heard him say. Il
know a trif1e about dogs. Will give you
something to fix the beast up" Then
he stopped and stared, while Colonel
Rivers went through the usual form
of introduction.
"Oh, come now, Miss Pole" drawled
the baronet to Sergia, you might have
given a man a warning, don't you
know? It's hardly the fair thing to
snatch away ones breath like this
She laughed, apparently understand
ing his meaning-which did not-and
we went in to our belated dinner.
was seated next to Sir Griffin at
the table.
Hope you feel none the worse for
your mishap on the road, Miss-aw-
Miss Ferrers?" he stammered.
| thought it odd that titled Eng
lishman should consider 1t worth while
to stammer in addressing a little yam
kee nobody fresh from school,
Rather awkward Of Rivers. ut the
roads hereabouts are beastly, don't
you know?"
| assured him that was none the
worse for the accident. He went on:
Jolly place-this Wolfsden! Colonial
style, Rivers calls it. I have been here
but a few days-came to America, you
see, to do the Far West; but the COL
onel was good enough to look me up
on the arrival Of the steamer, and In
vite me to his country place. BY JoVe!
Miss Ferrers"-with an audacious
glance-"I thank my lucky stars to-
night for leading me to this house!"
tasted my soup, and answered
nothing.
Jaw, I am not gettinG on with you,
murmured the Darones, rueiuiiy' Le'
US talk of Riverside is a safe topic
Have you known him long?"
"I never saw him till tonight"
"A superb fellow-no end Of favor
lite with everybody. I met him first In
Paris-he was very popular there. We
played ecarte a good deal together, and
he"-with a frank laugh-"was always
the winner. Pom my soul, he Is good
at everything! You should have seen
him at Nice-devoting himself to that
sick man Pole-he made a good thing
out Of it, too. Pole left him something
in his will. Yes, everybody admires
Rivers-your sex. especially. I have
noticed"-in an aggrieved tone-"that
a widower Is almost certain to get on
we'll with ladies'"
I glanced at our host, who seemed to
be dividing himself betwixt his blonde
ward on one hand and Mrs. Van Vert
on the other. The widow had said
something amusing. and Colonel RiV-
|