Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-04
By ETA w. PIERCE.

others scrutiny. He VIII be in New
York at an early date, dare say-fo
he Is In love, If am not--and 1 shal
marry him whenever mamma thinks 1
proper for me to do So"
How dutiful!" said Bee, dryly. "Ar
all the daughters Of Gotham as docile
How abominable! What las come Owe
you, Ethel? Aunt Amelia will not mole
me to her wishes so easily. NY vein,
are filled with the plebeian and un,
manageable blood Of my pork packing
grandpa. For my part, I prefer tn,
gushing Amandas Of the old novels Il
such cold-b -blooded society women a,
Mrs. Cullen Sardis. Ethel, do yo,
know anything about Lawrence Hard.
ing?"
1t was not blush that arose tt
Ethel Sardis's face, but rather a white
heat like lightning. That name haG
power to stir her high-br pulses
still.
Il know that he returned to New
York weeks and weeks ago." she an.
swered. carelessly. Il suppose he has
found employment before this time
has he not?"
Yes, upon a daily newspaper. Miss
Vann wrote me about him while was
in the mountains"
And his mother and sister," said
Ethel, where are they? Evelyn Hard
ing and I were bosom friends al
school"
Have you not heard? Evelyn was
engaged to Jack Severne when the
crash came which wrecked the Hard
ings. He did not desert her, as al
worldly-wise people predicted he
would do-no, he married her at once
and when Lawrence arrived from Eu-
rope, he found a pleasant surprise
brother-in- law. Guardy says that Jack
Severne is very rich-that 1t will be a
small matter for Evelyn to take care
OF all her kin now. But Lawrence
chooses to provide for himself and his
mother In his own way, and quite in
dependent of Jack Severne. The two
keep house in some obscure part of the
city, and Larry drudges, as have tolo
you in newspaper Office. He has writ.
ten things already which have made 9
stir in the world-I am sure that he
has talent"
Ethel arose from her chair, and
stood at the corner of the hearth, look.
ing down on its antique tiles, but not
seeing them. Her bronze dark hair
her pearly throat her long trained
dress shone softly in the light.
Did her heart thrill at Bees news
the first which she had received of hel
rejected suitor since that parting ir
the old cathedral at Luzerne?
Then We are likely to meet the
Hardings in society again." she said
Mamma thought they were all dead
to the word. and safely buried beyond
resurrection"
"yVhv of conroa Mr., Tool- co,,orn<
will go everywhere" answered Bee
'and it's probable that she will some
times take her handsol ne brother with
her. especially as she Is said to be very
fond Of him. Ethel, dear, are you sure
that you treated Lawrence just right
Were not you little cruel to throw
him over for the count, and when he
was in such trouble, too? Betwixt his
money losses and the loss of you,
think the world must have seemed tc
him just then like house Of cards."
She stood up there on the hearth Of
that luxurious boudoir tall, white
beautiful looking down on the younger
girl with faint, fitting color, and un.
easy smile.
What extraordinary questions you
ask, Bee! Cruel? Not at all! The
real cruelty would have been in mar.
rying him, my little ignoramus. What
sort of a wife would l make for 6
newspaper scribbler? What sort of 6
helpmeet for a man who must work
for his daily bread? ! did not throw
him over, that Is vulgar slang, and yor
an heiress and an embryo belle, mus
not use slang. thanked him for the
honor he would do me, and bade him 6
courteous farewell"
Ethel, l fear you have grown very
heartless since you went to Europe
said Bee, solemn as an owl. Did no
you like Larry better than Fred Brad
ford or Archie Van Dorm, or any of th'
others that you have rejected?"
Ethel laughed a low, sweet laugh
that had, however, no mirth in 1t.
Good Heaven! what a catechism
Does Mr.. Harding know what q stancl
partisan he has in you" like Larry;
always liked him, of course; why not
We have known each other all oul
lives. / wish him all possible gooC
fortune in the future. and a wife-well
some one like yourself, Bee--true, anC
sweet, and loving; no worldly calcu.
lating creature like ME. / am glad tina
Evelyn has made a gooG marriage,
shall take care to renew, acquaintance
with her at the first opportunity"
Bee looked steadily at her cousin
She was disappointed. she scarcel!
knew why. She felt that something
had come betwixt her own heart ant
Ethers, a constraint. q reserve, new
and unpleasant.
While she was pondering over th'
matter Ethel spoke again.
After all, my dear, you will flint
that it Is a fine thing to have coun
tess for a cousin. A season of triumph
and splendor is before US. AS for toi
lets l really have no words to describ
the superb things that mamma ordered
in Paris. The count will be here II
time for your first ball-think Of th
attraction his titled presence will LEM
to It! And apropos of all this, who 1
the Baron Strozzi that Miss Vann talk
ed of so eloquently in her letters t
mamma? She mentioned that he ad
mired you greatly. Sly puss! Can l
be that he Is the person who frighten
I'd papa into whisking you away from
Newport"
The bantering tone brought the bloo'
again to Bees temples.
Baron Strozzi!" she echoed, he
blue eyes flashing, Ethel, hate him
Yes, Miss Vann thinks him a paragon
of manly beauty and Old World chival
ry, society admires him; but to me h
is frightful. Guardy had no need to re
move me beyond his fascinations, the,
were scarcely potent enough for that.
Ethel surveyed this girlish, blond
| figure for a moment, then put her jew
/ eled hand under Bees chin and turne,
her face up to her own.
Bee you are actually keeping som
/ secret from me. Since / went ava
something has happened to you o
which know nothing. You may a
we'll tell me, for shall soon find it out
Henceforth we are to live under tn
same roof, you know, and see eacl
other daily"
| Bee opened her red lips to speak, bu
at that moment page in buttons ap
peared at the door The conversation
was over. There were callers in tn
drawing-room, and Mrs. Sardis wishe
her niece to come down Immediately.
CT" cried Bee; "oh, no. you hav
made a mistake. Robin. Miss Sardis
the person wanted"
But the little page shook his curl
head. 1t was Miss BeatriX. and non
other.
HE is right / dare say-go dowr
Bee" said Ethel, laughing. Il will Sc
no one today; have not yet recovere
from week of seasickness. Who ca
have called in this pouring rain? Som
Il