Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-11
"Oh, Val! oh, Val! I shall never, ney
er see your face again!"
CHAPTER XXI.
A Letter.

CHAPTER XXI.
A Letter.
Miss vann visited Eric Saxe's studi
q few days after the Sardis ball, an
Ethel went with her to see the pictur
Of Elaine, the lily maid of Astolat'
Bee refused to go, and met all Mis-
Vann's urging with determined ex
cuses. Her head ached, she did nc
care for Mr.. Saxe's pictures, nor 70
lovesick Elaines, on canvas or In tn
flesh. So the two rolled of In MIS-
Vann's coupe, and an hour or two af
ter, Ethel returned in high feather en-
/ thusiastfc over picture and artist alike
Elaine is just lovely!" she cried.
where could be found face dain
tier"
It is like you, Bee; or, perhaps, lik
what you might be, were you love-sic
for some obdurate Sir Lancelot. An
the artist-how handsome he Is! hoy
distingue! Charlotte Vann has been tell
ing me his romantic history. Strang
that you never once mentioned him Il
your letters, Bee."
face.
did he tell you that knew him?
she asked, brusquely.
mo; but he looked unutterabl'
things while Miss Vann and were trac
ing your familiar lineaments In hi
picture. In the words Of Mrs. Brown
Ing, he has eyes that take the breath
Tell me truly, was not Mr.. Sake you
lover, or, at least, your very warm ad
mirer at Newport last summer"
mo" Bee answered, bitterly. ''he dit
not love me in the least, Ethel-he dit
not admire me. Don't talk of him
please-h!s name Is an offense to my
ears"
Ethel stared, then smiled; then, be-
ing a person Of tact, gathered up hel
rich train and left the room.
Days and nights followed, crowded
with ball, rout, opera, matinee, dinner
parties, receptions and kettle drums
The season was In full blast. Mrs. Sar-
dis lived only to sacrifice what health
and strength she had to the severe ex.
actions Of society. AS the chaperon o
Beatrix Sardis, and the mother Of CounI
Stahls betrothed, this lady's hands
were indeed, full. Two hundred morn
ing calls per week, with from three to
half dozen engagements per night, and
whole train Of nervous diseases X
fight against, left her often In pitiabls
state when Finette was called to ad.
minister the sleeping drops, somewhere
in the wee small hours OF the morning
AS for Bee, she plunged with fevertsf
eagerness into the whirl Of gayety. Ev.
erywhere the persistent attentions o
that fascinating foreigner, Baror
Strozzi, made her conspicuous; but, ir
spite Of Mrs. Sardis's open encourage
ment, his suit did not prosper. A mar
Of less perseverance might have retir'
ed disheartened from the field; but thu
| - ell
had no successful rival II Bee wastet
no sweetness upon him, neither did sht
bestow any upon her other admirers
All were alike repulsed. Strozzi believ-
ed that a fortune Of q million wal
worth some patient waiting. Many
things were in his favor. He held to hi
purpose like a bulldog, and bided hi
time. lEr
Meanwhile, 1t was Count Stahl WHIT
supplied the baron with money-hov
unwillingly, none knew better. thar
Strozzi himself-money borrowed from
the banker. The two noblemen met ire.
ouently under the Sardis roof they
were lionized in the same circles, and
everywhere they treated each othei
with punctilious courtesy, but that wa
all. The tie of blue blood failed to draw
them into any intercourse resembling
friendship-in fact, they might be salt
to avoid each other when they could d.
so unobserved. Sometimes, as m
watched Strozzi, a look Of unspeakaDh
hate, mingled with analmost equal feal
would creep into the counts sleepy
eyes; but exposure for one meant run
for both; therefore each kept the secre
which lay betwixt them with inVioiapis
fidelity.
one day Ethel Sardis went to cal
upon her old friend, Mrs. Jack Severne
She found the brunette bride sitting
in a gorgeous boudoir, with blonde
Boston belle who had come to New
York to spend the winter-Alice Brad
ford. The three friends met after the
fashion of their age and sex-witr
kisses, incoherent questions and excla'
nations of delight. Then Ethel was
given a low fauteuil before an oper
Are. and conversation opened briskly.
How delightful to meet again or
home ground!" said Alice Bradford
whose moonlight fingers were busy
with some gay silk embroidery; II
seems years ago since we parted a.
Lucerne"
ages" acquiesced Ethel.
Our party reached Paris, the da!
after yours left it, and we sailed fol
home the following week. En- passant
are you not looking little pale, Ethei
and Just q little bored?"
IT dare say" replied Ethel, serene
". $50 many balls and receptions
and opera nights are trying. One be-
gins at last to feel that 1t would bt
pleasant to don sackcloth and ashes
like Heloise."
Fortunately, your pallor Is always
hacominp Ethel" chirped Mrs. Sew
erne. Now, when I lose color, an
a fright, and must either rush to th'
|rogue-pot or hide myself from TIT
light Of day."
Miss Bradford carefully picked
knot from her silk.
"And you are very, very happy
dearest Ethel" she spurred.
"That goes without saying, does i
not?" replied Ethel, with calm
smile. A..
HAS your trousseau arrived? Ant
how many bridesmaids are you goint
20 have. dear? suppose l may no
or course 1t worth's latest miracle.
hope the count will have no more
duels to fight, That affair at Lucern'
gave me q dreadful fright. And Il
think, dearest, that men forget 81
soon! One day they are ready Il
die for us, and the next, they hav'
ceased to remember that we exist
Have you seen Lawrence Hardint
since your return from Europe?"
All! that was her meaning, was 1t?
Ethel opened her languid eyes.
mo"
you will find him greatly changed
He is not at all like the Larry W.
once knew"
Indeed! You do not change, Alice
dear-you keep your old attachment
with great fidelity" smiled Ethel.
The shot told. Miss Bradford col
ored to the roots of her hair. Th'
awkward pause was filled up by Mrs
Severene, who knew all about he
brothers love affairs but preferred
on this occasion to give no exhibition
Of that knowledge.
Lawrence came home from Eu
rope in a grand mood" she said, care
Ilessly. HE had arranged everythint
in his own mind, poor dear. Mamms
and I were to take a cottage, and liv'
upon whatever wages he could earn
and bid defiance to misfortune, ant
all that impossible sort Of thing; bu
my marriage put an end to his plan
very happily, too, I think" with
demurs smile.
A door behind Etheps chair unclos
ed suddenly. Some one stepped int
the room-a privileged visitor, in
long, gray overcoat, with his fur cal