Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-01-14

equipages-the great charm, indeed, o
! that gay watering place. Landaus wer
there, dwrags, English coaches; dog
carts, cabriolets, pony phaetons, ba
rouches, four-in hand, six-in-hand-
every known vehicle under the sun
the whirl of wheels made her head gid
dy. The greater part of this brillian
cortege was moving toward Fort Aams
1t was sight to confuse the might!
mind of man and Bee could only star
in wonder and delight. Jewels flashed
costly toilets dazzled, crests glistened
bright eyes shone, hoofs clattered ol
the hard gravel.
Intent alike upon seeing and being
seen, this pageant Of fashion and gaye
ty rolled through Bellevue and Oceai
avenues, smiling, saluting, admiring
mingling, separating and meeting again
MY DEAR" said Miss Vann, smooth
ing the ears Of Bijou with one delicate.
ly gloved finger, "the most stylish an(
snowy equipages here belong to New
York; Philadelphia Is always elegant
and solid, and Boston-well, you. car
tell Bostonians anywhere by the un.
earthly wisdom Of their faces-the re-
suit of long brooding over primal cause
and the roots Of things. In the Drive
We hold levee on wheels-good heav-
en-! can I trust my eyes? Who do
see coming yonder?" '
Miss Vann's eyes looked as II they
might safely be trusted-at least, they
were keen and searching enough. The
person to whom she alluded was ap-
preaching her landau at an easy pace
man mounted on a mettled, satin
skinned horse, and sitting the beast as
If the two were one. He was faultlessly
dressed, he was swarthy of face, and
deeply pock-marked, and he had prom
inent cheek bones and alert, black, gilt
tering eyes which swept the crowd, the
faces of the ladies especially, with al
most offensive scrutiny. Nevertheless,
he seemed to be favorite, for the fair
creatures In the carriages saluted him
eagerly, and he returned their greetings
with a graceful, courtier-like air, very
edifying to see.
Heaven be praised! 1t is-it Is the
baron!" cried Miss Vann, clasping her
hands. He Is back again! Behold the
lion Of the season, petite. the observed
Of all observers-our dear, darling, in
comparable Baron StroZzi!"
Even as she spoke the horseman
started-stared-then rode up to Miss
Vann's carriage Leaning from his sad
die, he lifted his hat gallantly with his
gloved finger tips.
Quick Z. as lightning his black eyes
fastened, not upon the rich Knicker-
booker spinster, but upon her young
companion-the girl in white, with the
cluster of violets at her throat. A new
face, a fair face. and a person of i'm
portance, otherwise she would not be
in company of the eccentric New York
woman.
MY dear baron!" cried Miss Vann,
extending her hand to him over the
side of the carriage, Il am charmed to
see you again! We have missed you
sadly at Newport. Have you finished
your business in Washington"
YES" he answered, showing his
white teeth under his waxed mustache,
and speaking with a strong accent;
what bliss it gives me to know Eat you
haf missed me, my dear Mees Vann!
And for me, I haf been heart-broke
away from this paradise. But, ma foil
when one Is great, one haf many duties
to attend to. After all, 1t is only re
humble Eat enjoy ease" And he hcav-
Mount Atlas rested on his shoulders.
Very true" assented Miss Vann,
with sympathy. my dear baron, let
me present you to Miss Sardis, lie
neice and ward of the banker Of that
name" 49, z-ss.-y-s.--- - '-s'f -'.t-
Restraining his restive horse with
one hand, the baron bowed deeply, ef-
erentially to Bee.
II am enraptured to make Miss Sar-
dis's acquaintance" he said, giving ner
a look that made her color to her
temples; will she consider me her
humble slave? All, heaven! how fair
are ze American ladies everywhere"
Miss Vann shook her fan at him.
"Forbear! Miss Sardis is a novice
yet, baron-she has but just left school.
You must not talk nonsense to her;
you are a sad f1atterer, you know"
Mon Dieu! she Is enchanting!"
Hush! Why do you always swear
in French? command you-hush!"
The carriage started on again, and
the baron fell into place by its side. He
had found company, evidently, with
whom he was loath to part. Bee had
not spoken word. She sat quietly OBJ
servant in her place, measuring this
live nobleman-the first she had ever
season, with her frank, clear eyes.
He Is odious!" she said, promptly
and decisively to herself.
der the archway that opens into the
parade ground, and away 1t rolled
around the broad drive which encircles
the inclosure-a host Of beauty, fashion
and pleasure storming the stronghold
of war. Colors were flying, bands
commandment kept open
house on this gala day.
In the noise and glitter and anima-
tion, Bee sat silent, but all alive with
pleasure, and Miss Vann was busy an
swering the salutations Of friends, and
trying to sustain conversation with the
baron, who still kept close to her side.
rs 1t not like re Bois de Boulogne?"
he said. ''or Hyde Park Corner in ze
London season? And your charming
companion, Mees Vann, what Is she
like? A white rose-a lily-or ze Wat
teau pictures you copy so transcend
emily
"Ffe! You are enchanted with every
new face you meet, baron" answered
Miss Vann, with a shrug Of the shoul-
ders. II begin to think that you are a
sad fellow"
"Ah, MOI" protested the baron in a
stage whisper; 1T Is true that like
all ladies but this one, I give you my
word, Is more than adorable. Be gen.
eTOuS, De uedT mloS VAIN anu
tell me something about her.
There is nothing to tell" answered
Miss Vann, laughing at his eager note
and sinking her voice little, that Bee
might not hear; don't lose your in
fiammable heart to mere girl, baron,
when mature bellies are to be found In
plenty at every turn. Miss Sardis is an
orphan, and the heiress of a million in
her own right. She is in my care for
the present, and she will go nowhere,
and, above all, receive no f1attering at
tentions from beguiling creatures of
your SEX"
With his white teeth glittering like
grave stones, the baron looked across
Miss Vann's richly -attired figure to
Beatrix Sardis. He had learned all that
he wished to know. His black eyes had
the cruel, covetous look of some crea-
ture of prey. An indignant flush COL
ored Bees cheek. She had heard every
word of the conversation. Were these
the manners of foreign noblemen? Was
this swarthy, pock-marked man rep
resentative of the beauty which the
Italian race is said to possess? Odious
He was more than that-he was detes:-
tablet He should soon find that she
did not want his admiration or his
compliments. She gave him stare
that was meant to be naughty, only
Rec could not assume the look with