Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-04
AS she entered the great, sumptuous

OlOIA
!. AS she entered the great, sumptuous
: drawing-room, she found three person.
seated there. The first was Mrs. Sar.
dis thin, cold, elegant, her aquilint
face showing somewhat the ravishes o.
time.
The second was a lady with beard
ed lip, a sallow skin, and rich, lout
toilet-Miss Charlotte Vann.
The third person was Baron StroZzi
At sight Of the noble Roman, Bees
first impulse was to turn and fly, bu
. embracing her with effusion, pressing
kisses that sounded like pistol shot:
on both cheeks, and crying:
, MY dear child, came out today ex'
. pressly to see you. Observe the wealth
er outside. OF course my coachmar
and horses will catch influenza, but
! could not resist the desire to behold
) my Newport guest again. And here il
, the baron whom I met at your very
: door, intent, like myself, upon renew
ing old friendship and quite as indif-
ferent to wind and rain"
Strozzi sprang up from his chair
, with one hand on his heart, and a flash
Of light in his black eyes. He made a
deep obeisance to the little heiress, and
would have carried her hand to his lips
but she drew 1t quickly back.
This Is an unexpected honor" she
SAID, coldly. Il cannot imagine why
Baron Strozzi should wish to see me u
|, An, you are as cruel as ever" mur-
INJURED the baron in low, tender tone.
How could I hear Eat you were In
New York, and not hurry to your side
IL who haf been in desolation, who
mar thought Of nothing but you ever
since you vanished from Newport 2"
Il regret that you should waste your
thoughts on such an insignificant and
unappreciative subject" said Bee dry
ly.
When you left Newport, Mees Bea-
trix," he went on, with a sublime in
diference to her snubbing, re place
became to me like a desert without a
fountain, garden without a rose. I
could stay there no longer-I rushed
away to friends In this city where, for
re last six weeks, haf lived only in ze
nope OF meeting you again when re
season should OPEN"
heaven grant that our meetings
may be like angels visits, few and far
between" murmured Bee, in a voice to
low for Mrs. Sardis's alert ear; and,
with an angry, disdainful glance, like
a Parthian shaft, she leaned back in
her chair Of clouded tuya wood, inlaid
with ivory and, like
"A rosebud set with little, wilful
| thorns,"
refused to open her red lips to him
again.
The baron turned his attentions from
obdurate Bee to Mrs. Cullen Sardis. a
change Of base that spoke well for the
mans shrewdness and cunning.
Madame he said, with his hand on
his heart, you haf been in Rome. Did
you see there ze Strozzi palace on re
banks Of ze Tiber?-my birthplace, re
birthplace Of my family for centuries
My ancestors, madame, were in the
senate with Caesar. All yes, we are
very old. Many English people lodge in
my palace now-artists, sculptors, Bo-
hemians. 1t brings me good rent. I
haf vineyards, too, outside of Rome,
and olive-orchards. My beautiful
Italy! Madame, my heart burns with
In me when think of her"
i Mrs Sardis did not remember the
Strozzi palace-she had passed but a
few days in Rome being mortally afraid
or the fever-but she looked with calm.
high-bred approval on the proprietor
Of that palatial lodging-house and the
vineyards and olive e-orchards, and was
highly gratifled to add him to her list
or acqua1ntanceS.
AS for Charlotte Vann her talk, as
usual, was mostly of art and artists,
the coming exhibitions. the opening of
the winter campaign Of fashion.
With wildly beating heart, Bee lis
tened. hoping to hear the mention of
Eric Saxe's name, but no! Miss Vann
never once alluded to her favorite-
never once hinted whether he was tsill
watching the blue waves at Newport
or Aquidneck. or executing crayon
heads in his Gotham studio.
i At last the two callers arose togeth-
er to go. Miss Vann patted Bees cheek
with one gloved finger.
My dear, you are as pale as a Nj
obe," she said: "at the beginning of
your first season, too! Come and see
my Hector and Andromache'-it Is
finished quite to my satisfaction"
"Adieu, Mees Beatrix," whispered
Strozzi, in her unwilling ear; nothing
shall make me angry with you; wheth-
er you treat me kindly or otherwise,
am now and always your devoted
slave"
Then he went, and Miss vann also.
and Bee was left alone in the drawing
room with Mrs. Cullen Sardis.
There was severity about tha
august lady's aquiline profile which
boded no good to her niece.
"Sit down moment" she said, point
ing to a chair; II wish to speak with
you alone"
| Bee obeyed.
You are my husbands niece and
ward" began Mrs. Sardis, surveying
the girl with protesting air, land as
such 1t Is my duty to look closely to
your welfare. The air which you as
sumed toward Baron Strozzi just now
was very rude, very offensive. Since a
person of his Importance has chosen to
show you marked attention, 1t Is my
wish-yes, my command. that you re-
ceive it with becoming courtesy"
The hot, angry blood surged into
Bees cheek.
Baron Strozzi! cannot, Aunt
Amelia!-don't ask me. 1 detest the
man and his attentions!"
Your taste Is as defective as are
your manners. He is a most delightful
person-he is also a nobleman. His
unconcealed devotion to you. an un-
fedged girl, is most flattering. Now
, listen to me. I shall do my utmost to
secure for you an advantageous mar
riage-a husband Of whom your Sardis
relatives need not feel ashamed.
have heard Of your Newpotr folly and
wish to say to you, Bee, that no OBJ
| SCuIe, peHllllSSS IllSl, llO lON loi luHC-
hunter shall ever wed my husbands
ward, or control one dollar of her
money. Don't color like milkkmaid;
such violent tints are always unbe-
; coming"
Aunt Amelia, how dare you!"
Hush! not word more. l trust
that affair was an idle Irritation;
let US call 1t such, at least. know
your nature Beatrix, and expect you
, will give me trouble, but am prepared
for it.; If you are wise. you will submit
quietly to my control. Now there Is
but one thing more to say. 1t is this:
r l wish you to accept Baron Strozzi as
your lover"
, To have her secret uncovered in this
manner-to know that either her uncle
: or Miss Vann had informed Mrs. Sardis
Of the summer idyl at Newport was
, unbearable to poor Bee. She stamped
d, on the rich carpet.
Never" she answered. quite breath
less with wrath. Il hate Baron StrozZi!
, will not treat him even with common
courtesy"
= MIRO Sardic'e thin faro na1ed