Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-03-04

OF course you remember him?"
Yes. She remembers. Count Stahl
lowers his glass, and though he does
not turn or glance at the speaker, he
remembers, too.
His engagement with Miss Vann
was announced before I left New
York" continues Van Dorm. After his
disappointment concerning your cous-
in, he vanished suddenly from society;
but a few months ago he turned
up again like a bad penny, and laid
violent siege to Miss Vann's heart. The
wedding Is to be solemniZed some time
in midsummer.
The face of the countess expresses
some scorn and much disapproval.
II am sorry to hear this" she MUIR
murs; II earnestly hope that Miss
vann may be brought to her senses
before it Is too late. Strange that she
should be so blind-at her age!"
Love throws dust in the sharpest
eyes," says Van Dorm, "and Miss Vam
is undoubtedly in love with Strozzi.
Do you see my friend, yonder in the
box-the big, red-haired fellow, who Is
watching us so earnestly?"
Yes" replies the countess; who Is
he?"
AN English baronet-Sir Valentine
Arbuckle He is very anxious to make
your acquaintance. Has American
blood in his veins or something of
that sort, and is fond Of everything
pertaining to the nation. Will you
kindly allow me to present him."
She gives a gracious assent, and
Van Dorm makes a signal which brings
Sir Valentine straightway to the coun-
tess's box. He Is not man Of society,
and he has little to say for himself af-
ter he gets there. Ethel gives him her
finger tips, and thinks him very BASH
full and awkward, and Count Otto Is
tolerably polite.
Did the baronet ever cross the cham
mel before? Never He has been in
possession of his estates little more
than two years, and has passed his
time exclusively upon them.
He is not English -born?"
"No-American." Then all listen to
Patti. She is singing Venzanis waltz
in Linda, trilling seventeen bars in one
breath, as If 1t were child's play. The
audience is entranced. Before the
last act is finished, the countess rises
from her seat and leaves the house
with her husband. Sir Valentine does
not remain long after-he cares little
for opera, good or bad. He goes to MS
hotel in the Rue de Rivoli, and writes
a letter to Miss Black, in which ne
says:
II have tonight seen the daughter OF
nv former employer, Cullen Sardis.
She is the Countess Stahl, and is liv-
ing here in Paris with her husband,
who is a hopeless scoundrel and de-
serves to be shot at sight. A beauti-
full woman-I would be glad to be OF
assistance to her"
Meanwhile the sumptuous carriage
of madame, the countess. rolls away
from the opera, and stops before the
elegant house in the Avenue de Plm-
peratrice. The count and his fair wife
alight, pass the porte cochere, and as
cend a wide. polished staircase, mad
anne shivering under her rich opera
cloak as she enters her own home.
A servant opens a pair Of doors on
the first landing and they walk across
a space decorated with rare plants,
and on into a superb salon, paneled
with paintings OF flying cupids and
rose -garlands. At its further end h
glass door leads into a little green,
dewy garden WaX-lights burn in the
room, and show the splendor of its ap-
pointments-its gliding and buhl and
malachite. its flashing mirrors, and
the gold embroidery which covers the
rose satin of the Louis Quintz furni-
ture.
The countess sinks down uDon So
ia, her opera cloak slipping from her
shoulders, her rich draperies exhaling