Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-10-27
And she swept calmly away


LAS God hears me-" were her part
ing words, spoken with look so ma
lignant that 1t frightened Hopkins, "Tll
be even with Miss Fairy for this! Let
her dance while she can. I'll strip her
of her fine feathers some day. and pack
her back to the place she came from
see If l DON'T"
And she shook the dust Of the villa
from her feet and departed.
Midnight struck. The moon rode
high in the purple heaven. The flutes
and viols were pouring out their mad
dest music. The ballroom was q
whirl of fair faces and dazzling toilets
the light and heat and perfumes be-
came oppressive.
MY lungs cry aloud for one breath
of wholesome air!" painted Ethel Grey
lock, with a faint laugh; pray take
me out under the moon!"
She spoke to the baronet, who was
holding her fan and bouquet, and she
looked bored and depressed. With
alacrity he seized wrap. flung it about
her shoulders, and through a glass
door the two stepped out upon the
broad piazza, and sauntered away un-
der the trees.
They came to a spot of level lawn,
white with moonlight, and musical
with the splash of fountain. Some
garden chairs were standing about
they sat down under the great stars.
"You are fond Of dancing?" said Sir
Gervase.
YES" answered Ethel, "the weak
ness was born with me. Did you not
notice." with a mischievous smile,
that 1 went through that last waltz
uncommonly well?"
A crushed rose fell from her hair
he picked 1t Impressed it to his lips.
IN the stupendous crowd yonder." "
he answered, dismafly, ut was impos-
sible for me to see you, have caught
only an occasional glimpse Of your
face the entire evening, but I doubt
not that you excel in dancing as-in
everything else!"
II barely escaped being a ballet girl,
you know?"
He seemed to stiffen with astonish-
ment.
Al beg your pardon-what did
you say?"
Her laugh rang out like silver bell.
"A ballet -girl-a danseuse! That
was mammals profession, and the bone
Of contention which sne brought into
the Greylock family. At the time of
which speak, we were under a cloud
1T was not thought that should
ever inherit anything thereon pas
SAINT, you were the heir, according to
grandpapa's will-he quite detested
me, and poor mamma, discovering
that / had little talent, inherited, of
course, from herself, began to think
seriously OF sending me upon the
stage. If l, by a mere accident. had
not found the way to grandpapa's g
heart, undoubtedly l should be gyrat-
ing before the footlights this very
night, instead Of sitting here with you
in the serene, decorous shadows of
Greylock Woods"
She had meant to shock him and his
looks showed that she had succeeded.
"A ballet girl-you!" the horror In
his tone made her eyes shine with
mischief: IF it has saved you from
that fate, thank God lost the fortune.
By-the-way. l had not the smallest
claim to it, or desire for it,"
You tempt me, cousin" she answer
ed, gayly, Ito show you that l missed
my vocation--that might have easily
achieved fame and wealth, If grandpa
had only remained obdurate. Now
give me your attention"
The next instant she had leaped to
her feet before him on the level of the
velvety turf, in the white, witching
moonlight--she was swaying, poising,
floating, either to the song of the
fountain, or the distant strains Of the
ballroom orchestra, he knew not
which. He held his breath as he
watched her.
Her wrap had fallen from one arm
and shoulder; the delicious flesh was
like Pygmalion's marble. Her shining
draperies and dazzling skin made her
look like an animated moonbeam. He
had seen dancing girls Of every cline
= r.
ings, and grace as this girl possessed
The fountain babbled and the moon
shone, and Ethel danced on, as if with
no thought of him, or of anything but
the spirit which ruled her.
Her satin-shod feet glanced like
stars on the short, dewless turf. Her
rich draperies. gathered lightly up
with one hand, glistened like hoar-
frost. Her hair was a golden mist;
the pearls on her heaving bosom and
round arms shone like drops of dew
Sir Gervase thought of the daughter
of Herodias when she danced before
the king.
Tell me-" she painted, in mockine
voice. as she paused, at last, fol
breath, was l not foolish to renounce
the stage?"
He made no reply-perhaps he was
too shocked. Believing this, she i'm
mediately swung round again on the
tips of her toes, and with every move
ment full of saucy defiance, went on
in what seemed another frolic with
the airy echoes of the music.
Presently she paused once more by
his chair. Her lins were half parted
her golden head was thrown back, hel
laughing, audacious eyes met the bar
onet's.
Like Tennysons brook. l could &c
on forever" she said. How shocked
you look, cousin! Take courage. This
evil comes not with the Greyloci
blood, you know
He spoke no wOrd-made no sign
He sat like a man under a spell Some
what puzzled. she drew a step nearer
"Ah, can guess your thoughts" she
said, with a little grimace; you are