Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-04-01
THE AMERICAN COUNTESS
CHAPTER xxxvI-continued
By Eta W. PIERCE.


Archie Van Dorm, glancing over the
newspapers at his club next morning
CHANGED to see the baronets name tr
the list of arrivals-also the name Of
the hotel to which he had betaken him.
self
brought him across the water?" mus
ed Van Dorm. "A goodish sort OF fel-
Paris. I must look him up. Hall
American, too. Wonder If my mother
wouldn't like to have him lunch with
her today! Oh, by Jove, / know she
would! I'll write her a note, and ther
slip of to his quarters"
Mr.. Van Dorm acted at once upon
this brilliant thought. He presented
himself at the baronets hotel, and was
greeted by Sir Valentine as genuine
godsend.
"The very person that longed tc
see," cried the baronet, as he wrune
the Gothamite's hand. you know the
Countess Stahl? OF course you do!
Can you tell me where she Is to be
found?"
Van Dorm looked little blank.
Countess Stahl! by Jove! / see!
That's the attraction that brings you
e-~~
counts demise, eh, and now you're
ready to offer her a second title? She's
turned governess, and Is living some
where among her friends, can't say
where; have heart, but / am q little
hazy in memory. However, I'll make
inquiries for you"
you quite mistake, Van Dorn," said
Sir Valentine; 'T am not In love with
the countess-I wish to see her upon
a matter of pure business"
Van Dorm balanced himself upon the
edge Of his chair, and smiled gloomily
at empty space.
Happy fellow! I have been suffer-
ing the tortures OF perdition for the
Arbuckle, my life Is q burden. never
was so hard hit before in all my days
or course I've played at spoons dozens
Of times, but downright earnest pas.
sion Is another thing. Don't / look
deucedly hipped"
Come to observe you closel, re-
piled Sir Valentine. you do. Aid sc
you feared you had a rival in me, die
you? Pshaw, mani take heart Such
an idea never entered my head. You
are good looking and well-bred.
shouldn't suppose you would find 1t q
very hard matter to induce her to for
get such detestable scoundrel as the
late count"
Van Dorm opened his blue eyes, then
burst into a melancholy laugh.
Hang 1t! I'm not talking OF the
countess. To be sure was soft upon
that's once wasted, oh, how can 1t burn
again? No, that's not the person. It's
her sister"
Sir Valentine put down the pipe that
he was smoking.
HAS the countess a sister? I al
ways heard that Cullen Sardis had but
one child"
There's another-the daughter Of q
first marriage that nobody know any
thing about till after the bankers
death. The friends Of the family don't
talk much about 1t; but all the same
Mabel is the countess half sister. BY
Jove! She's incomparable-ten times
lovelier than Ethel herself"
I'm that case she must be something
fitted to distract and confuse the
mighty mind of man." said the baro-
net; "for ! call the countess q remark
ably handsome woman. Are you ready
to receive congratulations?
Van Dorm shook his dismal head.
Good heaven, MOI She won't have
me. She's music teacher to my little
sisters-has to work for living. The
Sardis lot are now very poor, you
know. might give her fortune and
luxury. and all that; but she won't
take 1t. And, by Jove! she was sc
sweet, and kind and gentle in her re-
fusal, that / love her ten times more
than ever. I'm heart broken!-you
needn't grin, old man-l've a good
mind to turn Trappist monk and &c
hide myself in some bowling wilder
ness, away from female kind for the
rest Of my days"
Help me first to find the countess
said Sir Valentine, dryly, for / an
very impatient to see her-my busi-
ness will not wait. OF course her sis.
ter must know her address-she would
not object, I suppose, to give 1t to
you"
"I should think not" answered Van
Dorm, consulting his repeater; come
home and lunch with me. / have writ
ten to my mother that I should bring
you, If possible. We may meet Miss
Sardis there-it's the hour for the
girls lesson. I make 1t a point tc
avoid her now whenever I can. but III
suffer for once in the cause Of friend
ship. Come!"
The baronet needed no urging. The
PtoS~SNSN
straight to the Van Dorm mansion or
q highly fashionable street. The Co
thamite conducted his titled guest into
a handsome drawing room, and seat
ing him comfortably, said: Excuse me
a moment, old fellow, while I go an
look up my mother" Then vanished
and left Sir Valentine alone.
At the further end Of the apart
ment was q doorway hung with i'm.
penetrable folds Of crimson silk anc
beyond it voices were audible-chil'
dren's voices; also the rattling OF mu-
sic-leaves and the tinkling Of piano
Sir Valentine had ears, and he was
obliged to listen whether he wished Il
or not
to sing us something you know, Wner
our lesson was done. Madge likes
Robin Adair and Auld Robin Gray
like the hymns. oh, do give us one
little, tiny hymn"
Alice is a saint" laughed Madge
mamma says so. Everything thai
Miss Sardis sings is beautiful. II
had her voice, I'd be prima DONNA"
A third person spoke, but In so low
a tone that Sir Valentine did not catcf
the words; then a practiced hant
struck the piano; then through the
crimson silk curtain voice hoated lnt(
the silent drawing-room-a glorious
soprano Of wonderful compass
sweetness It thrilled through Sir Vol
entine like an electric shock, drove thu
blood from his cheek to his madly'
beating heart:
"Other refuge have I none,
Hangs my helpless soul on Thee
Leave, ah, leave me not alone,
Still support and comfort me.
All my hope on Thee Is staid,
All my trust from Thee l bring
Cover my defenseless head
With the shadow Of Thy wing.
That old, familiar hymn! Mercifu
God! was he awake or dreaming? HI
leaped to his feet Could there be tive
voices like that in all the length ant
breadth Of the world? The same. ye
not the same, for cultivation had de-
veloped and strengthened it; yet how
could he mistake it? Never knowint
what he was about, the baronet strod'
straight across the drawing-room
dashed back the crimson silk curtain
and, in its shining shadow, stood anC
looked into the music room wher'
Madge and Alice Van Dorm had jus
completed their morning lesson.
over the piano the two children
hung in breathless delight. At the in
voiiDp GIRL dreSsed iT