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

b,ue water-the purple shadows Of the
mighty hills stretched long and wide
across it. On the snow-white range
Of the Alps the early morning light
Law like a food Of motion gold.
The old town with it's big hotels, It's
narrow streets and little shops full OF
wood carvings and crystal ornaments
was still fast asleep in curve OF the
shore. with grim Pilatus and the Righl
guarding It like sentinels. Few OF the
guests sheltered in its hospitaole Dos
ON had taken off their night-caps as
vet. The long quay, shaded by chest-
nut trees. looked altogether silent ana
solitary. A little steamer at the stone
pier lay as II obvious.to the name ana
needs of the tourist. In fact, the only
object which seemed thoroughly alive
in the picture, was a single row-boat
skimming along the blue lake with TWO
persons seated tete-a-tete thereln.
The first was a man-not a SWISS
boatman-young, nut-brown, hano-
some, with a pair Of gray, knowing
ewes. a debonair manner, and a we'll
knit symmetrical body, a trif1le over
five feet ten. The other was a girl,
an American, and beautiful with
beauty which can only be found In
a nation that unites in its women all
the types Of loveliness in the world.
With a gray, feecy wrap thrown ABOUT
her shoulders, and the wind running
the gray plumes on her Gainsoorough
hat. she sat gazing across the lake to
the snow-clad Alp range standing up
against the opaline morning sky.
Her face was of the orthodox Greek
contour, the skin like pearl, without
blemish, without color. A low brow,
a curved, high-bred mouth, superb
eyes Of deep, velvety brown, an abun-
dance Of darkest, richest chestnut hair
dressed in the latest fashion. and hg-
ure beyond all praise; the bones well
covered by the firm, white fiesh' no
unpleasant angles anywhere, the head
sat upon the creamy throat like a
piece of sculpture. This was Ethel
Sardis. a. belle who had been out
rather more than year, and broken
more hearts in that time than all the
veteran beauties Of her set.
One hand bare, milk-white, and
flashing with costly rings, she was
trailing in the water over the boats
side. She looked at the lake and the
distant snow-peaks; he looked only at
her.
Beautiful" she sighed, at last.
Heavenly" he answered and she
knew only too we'll that he was not
speaking of Lucerne. A faint color
stained her cheeks.
II suppose you know from your
guide book" she said, that this Lake
of the Four Cantons is the loveliest in
Switzerland. Turn your attention to
Mount Pilatus, Lawrence; how grim
the old giant looks this morning!"
81 don't care much for Pilatus'
thank you," answered Lawrence Hard
ing, lifting an oar, and letting the
water drop off it like strings Of pearls;
sin fact, I haven't thought Of a view
since the day 1 met you on the Righi.
"Berbarian!" laughed Miss Sardis,
little nervously. Really, Lawrence
we must go back now; mamma will be
greatly shocked when she finds 1 have
been boating with you at this unearth-
ly hour. Outraging propriety is a
crime which she is slow to forgive
even in her nearest and dearest"
Don't hurry" pleaded Harding
contracting his handsome brows in an
unconscious frown; 1T is early yet.
Mrs. Sardis will not wake for two
hours to come. She ought to consider
that we are not chance acquaintances,
Ethel, but old friends"
She does not-she will mott" an
swered Miss Sardis, mornfully; but
because we are what you say-old
friends-I want to tell you how sorry
am for your losses. Lawrence-your
trouble. 1 am sure it is very, very
hard. What will you do?"
Earn my bread by the sweat OF my
brow" he answered, lightly; and then
growing suddenly grave, II will go tc
work, of course. have others to think
of besides myself; my mother and sis
ter, you know. Born and reared In
luxury, loss Of wealth will fall heavy
upon them. For my own part, 1 dc
not much mind it. A strong, tough
fellow like me ought to bear any
thwack of fortune with philosophy"
when do you return home?"
The blood leaped into his dark
debonair face.
You wonder why am not already
on my way to Paris? I ought to have
left Lucerne yesterday when the new!
first reached me, but could not. Die
you ever hear Of such idiocy?-.
could not! My pleasuring is over
perhaps. forever. I am needed in the
other hemisphere, and have not al
hour of time nor a dollar of money Il
waste in this one, and yet, here am
Ethel"
He was resting on his oars now
and something in his voice and lool
made her heart beat fast.
Lawrence" she said, MANN;
treated you very badly last night, anc
it was to compensate you in meas
ure for her unkindness that I consent
ed to this morning row, but 1 remem
Der, you promised that you would no
talk nonsense-that you would avoit
all personal remarks which are botl
stupid and Improbable. Tell me. i
not Alice Bradford absurdly pretty
like a subject after Greuze? And diC
you notice the dress she wore on tn
balcony last EVENING" blue faill
trimmed with Spanish lace-she wa
lovely in it."
Harding laughed somewhat savage
ly.
"Faille!" 1t might have been
sackcloth and ashes for all that l saw
AS for her beauty. never discovered
IT, One thing. however. did not escap
my attention last night, Ethel, AM