Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-03-31

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Miss Marjorie responded lightly to
that erfusive greeting. She had come
prepared to enjoy the novelty Of the
event: of being set down among those
to whom she was for the most part a
stranger. 1t was Sir Archibald who
| had evinced a desire to be asked here.
Why? She couldn't imagine. OF
course it was jolly; and 1t had been
jolier still to meet with a mishap
on the way. Sir Archibald mad
| taken 1t so seriously; seemed so un-
duly annoyed. Her look swept the
gaily lighted grounds; the house with
every window agleam, then returned
to the damask- spread board, the half
filled glasses. I'm afraid we have in
terrupted your little table party?"
Not at all. We were only admir-
ing Miss Goldberg's pearls; passing
them around, don't you know"
'Indeed?" Miss Wood. herself, wore
no ornaments.
And Mr.. Bruce was just alluding to
some test, or something of the kind"
Sir Archibald looked around.
Mr. Bruce" Marjorie Woods tones
conveyed an accent of surprise. Then
that was what he appeared so taken
with when we came up that when the
servant brushed against him, he"
Dropped them upon Miss Gold
berg's neck" laughed Flossie Burke.
NO; l meant thought
Isn't 1t charming? The arrange
ment of the grounds, mean-that pa
vilion for dancing?" Sir Archibald
had taken a step or two in their d.
rection and directed his remark to Miss
Wood. "A pavilion? Just fancy!"
AS he spoke, he twirled his heavy
mustache, while his lazy eyes, slight
ly expectant, turned now to Miss
Burke: she. among many others, had
not yet been presented to him. If the
observer wanted a reason for that
gentleman's rather abrupt action at
the moment, here was a simple one.
Miss F'lossies charms were unmistak-
able; she at once began to entertain
Sir Archibald, her manner, that OF
society, a haphazard, frothy way OF
talking at not to one.
The hosts basso, calling for chairs
and another table to be placed against
the one from which they had risen,
broke in on them, and they seated
themselves again.
Senior Caglioni appeared presently.
Understood, wiry, the secretary carried
himself with an odd briskness. A black
beard adorned a countenance, at once
swarthy and secretive. With all his
assumption of Portuguese ancestry,
there was something un-European
about him. Perhaps that alien inti-
nation lay in the eyes that offered to
the observer only the surface lights
of dark shining beads, and, yes, con-
veyed in their setting, though remote
ly, some reminder of a slant" He
held himself with an assurance in the
least forced, and when the host made
him acquainted with those at the ta-
BILE, bowed to each after the ceremu-
nious fashion of the East AS he re-
garded the people, however, his gaze
lacked somewhat In steadfastness.
This was especially marked when the
host called Bruce by name.
1t might have been the secretary
found the incisive directness of Chat
field Bruce's glance In the least dis
concerting to eyes grown sensitive
from the glare of oriental suns. For,
meeting that gaze, Senor Caglioni's
lids fluttered like the wings of an in
sect, his body described, possibly, a
greater curve. Bruce nodded care
lessly almost curtly, and turned
again to Miss Wood.
THE motor has been repaired, Sir
Archibald" Caglioni murmured, taxi
ing a place near the foot of the table.
Good! My secretary is quite a
mechanic" explained Sir Archibald.
Couldn't resist helping overhaul the
parts, don't you know"
"Mechanic?" observed Mr.. Wood
lightly. And a linguist, a stenograph-
er, a sportsman! man of many ac-
complishments!" he added.
"A sportsman" exclaimed Miss
Burke vivaciously.
Mr.. Wood laughed. Don't know as
| ought quite to call the senor that,
though. He put in a good part Of to-
day among the tangles and under
brush of my place, but brought back
only one solitary bunny"
The senior made a deprecatory shrug.
II am not a very good shot"
Aren't you?" Bruce had turned and
was looking at him curiously; then
his gaze became more distant, as If
some far-away battling impression had
suddenly assailed him. An instant,
and he regained his customary light
poise. Your place, Mr.. Wood, or the
rear of it. looks a likely spot for
poachers."
"As a matter of fact it Is inaccessi-
BILE" Mr.. Wood replied. You may not
have noticed, just walking by" Again
Bruce's eyes lifted to Caglioni, and he
drummed with his fingers on the table.
The evening wore on. Bruce talked
very little now. The wine before him,
neglected, had long since ceased to ef-
fervesce became but a flat golden
surface. on Marjorie Woods cheeks
the rosebuds that had unfoldcd their
hues to the rush Of the night wind on
the way thither had deepened; she
was speaking; he, resting his head
on his hand, seemed content to look
at her and listen.
Across the lawn faint mist, the end
of a cloud hanging low, passed like a
| wrath; in the grass siblant sound
of insects mingled with the human
murmur. 1t, both, were drowned by
the band: Il waltZ-this time, The