Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-10-24
CHAPTER XIX.

CHAPTER XIX.
| Sir Gervase.
She had called him stupid; had in
suited him; she had thought him a
Blackport shopkeeper, and allowed him
to get we'll drenched while holding her
horse like a common errand boy. And
it was the baronet-her English suit
or!
No wonder his face seemed familiar
to her, when Godfrey Greylock pos
sessed a half-dozen photographs of
him. She was silent with mortifica-
tion. Luckily he made no sign of rec
ognition, but saluted her like an utter
stranger.
Welcome to Yankeeland, and to our
hermitage in the Woods" she faltered,
coloring again.
Many thanks. have long antici-
pated the pleasure Of this moment.
rejoice to meet one Of whom 1 have
heard so much belle cousine."
How stiff and formal" thought
Ethel, Il hope he is not bore"
Sir Gervase has come, not to
strangers but to kindred" said Cod
frey Greylock; I'VE must show him
that the hospitality of the New World
Is not excelled by that of the Old.
We do not live altogether like hermits
at the Woods"
Well, the beginning was unpromis-
ing enough-the end no one could
! foresee..
AS soon as she found the opportuni-
ty, Ethel observed Sir Gervase with
critical attention. He seemed very
much like ordinary mortals. In person
he was fairly good looking, in manner
simple and unaffected. He talked lit
tie, but his eyes were keenly observ-
ant Godfrey Greylock looked far
more like the grand seignior than did
this live lord-nevertheless, a feeling
of uneasiness mastered Ethel.
This is not the person." she men,
tally concluded, that one would like
to face, with falsehood in ones heart,
or on ones lips"
| DR.. Vandine and several other guests
from the hotel and cottages. chanced
to dine at the villa that day. OF Sir
| Gervase's arrival, the doctor knew
nothing until he was ushered into the
drawing room and presented by Miss
Pam.
The jolly, good-natured fellow sud-
denly grew as stiff and cold as stone.
but the look and air of the baronet
disarmed him, in spite of himself. So
far as appearance went, this full
fedged English peer might have pass
ed for Blackport shopkeeper, in good
truth, or any other unpretendins
American gentleman.
| shall l begin to frame my con-
gratulations?" said Vandine, in a
gloomy whisper to Ethel.
mo haste is necessary" she an
swered dryly.
| At table, to his joy, he found him
self seated oy her side. Some whim
of the moment prompted her to over
whelm him with sudden favor. Never
had she been so kind, so gracious. Her
slow, dreamy smiles, the perfume from
her hair, the turn of her dazzling
throat, the flutter Of her ringed hands,
bewildered and distracted him. She
was either unconscious of the mischief
she was doing, or too full of repressed
excitement to care for 1t. Godfrey
Greylock frowned. Miss Pam looked
grave. but Sir Gervase, who was quiet
ly discussing some question of Old
World politics with his host, paid lit
tie heed to his fair republican cousin
Evidently he was willing that she
should make herself agreeable to
whom she pleased.
BAH" thought Ethel, resentfully
as she cast a secret glance at him
around an epergne of frosted silver;
he has a good appetite, but no senti-
ment He Is like all his race-slow,
heavy, conventional. He has come to
America to marry money-to mend the
decayed fortunes of the English Grey
locks with the wealth of their Yankee
kindred. 1t Is a marriage de convent
ance which he is seeking-nothing
more He will never break his heart
for any woman"
The clatter Of forks, spoons and
conversation went on around the
board.
On the other side of Vandine sat an
invalid judge from one of the hotels
and the ear which the doctor was
obliged to turn to him he was filling
with symptoms and disorders; both
known and unknown. Vandine, who
had more agreeable things to listen to-
grew impatient.
My dear sir" he said, at last, you
will ruin your digestion by talking OF
all this at table. You dwell too much
upon your maladies-refrain from
thinking of them. Disease may be
created by force of imagination alone
Then, aside, he murmured to Ethel
The man is bursting with delusions
Heaven help all his kind"
Her face grew suddenly grave.
"Delusions," she replied, in a low
voice; "I never hear that word with
out recalling a grave trouble of my
own. used to suffer-though in quite
a different way-from the same intan-
giblc things"
YOU" cried Vandine.
Yes" she answered. smiling,
though you are not to suppose me a
hypochondriac. Mine was a curious
weakness When | was little child