Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-03-25

. a5 .. YORK
have sought to bring you two together
knowing that you adored beauty. but
somehow, could never succeed. Ant
then she Is heroine-she has a his
tory. must tell 1t to you some day
lMeanwhile"- .'.
Meanwhile the footman opened tht
door, and ushered in q girl dressed II
simple mourning, and carrying a rol
of music in her hand. It chanced tha
the light In Miss Vann's drawing room
was rather dim, for the sky withou
lowered dull and gray, and heavy cur
tains Of silk damask draped the glas!
windows. .,-.- ,-.-...... ...-...r
AS Charlotte Vann arose from the
sofa to meet her visitor, her tall. gaun
figure quite concealed Baron Strozzi
Mercy, seeing no one but her friend
ran UP to her breathlessly. <...
Such a strange thing has happen.
ed!" she cried ETHEL is herein New
York! She arrived yesterday from
Havre. Oh, she has suffered dreadful
things, We know; though she will only
tel us a little. She sends me to say
that she must see you at once on q
matter that concerns your own welfare
very closely. Pray go to her, deaf
Miss vann. She is ill-broken- spirited
Charlotte vann gave a scream OF
surprise.
"Ethel in New York-broken- heart
ed! Gracious heaveni Where Is the
count? Oh, see how II is-you need
not say one word, my dear. He has
deserted heri" '.'F" 90.
Mercy shivered.
I'VE fear that, or something worse, "
she answered sadly "She was COM
pelled to- fly from France. she says,
and some kind, generous stranger paid
her passage to America. Go to her,
Miss Vann; she has learned something
regarding your friend, Baron Strozzi.
which she wishes to communicate to
you at once" H"r
"The baron!"-Miss vann stepped
aside as she pronounced these two
words and revealed that gentleman
himself. seated upon the sofa at her
back, his dark, marked face as color
less as chalk. f' r'
"I beg thousand pardons," said
Miss vann, briskly. Baron let me
present you to my dear young friend.
Miss Mabel Sardis. I trust you two
will be glad to make each others ac-
quaintance" Fna
Mercy started back step-she star
ed, as II turning to stone. The roll of
music dropped from her hand.
Strozzi arose from the sofa, and as
he did so one word, a name full Of un-
utterable scorn and amaze. fell from
the girls lips. .... ,r.f 80
"Discordo!" .r.
White and shaky, but struggling
You haf made q mistake, mees-l
know not what you mean," he stam-
mered. ,. a.e
Mercy seemed In moment to grow
two inches taller. Her pale face became
absolutely grand; fire flashed from her
violet eyes.
Il mistake you!" she cried; that
could never be. Miss Vann"-she
turned quickly to the latter person,
who began to look bewildered-"did !
understand you Alright? Is this the
man whom you have promised to mar
y? lsa. 1" "..' ''. .'
"Yes," answered Miss Vann. '.
"And he calls himself Baron Strozzi
he has won your confidence, your
love? Oh, thank heaven that am In
time to save you! Shall I tell you
what he is? A villain. an impostor"-
"Stop!" interrupted StrozZi, with
livid lips; "she is mad All, my own,
my adored Charlotte, you cannot, you
will not listen to her!"
But Charlotte Vann looked from one
to the other. and grew suddenly very
grave. s|-'''
Mabel, what do you mean? Tell me
at once!" she commanded.
II mean that this man. known to
you as Baron Strozzi, has two other
titles!" cried Mercy, confronting the
covering wretch like some grand ac-
cusing angel. "One Is Signor Discor-
do, a professor Of music-that was the
name by which knew him three
years ago; the other Is as new to me
as it will doubtless be to you-Adolphe
Sassard, formerly valet to Count
Stahl." g.
The baron, overwhelmed with rage
and amazement, forgot his usual pru-
dence.
"Sacre! how do you know zat?" he
traitor betrayed me. after all?"
you heart" said Mercy to Miss
Vann, "his own words condemn him.
Now let me ten you how I first made
the acquaintance of your betrothed
husband"
And in a voice Of stern denunciation,
every word made fiery with the right
eous wrath that filled her, Mercy re-
lated the story Of her persecution, her
abduction, her imprisonment.
ITO this man owe the darkest ex-
perience Of my life!" she cried, point
ing her slim hand at the baron. Look
at him-his guilt Is written on his
| face! Hardened sinner though he Is,
you see that he quails before me- Oh,
dear Miss Vann, tell me that you be-
lieve me-that you know have spok-
en- only truth"
Charlotte Vann fell helplessly into
the nearest chair Shrewd and sensible
as she was in many things. she had
actually allowed StroZzi to blindfold
her Judgment and creep into her heart
He rushed toward her, his dark face
full Of baffled fury. oh, heaven! must
he lose his rich prize just one week
before the day appointed for his mar
riage? 1t was too much! .
MY adored Charlotte!" he cried
clasping his hands wildly, there is a
mistake-I swear It! This leetle Jeze-
bel Is laboring under some delusion.
abduct her-I! No, nevair! 1t is lie
"a pure invention. Nevair did I love
any but you, fairest and queenliest OF
women! All, let her not poison your
ears against me. I will strangle my
self If you listen to her moment long
er. Oh, this is bea3tly! You wiring my
heart. You are my betrothed wife re-
/ member; you cannot, must not believe
such evil. Bah! thrust her out-this
small viper Eat would step betwixt
you and me at such a time, my Char
lotte!"
| Charlotte Vann's sallow face had
grown very pale. She arose quietly
from her chair. She looked from Mercy
to Strozzi. The latter attempted to
seize her hand; she drew 1t away, and
pointed imperatively to the door. She
hurled this one syllable, like blow, al
her discounted lover:
| "Go!"
For Gods sake, my peerless Char
lotte"-
Go! and never, never let me see
your face again"
He understood the tone, he under
stood the look on her set, resolutt
face; and he went out from the pres
ence Of the woman he had well-nigh
secured-out from the presence Of the
girl who had robbed him Of his coveted
prey, and baked all his fine plans al
the very hour when their success seem
ed most certain.
Truly, Mabel Sardis had avenged
the wrongs and insults Of Mercy Dill.
| Neither Charlotte Vann nor the