Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-07
THE AMERICAN COUNTESS
By ETA w. PIERCE.


story to your American admirers will
set the police on your track-I will de.
nounce you as my former valet de
chambre-a gambler, a swindler, 8
cheat; and these, remember, are the
very mildest names that can apply to
you"
The baron seemed bewildered for q
moment Then he passed his hand in
quiringly over his throat, adjusted his
disordered neck-tie, and shook himself
Pardon, mon count, you will dc
nothing Of the Sort" he answered, as
soon as he could recover breath; your
will Is good, without doubt, but you dc
not dare" -.
The two glared at each other in open
hatred.
you dare not. monsieur" repeated
the baron, because /, too, can make
unpleasant revelations. You think that
/ am in your power. Reverse the case
and you will have the truth-you are in
mine!"
His dark, SCARED face was full of
menace, and certain tigerish CLEAN
made hideous his coal black eyes.
The count grew deadly pale
You can prevent me from securing a
rich wife," Strozzi went on, and I also
can take from you your beautiful be-
trothed-oh, you have done well for
yourself there, monsieur!-and with
her the bankers millions. Suppose !
should go to Monsieur Sardis and say
your prospective son-in-law Is q
born count, his title Is not spurious
like mine, but If you knew what know
Of him, his former servant, from
whom few secrets Of his life have been
hidden-you would sooner cast your
daughter into the fire than give her to
him. Think a moment, monsieur, and
you will see that ! am not a person to
be safely defied. When we parted in
Paris, took the bribe you gave me,
and promised that I would not Of my
own will cross your path again, or mo-
lest you in any way, and ! have kept
my word. Well, what would you? Ac-
cident has thrown us together here,
and you have seen fit to recognize me
by name which have now abandon
ed, and which Is associated with as
many unpleasant things for you as for
me. Mon Dieu! That is no fault of
mine"
The count seemed incapable OF
speech. He simply glared at the speak
er, who was in full possession Of his
wit, and quite conscious that the game
was his own.
tinued Strozzi; so, also, do I. You
have found an heiress as beautiful as
the angels, and you wish to marry her
/ will not lift finger to prevent you,
providing you do not in any way med
die with my plans. Let US both forget
the past. ! have borne q great deal for
your sake. All, heayeni ! have even
heard that many people in Paris ac-
cused me Of the death Of the late Coun-
tess Stahl, your beautiful and adored
wife. who died so suddenly and mystic
riously one night, after dancing at the
Tulleries. Eh! eh! How pale you are,
monsieur! Sit down, implore. and let
me ring for brandy. You will not?
Well, as I was saying, you must re-
member these things. Peste! what an
outrageous thing Is ingratitude! Bear
in mind that am not Adolphe Sassard
now, but Baron Strozzi, person whom
you met last night for the first time
and whom you are bound to treat with
becoming courtesy wherever you may
encounter him. mean to move heaven
and earth to marry the girl Beatrix-]
shall marry her. be sure Of that. Your
future mother-in-law gives me every
encouragement. BY my soul! she Is as
wild for the match as am. If, through
any knowledge which you may have OF
my past history, you place so much as
a straw in my way, monsieur, look tc
yourself-to your beautiful heiress-tc
your neck!"
The count sank involuntarily into the
nearest chair. Before this threat, which
he understood only too well, his pride
of birth and blood, his inherent preju.
dices, his wrath and contempt, seemed
to fall helpless. He was deprived Al
1f f,,r nf n
Monsieur, do you yield to my terms p
demanded Strozzi, watching him as {
cat watches a mouse. will you permi
your ex-valet to marry into the same
family with yourself?"
The counts face told how deep wa
the humiliation thus set before him
how fiercely he rebelled against 1t. Blu
alas! this was case, not Of choice, bu
necessity. He stared fixedly down a
the floor, and made no sign.
Speak, / entreat you, monsieur!
urged Strozzi, gayly. 1T is bitter pill
for you to swallow, eh? Well, consol
yourself After all. We need not se'
much Of each other. Without doub
you will take your bride to Paris
know your penchant for the delights o
| New York. / adore New York! / shal
settle quietly down here, and live lik
a prince on the money Of the old west
ern pork-packer. You need never deigl
me a thought and !, for my part, will
remember you as little as possible
Family jars will be out of the question
with an ocean rolling between us; an
your pride-well, monsieur, you mus
put a wholesome curb upon that, an
make a virtue Of necessity. Do you &C
cept my terms?
/ The count shook as If with an ague.
'I accept" he answered, In hoarse
difficult voice.
"A thousand thanks. monsieur!
rends my heart to disturb you 8
much. Very good. / have then, t
mention but one thing more. My purs
is quite empty. The money which yo
gave me on the night of your countess
death is spent-every franc. My mar
yelous luck at cards has deserted me
and some valuables which l possesse
are in the hands of the Jews-that Is
/ the pawnbrokers. A fresh supply @
money is now Imperative. Monsieur
oblige me with the loan of two thous
and dollars"
The count transfxed his adversar
with a gloomy stare.
1.-TWO thousand dollars! You mus
be mad! You, who pretend to nave a
unlimited knowledge 'ol my aiiai
ought to know that 1 can scarcely NEE
my own personal expenses. l am peg
carly poor Was there ever a tim
when was not?"
"Yes!" cried Strozzi; when yo
married the Countess Olga. She brougn
you a handsome fortune, and for tim
you had plenty; but, alas! 1t was nc
long"
The count frowned darkly.
TT is impossible for me to obligg
you" he answered; "and now we WI
end this interview-that Is, you WI
have the goodness to take yourself ou
of my sight at once" =,
Pardon; l am in no haste smile
the baron. Let me suggest a way D
which the impossible may be mao
possible. 1t is true that monsieur
poor-I never doubted that for mo
ment, and ah! what an unsatisfactor
thing is a title. however genuine, TO
man who hasn't a sou! But monsieu
/, future father-in-law is rich-enor
mously so. Monsieur has only to mir
delicately that his remittances froI
europe have been unaccountably de
Iayed and the money will be forth
, coming. Try 1t, mon count, and let m