Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-12-24

sure ne looked aS IL SOInetnlnB tIdSi II
had happened" and so on to the door
of the hotel, Ethel answering evasively
or at random, or not at all.
An hour or two later servant
brought to Mrs. Sardis a message from
Count Stahl. It was written at hi:
Swiss friends chateau, in the ncighbor.
hood of Lucerne-Fred Bradford's sur
mise regarding the counts movements
had been found perfectly correct-and
sealed with an elegant motto and crest
by an accident which has just be-
fallen me-" 1t ran in careful English, y
may be deferred from seeing you again
for several days. This prospect makes
me inconceivably wretched, for I am
most anxious, most eager, dear madame
to speak with you on a subject Of great
Importance think your own heart
will tell you what mean. Do not, !
entreat you, suffer Miss Sardis to for
get me during my forced exile from her
presence. for that would be punish
ment greater than could bear
"Devotedly yours.
lotto, Count Stahl."
Mother and daughter were seated
together at long, plate e-glass window,
opening on a vine-hung balcony and a
view Of SURPRISING beauty. Ethel put
down one of George Sands novels to
read the above communication, which
her mother laid in her hand.
you see" said Mrs. Sardis, that
Lawrence Harding's brutal attack upon
the count yesterday has resulted in a
meeting"
Ethel leaned carelessly forward to
pluck a spray Of ivy from the balcony.
YES; but you wrong Larry. do you
not, mamma? He was not the aggres-
sive party. 1t was the count who at
tackled him-you saw the affair your
self" .... ......
Mrs. sardis' naughty face put on It's
most freezing look.
Ethel you surprise me! Harding
provoked the encounter, II he did not
really begin 1t. The count has lofty
ideas Of honor, and properly enough,
he considered the theft of your rose a
piece of sheer impudence. If Lawrence
does not leave Lucerne at once shall
be forced to go to Interlaken, for after
this affair I cannot and will not tolerate
him longer"
Ethel smiled oddly.
BE at ease mamma-he is gone al
ready. I bade him farewell at the Ca
thedral. BY this time he Is long way
on his road to Basle." a
Mrs. Sardis gave her daughter keen
comprehensive look.
Gone! Thank heaven! Then we
have seen the last Of him forever, for It
is highly improbable that he can ever
appear in society again. He will go
home to his mother and sister-really,
it Is very hard for them-find clerk
ship, or something, and Evelyn can
teach music-she has talent that way.
OF course they will not starve, but they
are dead to the world-our world-as II
the grave had swallowed them up"
Jack Severne is engaged to Evelyn,
mamma" said Ethel "and 1t is possible
Just possible-that he may be man
enough to marry her in spite Of her
loss of fortune"
Possible, but not probable" replied
Mrs. Sardis, calmly. did Lawrence
propose to you before he went away?"
Ethel's eyes were fixed upon the hot,
blue, hazy lake beyond the long win
dow.
Yes, mamma"
And you answered."
NO"
Mrs. Sardis drew breath Of relief.
1T was inevitable, suppose. am
glad 1t is over. Ny dear child, you
have great good sense. We will never
mention his name again. And now,
what does the count mean by his mat
ter Of Importance upon which he wishes
to speak with me? What can he mean,
except that he Is ready to offer you a
coronet?"
(To be continued.)