Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-05-31
TO 60 ON. But she persisted.


So, now, my father came among that
people and found there a young girl,
one much younger than himself. She
was the most beautiful, so they say, of
all those people, many of whom are
very beautiful"
"Yes-proof OF that" said l. She
knew l meant no idle tlattery.
Yes, she was beautiful. But at first
she did not fancy to marry this Aus
trian student nobleman. She said no to
him, even when she found who he was
and what was his station-even when
she found that he meant her no dis
honor. But our ruler heard of it, and,
being displeased at this mockcry of the
traditions of the court, and wishing In
his sardonic mind tn teacn these fam
atical young mobiles to rue well their
bargain, he sent word To the girl that
she must marry this NANNY father
1t was made an imperial order!
And so now. at last, since he was
half crazed by her beauty. as men are
sometimes by the beauty of women,
and since at last this had its effect with
her, as sometimes it does with women,
and since it was perhaps death or some
severe punishment if she did not obey
she married him-my father"
And loved me all her life!" the old
man broke out. Meier had man love
like hers, will haf 1t said. | will hat
II said that she loved me, always and
always: and l loved her always, with
all my heart"
Yes" said Helena Won Ritz. they
two loved each other, even as they
were. So here am l, born of tnat love.
Now we all sat silent for a time.
That birth was at my fathers es-
tates," resumed the same even. merci-
less voice. After some short time OF
travels, they returned to the estates;
and. yes. there l was born, half noble,
half peasant: and then there began the
most cruel thing the world has ever
known.
THE mobiles of the court and of the
country all around began to make eX-
istence fideOus for my mother. The
aristocracy, insulted by the republican
ism of these young noblemen, made life
a. hell for the most gentle woman of
Hungary. All. they found new ways to
make her suffer. They allowed her to
share in my fathers estates, allowed
her to appear with him when he could
prevail upon her to do so. Then they
twftted and taunted her and Knocked
ner in all the devilish ways Of their
class. She was more beautiful than
any court beauty of them all. and they
hated her for that. She had good
mind, and they hated her for that. She
had a faithful. loyal heart, and they
hated her for that"
But your father resented this?"
She nodded. Duel after duel he
fought. man after man he killed, thanks
TO his love for her and his manhood
He would not release what he loved
He would not allow his class to separ'
ate him from his choice. But the wo-
men! Ain, he could not fight them! Sc
I have hated women, and made war or
them all my life My father could not
placate his emperor. So, in short, that
scientific experiment ended in misery
and mel"
The room had grown DINNER. The
sun was sinking as she talked. There
was silence. know. for long time
before she spoke again.
In time. then, my father left nj:
estates and went out to a small place
in the country: but my mother-hel
heart was broken. Malice pursued her
| Those who were called her superior:
would not let her alone. See. he weeps
my father, as he thinks of these things
There was cause, then, to weep. Fol
two years. they iell me, my mother
wept. Then she died. She gave me,
baby, to her friend. a woman of hel
village-Thrrlka MaHoff. You have seer
| her. She has been my mother eVeI
since She has been the sole guardian
have known all my life. Sh" has no
| DetH uDle w wv Will INV a. 'H' N'"N
have liked"
You did not live at your own hom'
with your father" asked.
For a time. l grew up. But m!
father. | think, was permanently shock
ed by the loss of the woman he had low
| ed and whom he had brought into al
this cruelty. She had been 50 lovable
so beautiful-She was so beautiful. m.
mother, So they sent me away t
France, to the schools. | grew up.
presume. proof in part Of the eXcellenc
Of my fathers theory. They told m
that | was beautiful ANIMAL"
The contempt, the Scorn. the path"
the whole tragedy of her voice AM
| bearing-were such as | can not Sc
down on paper. and such as | scare
could endure to hear. Never in my lif
before have l felt such a pity for a hu
man being. never 50 much desire to d
what l might in sheer compassion.
But now, how clear il all became t
me, | could understand many stranS
| tTlllSS ABOUT lIlc VI N'ii' '''i'
gular woman, her whims, her unac
countable moods, her seeming careless
ness. yet withal, her dignity and sweet
ness and air of breeding-above all he
mysteriOuSneSs. Let others judge he
for themselves. There was only long
ing in my heart that | might find som
word of comfort. What could Comfor
her? Was not life. indeed. for ner I
remain a perpetual tragedy?
But madam" said |. at length, "yo
must not wrong your father and you
mother and yourself. These two love
each other devOtedly. Well. what more
You are the result of Il happy mar
riage. You are beautiful. YOU ar
splendid. by that reason"
perhaps. Even when was siXteer
| was beautiful" she mused. Il hav
heard rumOrS of that. But ! say tn yo
that then | was only q beautiful anima
Also. | was vicious animal. | ma
in nv heart all the malice which m
mother never spoke. l felt in my sou
the wish to injure women. to puniS