Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-03-14

-... .s.s. ... ..r .s. L OlOIN
dropped by her side, and told her
strangers came and went, but paid no
heed to the two women.
Half an hour passed. Ethels mo-
tionless silence began to alarm FL
nette. She touched her gently.
Madame, shall we go now? here Is
a gentleman standing near, Watching
you-Anglaise. He has sharp eyes-l
fear that he knows you."
The countess arose and unconsci-
ously flung back her veil. AS she did
so, she saw, standing not two yards
distant, regarding her with fixed at
tention, the stalwart figure Of Sir VAL
entine Arbuckle. He advanced quick
ly to her side.
Pardon" he began, in a low voice;
may not be permitted to express my
sympathy for you in your great trou-
BILE, countess? Do not think me In
trusive. BY birth, too, am an Amer
ican."
Something In his manly, sincere
voice arrested her steps at once. She
stood beside him In that great, dim,
silent church, her face white with dis
trsss, her wild, dark eyes dilated.
He regarded her with looks full Of
compa ssion. not 'unmixed with en-
barrassment
II was deeply shocked to hear Of
tine. He was no stranger to meas
you, perhaps, know. For years / was
q clerk in his Boston clearinghouse"
"You!" she cried in amazement.
"Yes. AS the daughter Of the man
who was once my employer. II is nat
ural, is 1t not, that should feel some
thing more than q common interest In
your welfare? 1t was my intention to
call at your home, and offer my SYM
pathy; but I chanced to see you enter
this church a half-hour ago. and so
determined to address you here"
you are very kind" said Ethel me-
chanically.
Falsehood, in any form, was not
easy to Sir Valentine. but he stam-
mered out the following with pretty
good grace:
"I-that isl owe much to your late
father. He placed me under many
a-obligations in the old days. For his
sake, beg you will allow me to be Of
service to you now"
The tears welled slowly UP to her
eyes. .........
Think again." he urged, and the
pity deepened in his strong, rugged
face. Il am entirely at your disposal.
Is there nothing that can do-no aid
that I can offer you in your great
trouble? Look upon me as one Of
your own countrymen, who would be
only too happy II you would make use
of him."
She shook her head, but gratefully
put out one slim, trembling hand.
II thank you, both for myself and
my dead father" she faltered; then
motioned to her servant, and moved
hurriedly away.
At the church door Finette paused.
Sir Valentine was leaning against q
pillar, watching with disappointed eyes
the retreating figures Of mistress and
maid.
Madame, I have dropped my ros-
ary,p whispered Finette; and she turn
ed and glided swiftly back to the
baronet.
my lord" she murmured, do you
remain long in PARISH"
Several weeks" he answered.
'If madame should need you, where
could you be found?"
He drew q card from his pocket
book and slipped 1t into her hand. She
nodded snatched up her rosary, and
hurried back to her mistress.
Sir Valentine followed the pair out
Of the church. AS the countess was
descending the steps he saw her sway
suddenly. He rushed forward, and
caught her as she fell, carried her
back into the porch, and deposited her
upon a stone bench against the wall.
l"Oh, monsieur!" cried Finette. IN 9
fright, "call a carriage, for the love OF
God! She is very I'LL"
The baronet ran into the street,
hailed the first vehicle that passed,
and placed the countess carefully
within 1t. She said nothing. but FL
nette, with an eloquent glance, touch
ed his arm gently.
Monsieur, you promise to befriend
her? Oh, mon Dieu! she needs frlends
she does, indeed"
II promise, most faithfully" he re-
piled; and then, with very grave
look on his face, he stood in the church
door and watched the carriage roll
Count Stahl did not return to the
Avenue de rImperatrice that night.
The next day when he presented him.
self at the door Of his wife's apart
ments, Ethel was seriously III. and de-
clined to see him.
Madame" said Finette, surely you
have written to your people-your
friends at homer" 49,,
mo" groaned the countess. Il will
not tell them what I endure. They
cannot help me, and they have sor-
rows enough Of their own to bear"
BY nightfall she was in high few
er. A physician came. left some sooth-
ing medicines, and an injunction to
keep her perfectly quiet, and went his
way again. The count remained In
visible, but he sent his valet to make
some polite inquiries regarding mad
ame's condition.
Finette sat beside her mistress
nurse and sentinel in one. She would
not leave her post for a moment.
(To be continued.)