Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-14
By ETA w. PIERCE.


X
veil. Even then she hesitated. She was
soon to be the counts wife-how could
she doubt him? Her prudence, her
good sense cried out against 1t; yet, all
the same her feverish, irresistible de-
sire to go-to confront his accuser face
to face remained unappeased. You
are rushing blindfold upon a terrible
doom! "She would know, at any cost,
what those words meant.
All unobserved, Ethel left the house,
and walked swiftly away In the direc-
ton Of Central Park.
The day was dreary and cold. The
north wind whistled sharply round the
corners Of the streets. The Park was
in its winter dress Of sombre brown.
Ethel entered 1t by the Seventy-second
street gate just as the city clocks were
striking three. She cast one hasty
glided out from the nearest walk, and
stood before her.
Miss Sardis!" said voice.
It was a woman Of medium height
and ordinary figure, dressed from head
to foot in deepest black, and shrouded
in the thickest and blackest OF wells.
She looked like q walking exclamation
point. Ethel waited for her to lift the
covering from her face, but she made
no motion to do so. Not a feature, not
an outline could our heroine discern
through that sombre disguise-noth-
ing but two sparks Of light that were,
doubtless, eager and alert eyes.
Thank Heaven, you are here!" said
this person, in low but distinct voice.
You did we'll to come. Let us walk
into the park little way to some place
where We shall not be seen or inter-
rupted."
For her life Ethel could not speak.
The woman in black led the way, and
she followed silently out Of one intrf-
cate path and into another, until pres
emily they reached a secluded spot,
shut in by leafless trees and shrubbery,
close to the border of n sheet Of frozen
water. Not living being was any
where in sight.
1--WE shall not be disturbed here
murmured the woman
She pointed to rustic seat. Ethel
sat down, raising, as she did so, the
veil from her pearly face.
who are you?" she demanded
haughtily.
"The writer of the letter which you
received last night, and your sincere
friend" answered the woman.
That Is very indefinite. If you are
my friend, let me see your face"
Pardon me. cannot"
AT least, tell me your name"
why should do that? You would
be none the wiser-it is quite unknown
to you"
Ethel arose Indignantly.
'T decline to hold further CONVERSE
tion with so mysterious person. Your
letter was gross impertinence. I warn
you, do not repeat it."
The woman extended a pair Of black
gloved, deprecatory hands.
STAY" she said; do not be angry.
Miss Sardis. You must not go until
you hear me. 1t matters little who or
what am; the thing which have to
tell you-that only Is Of Importance"
Her tone arrested Ethel in spite of
herself.
And what have you to tell me?" she
demanded.
The yelled woman made an imploring
gesture.
You are going to marry Count
Stahl? For Gods sake don't do It? You
had better jump into the bay-you had
better give your hand and fortune to
the poorest beggar that skulks through
these streets of New York. He is moi
worthy to touch your garments. BE
warned by me. You do not know him;
I do. You made a bad choice at Lu-
cerne-don't start! 1t is not too late
for you even now, to draw back, and
recall the American lover. You think
he is marrying you for love; 1t Is lie
He cares only for your fortune. You
think him noble; he is so only by the
accident Of birth. His past Is made uI
of eXcesses, moreover, he Is guilty ol
an enormous crime"
Efbal hoa fallen hack nnceremOni-
ously upon the rustic seat. In sor,
of frightful fascination she stared al
the straight, black shape before her
at the carefully disguised face, where
the eyes shone like half -smotheret
Goals through the sombre veil.
Miss Sardis," went on her straight
companion, your betrothed husband IL
murderer; the blood Of a woman IL
upon his handsome, too, as good anc
young and beautiful as yourself Ant
that blood is still crying to heaven fol
vengeance!"
A chill, not born of the north wind ir
the park, crept over Ethel.
II see that you are mad" said she.
NO" answered the woman, in the
same low. earnest tone in which she
You know, you feel that my words
have the ring of truth"
Truth" echoed Ethel, with spirit;
they have the ring Of falsehood anc
slander and malignity. Why do yor
not make your accusation openly to al
men, instead of coming here, disguised
and name!ess, to pour it into my ears
only?"
The woman in black wrung her glow
/ ed hands.
| "I dare not! l hate him and 1 feal
him! have no proof sufficient to sup
port my charge, yet all the same 1t /!
| Gods solemn truth-not slander, no
| falsehood, however appearances may b'
| Count Stahl's punishment-it, woult
require a powerful hand to do that, ant
am humble, friendless, weak; but
seek to save you-to open your eyes t
the danger before you. Only the stron,
can thrust openly. The contest betwix
| that man and me Is too unequal for mt
to dare much. If / can cheat him o
the bride and the fortune that he GOV
cts. 1t Is all ask. Miss Sardis," ant
here a passionate disappointment
broke into her smothered voice,
thought, hoped, that you would be
lieve mel"
Ethel Sardis looked as if turning t
stone.
| HOW IS IL IIldl you Clelll " hii0
Count Stahl," she said, coldly, "whel
he has not an acquaintance In thi
country? And who was the perso
whom he, as you say, murdered| >,
II will answer both questions, l WI
even make myself known to you, upo
one condition-swear never to MARI
him. You do not, you never will, low
him; so it is not a hard thing which
ask Of you"
"Preposterous!" answered Ethel. .
reject your condition with contempt.
You will not believe the count to
a villain and a murderer"
"A thousand times mol"
Then God help you. The day WI
come when you will wish that you ma
been more credulous. He will destro
you without mercy II he ever finds
for his interest to do so. Look to your
self when that time comes! Somethln
tells me, Ethel Sardis, that you wi
never die peacefully in your bed"
A thrill of sickening, indefinabl
fear rushed over Ethel.
This is growing too melodramati'
II you have anything more to say, g
to my father with proofs to supper
; your statements. l cannot listen to yo
any longer"