Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-12-13

They were alike, this mother and
daughter only one was young and
beautiful, the other forty and In ILL
health.
Mamma, he is an old friend, you
know, and wanted to see the lake at
sunrise; 1t was glorious. I wish-1
wish you could have been with u.s."
The utter falsity Of these last words
was so patent to Mrs. Sardis that she
did not deign to notice them. Her thin
lips put on a certain hard expression,
very unpleasant to see.
81 am surprised at your imprudence,
Ethel" she said, coldly. "Of Beatrix
for instance, should have expected
nothing better; but you-it Is incredi-
BILE! I beg you will cease calling Mr
Harding an old friend; I do not care
to hear him distinguished in that way.
1t Is amazing that man who has lost
his entire fortune in another hemi-
sphere can linger on at place like
this, day after day, for no apparent
reason. His manner toward you an
noys me greatly The count has MOTTO
ed it-so, also, have all the other
guests at the hotel"
Etheps color came and went.
II remember" she answered dryly,
"of hearing papa once say that he owed
debt Of eternal gratitude to the
Hardings. In some crisis Of his busi-
ness life-some tempest which threat
ened to engulf him financially, they
came to his help-saved him, in fact,
by their timely assistance. Do you re-
member It, mammal"
The freezing Medusa stare was bent
upon her again.
mol"
And yet your memory Is excellent
| regarding most things, mamma"
Mrs. Sardis's thin, high-featured
face grew a trifie more chilling. This
queen Of society was too well-bred to
exhibit anger in any Of the vulgar
| ways common to inferior people. She
leaned back in her chair with an air
of perfect repose.
"Finette understands very little Eng
lish, therefore l need not hesitate to
talk plainly to you, Ethel. Lawrence
Harding's marked attentions expose
you to unpleasant gossip. With loss of
| fortune, he cannot, of course, retain his
place on the social ladder; he must
sink at once to the level of common
working people. Only yesterday, Ethel,
| instructed you to treat him hence
forth as a stranger, and you obey me
by stealing away at the unearthly hour
of sunrise to row with him alone upon
the lake! Consider what the count
will think Of such a matter-our ideas
of propriety differ greatly from those
Of Continental Europe. All, how ad-
mirable Is the French method Of man.
aging girls? Would to heaven 1t pre-
vailed in America; 1t would be a bless
ing, indeed, to mothers and chaperons.
have done my utmost, Ethel, to mold
your character Alright, to make you an
ornament to society, woman after
my own heart; but should a daughter
of mine so far forget herself and me
which, of course, Is altogether impos-
sible!-as to contract an imprudent
marriage-a marriage that I could not
approve, l would dsown her, cut her off
as the English say, without shilling
leave her to beg or starve, or what is
quite as bad, to grow ugly and old in
poverty and regret. Passion was not
made for drawing rooms, and I have
no patience with the parents, either in
fiction or real life. who would forgive
their child such offenses against them
selves and society. l would leave my
wealth to charties-scatter 1t to the
four winds, but not one dollar should
a daughter of mine receive who dared
to marry against my wishes. Are you
listening, Ethe?"
All this was said, not with any
warmth or haste, but in a cold, meas
ured, deliberate voice, more appalling
than anger. Ethel's pearly face SEEM
ed to grow shade paler.
Yes I am listening mamma"
Very we'll. Be wise, ma chere. You
have great beauty-you are heiress to
superb fortune, and if you can con-
tent yourself with ordinary suitors you
have profited little from all my teach
ing. Men will fall in love with you, OF