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

Rome. Let us go back to the ballroom
1t Is near twelve o'clock-the hour 70
supper"
Meanwhile that late arrival, Baro
Strozzi, was diving hither and thithe
among the crowd searching for Beatri
and finding her not. Finally, in passin
the open door of dressing h
, espied Bee standing within, under
chandelier, her dropping face lookin
pale and weary, her gloved finger
, plucking absently at her bouquet, whil
on the floor beside her knelt a coffee
. colored woman in a white cap an
Ing train of the young debutante'
dress. The person thus employed wa
Finette, Mrs. Sardis's French maid. A
the baron paused on the threshold I
stare in at the unheeding girl who's
thoughts were far, very far away from
all the festivity Of the night, Finett
lifted her head and saw him there
black, portentous shadow, stretchin,
up toward the Intel Of the door. Sh,
saw him, and, strange to say, the sigh
seemed quite as unpleasant to Mrs
Sardiss waiting-maid as it had been
few moments before to Count OFT,
Stahl. ... ~.
Mon Dieu!"
Those two syllables, mingled with [.
stifed shrek Of terror, rank suddenl!
through the room.
The needle dropped from Finette'l
brown fingers, she crouched down be.
hind Bees shimmering figure in {
frightful, palpitating heap.
Good heaven! Finette, what Is the
matter?' cried Bee, turning sharply.
| THE needle, mademoiselle, 1t enter.
ed my hand" answered Finette In 9
fierce whisper, and with her dark face
half buried In the girls dress. Look
some one Is at the door; look!"
And Bee looked, and beheld the very
unwelcome face and figure Of Baror
Strozzi.
Finette did not attempt to rise from
the floor; in that attitude she was we'll.
nigh concealed from the baron's sight
She cast the lace fiounce wildly from
her hand.
go, mademoiselle," she murmured
with white lips; 1T is done. He waits
for you-go quickly!"
Bee walked to the threshold, salutine
the baron with cold bow.
| "Oh, you are here, them" she said, ir
an ungracious tone.
He smiled as serenely as if she had
given him the warmest of welcomes.
Behold me, Mees Beatrix"
Il hoped-that Is, thought you
would not come"
Nothing but death could keep me
| from you tonight. I am inconsolable tc
| find myself late. How charming you
look-how fair! You dazzle my eyes
Your good aunt commands Eat take
you to supper"
Il am sorry to disobey my aunt's
command" said Bee, drawing coldly
back, "but have already accepted an
other escort. Here Is Mr.. Van Dorm
coming for me even now" And as the
gentleman thus named appeared upon
the landing, Bee slipped her slim hand
through his arm and walked quietly of
to supper.
Never glancing into the dressing
room, where the brown waiting maid
had scrambled to her feet and was
making off In undisguised terror
through an opposite door, Baron Stroz-
Zi hastened to find a substitute fol
Beatrix in the person Of Miss Charlotte
Vann.
Twelve o'clock had struck, and the
doors Of the superb supper-room were
standing wide open. Thither rushed
the bankers guests like crowd Of To-
Gusts.
The long tables glittered with crys-
tai, gold and silver plate, and groane6
with French wines and French viands
I-terrapin and truffies, fish cooked ir
champagne, game Of marvellous quail.
ty, spiced meats and pastries, pate dc
foie gras, fantastic confections, costly
and unreasonable fruits. Dancing Is 6
violent exercise, and 1t engenders g
ravenous appetite. Bee. sheltered
somewhat by Archie Van Dorm, devour.
| al bar ond hanod frrkav baaIip @
as little as possible Mrs Sardis's cold
disapproving looks, and the burning
glances cast upon her continually by
Baron Strozzi.
| The tables were crowded with mer-
chant princes, foreign consuls, million
aires, fair women with Redeemed faces
caked with pearl-powder, all chatting
laughing, eating fiercely after dancing
like dervishes.
! Opposite Bee was Madame Vann, In
her gorgeous crimson satin, covered
with Brussels point. Our heires:
watched her for a moment, then whis-
pered wickedly to Van Dorm:
What Is that strange beverage which
madame is drinking?-she has just
emptied her third glass;"
Van Dorm looked, meditated, smiled.
1T Is a mixture of brandy, green tea
/
and broken fruit" he answered, "and II
is called-punch."
rs 1t intoxicating?"
by Jove! I rather guess 50! II
would be we'll to station a footmar
somewhere near the old lady, to catch
her when she begins to slip under the
table. Look! your aunt wishes tc
speak to you"
Mrs. Sardis caught her niece's eye
and leaned suddenly toward her.
| II wish you to reserve two dances fol
Baron Strozzi," she said, calmly.
| Excuse me, aunt.
Impossible! / will take no denial"
Bee toyed with her c!aret cup.
| VERY WELL" she murmured: Il viii
dance like a Moenad If you desire 1t!
You can force me to do many unpleas.
ant things, Aunt Amelia, but the fore.
ing only makes your purpose more
hateful to me-don't you know?"
| Vis-a-vis at the same table were the
two titled lions Of the night, but they
might have been two statues for all the
heed which they gave to each other
Count Otto devoted himself entirely tt
his beautiful betrothed; the baror
chatted with Miss Vann and watched
Bee. In truth, the pair seemed little
inclined to cultivate an acquaintance.
by Jove! look at them," whispered
Van Dorm to Beatrix; "one would nat.
urally think that such blue bloodet
fellows would rush straight into each
others arms. 1t looks like clear case
of natural antipathy, eh?"
| But when the enticing strains ol
the german began to call, when the sa-
tiated crowd poured back to the ball.
room, in the passage thereto the count
and Baron StroZZi met, and, under
shelter of the swelling music, the rus
tie Of rich fabrics, the murmur oi
voices, they exchanged few sentences
in guarded French.
I'm Gods name, how came you here|
said Count Stahl.
IN the DEVILS name, you mean
monsieur lie comte. 1t Is a long story
dare not tell it-I might be over
heard"
II have a mind to speak and denounce
you to this company. Why should
not, you insolent hound?"
Because you might find it bad fol
yourself as we'll as for me, monsieur. A
| ragantinn yyil1 nnnuinnn vO1