Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-01-03
CHAPTER vI-Continued.

This leader Of the haut ton, this
queen Of society. who rarely INDUCED In
demonstrations of any kind, leaped
from her easy chair and kissed her
daughter tenderly. She was happy.
With Lawrence Harding's departure a
mighty load seemed lifted from her
heart She could now remain in peace
and safety at Lucerne to await the
counts temperance. and the question
he wished to PROFOUND to her. Indig-
nant as she would have felt had any
one dared whisper that Ethel was cap
able of mesalliance. she yet expert
enced lively relief in finding that
this troublesome lover had taken him.
self out Of her way at last
A few days Of comparative quiet fol-
lowed. The 'Bradfords departed for
Italy, and Alice, in bidding adieu to her
school friend, said, with the spite pc
culiar TO her age and sex:
"Sans doute, shall soon hear i'm
portant news from you, ma chere.
hope the count Is not'mercenary-thes
foreign noblemen usually are. Poor
Larry Harding! Fred says he is sure
togo to the dogs now-whatever that
may mean. Your rejection Of him in
the midst of his other troubles was
like Pel!on piled upon ossa. Well, adieu
dearest, till we meet again in Paris"
On the evening following the Brad
fords' departure, Ethel stood alone at
her window, looking listlessly out on
the lake. She had just come up from
dinner to write letters to her father
and Bee. Day was dying. A crimson
light, like a sheet Of fire, rested on the
distant snow peaks, streamed along the
broken ampitheatre of hills and flung
its splendor over the blue water. Adown
the promenade in front Of the hotel
people were strolling, laughing talking
in a dozen different languages. Boats
flashed hither and thither; a steamer
had just arrived from Weggis, and
fresh tourists poured into the house.
The shrill American voice was audible
alb we all others-Miss Sardis wondered
why the tones Of her countrywomen
should seem so much like their native
northeast winds. Lovingly the sunset
fell uron her as she stood framed in
the window-lovingly 1t flashed adown
her rich dinner dress, touched a jewel
at her throat, kissed the pale Greek
face, with its wide, shining eyes and
disdainful mouth, ana glanced Off the
ripples and waves of her chestnut hair,
rlarveiousiy dressed by Finette's skill
full French fingers. 1t was small Won
der that Mrs. Sardis courted coronet
for that matchless beauty.
The room grew dim. The fiery light
died away on the distant peaks that
thrust their mighty alabaster walls up
against the purple Of the eternal heav-
en-. Out on the lake some boatmen
were singing a wild, sweet Swiss air.
She could hear no words, but the mu-
sic was full of pain and passion-the
old, old story, forever new.
Ethel"
She started and turned, to find Mrs.
Sardis standing at her side, calm and
cool indeed, for who ever saw her 9TH
er-wise? but with her thin, naughty
face-yea, her extended hand the very
rustic of her gros- grain dress full OF
suppressed triumph.
Ethel, go to the saloon-go at once
the count is there, have given him
permission to speak to you"
A certain startled expression over
swept Ethel Sardis' pale face. She had
scarcely expected to be called upon so
soon to decide her own destiny.
At once! That was imperative, and
brooked no delay. Mother and daugh-
ter exchanged one look; then Mrs. Sar-
dis jeweled fingers closed around
Etheps. She led her to the door.
You will be envied beyond measure,
at home and abroad" she whispered.
You will be the star, not of watering
places, but of courts. You will take
-yau~-place among the great ones of
earth
60! You know my heart; he is all
that I can desire. shall order your
trousseau in Paris before we start for
home. Co."
She had obeyed that voice all her life
She walked straight across the thresh-
old Of the door, which closed softly be-
hind her, and entered little salon, pic
turesque with the bare, waxed and pol
ished floor the tinted walls, the wide
windows and flower-hung balcony pc
culiar to Swiss hotels. At round table
i'm the center Of the room stood the
count, pale, handsome. his right arm In
q sling, the dying light giving to his
blond face q sad, romantic look. He ad-
yance6 to meet Miss Sardis. and LED
her to a seat with an air eager and
adoring.
"I fear you have been Ill" she began
looking hard at his disabled arm.
Yes" he answered; nothing les
than illness could have kept me from
YOU for six interminable days; they
have seemed to me like so many Gen.
turies.''
She did not answer. The scent o.
flowers floated in from the balcony
outside the stars were already comint
out above the Righi.
Tell me-" sighed the count, have
YOU thought of me once in my absence?
"Once?" she echoed, with a sweet
slow smile; "oh yes, many times"
He flung himself into an attitude o.
devotion seldom seen of late years, ex
cept upon the stage--that is, he fell a
Ethel Sardis' feet.
Madame, your mother, has given mi
permission to lay bare my heart" NJ
cried. "I love you'll ask you TO be my
wife. Do you remember our first meet
ing in the forest at Baden-Bade
vowed that day that, If 1t were possible
would win you for my own. FOL
lowed YOU to Lucerne for that sole pur'
nose I desire nothing so much as TIT
possession of your heart and hand. Tel
me, may I hope?"
a,,aS unified to the face o