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

; 'Did-did Mr.. SAKE remain long al
Newport after left?" she stammered
twisting her costly fan in a ruinous
manner about her nervous fingers.
He remained until October. You
quarreled with him, did you not, be-
!, fore You went away?"
. "Quarreled!" gasped Bee. NO"
, Ifeared you might have done so, be-
cause, strangely enough he never once
mentioned your name nor made any
, inquiry about your departure, which
, was sudden enough, you remember, to
take away ones breath. However, al
! dinner yesterday, he spoke of you for
the first time-yes, he really asked II
you were WELL"
Bee grew red, then white.
Did he, indeed?" she answered, Bit
terly. How good of him! am greatly
obliged. All! here comes Mr.. Van Dorm
with an ice."
Miss Vann nodded. and moved away,
quite unconscious that she had turned
all the JOY Of the night into dust and
ashes for Bee.
He had never cared for her in the
ieast-never once remembered her after
she left Newport! Her heart sank like
lead, weighed down with the bitter con-
seriousness that she had given too many
thoughts to one who had not once
thought of her.
by Jove! how pale you are!" said
Archie Van Dorm: you're not Ill, I
hope. Miss Beatrix? Shall l 60 for
smelling salts? Shall I speak to your
No, she was not ILL., The power to
dissemble, which seems inherent in
womankind, came to her aid.
| m q
much dancing" she said, brightly;
and look at my smart lace fiounce-
Count Stahl stepped upon it and tore
1t quite In two. May ask you to take
me to the dressing -room?-I can dance
no more until am repaired"
| She handed her ice, untasted, to q
servant, and Van Dorm tucked her un-
der his arm and sailed off with her
through the, crowd.
Meanwhile Count Stahl had drawn
his betrothed out of the hot ballroom
into the cool dim conservatory, which
CHANGED to be deserted as the two en-
tered. In the centre Of the place
fountain played softly In a round basin,
bordered with emerald moss and vio-
let's and daphnes. Tropic vines curled
upward to the roof, their odorous
flowers hanging midway, like gorgeous
birds suspended in flight. Scarlet lilies
like cups of fire burned behind barri-
cades OF green. Colored lamps swung
overhead, and Egyptian vases, crowded
with the dusky splendor Of heliotropes
sent forth a sitting fragrance from
every side.
In her rich ball dress, with the pearls
cleaning In her bronze hair and on her
marble throat, Ethel stood in the rose
hued light Of the place, fairer, statelier
than any exotic which 1t held. With
adoring eyes Count Stahl looked down
upon her-this fair American, whom he
had coveted at Baden Baden, won at
Lucerne, and crossed the sea to wed
now In the New World
| Il fear you are sadly bored with so
many new acquaintances," said Ethel,
with a faint, sweet smile.
"On the contrary" answered the
count 1T is a delight to meet your
friends. They all adore you, / see
they are madly envious Of me. That
Is not strange. One person, however,
whom I expected to meet here tonight,
has not yet made his appearance"
She looked up quickly
| Il mean Monsieur Harding"
| All her possession, and she had
a great deal Of 1t, could not keep the
blood rushing into her cheek. She
reached and plucked a spray Of hello
| trope from a vase overhead.
| "No-he is not here"
| The count eyed her closely. He was
jealous still Of his former rival.
"HfSe you met him since your return
from Europe, Ethel?"
| NO." she coldly answered.; Il think
he goes but little into society now. He
has become poor; he Is working for
his daily bread. You do not compre-
hend the meaning Of those words,
suppose?"
The count smoothed his waxed mus
taches with one white-gloved hand
Very naughty and handsome he looked
In his orthodox evening dress, with the
foreign orders glittering on his broad
chest.
Scarcely" he replied; Il was born
above such comprehension. You have
heard Of Mr.. Harding, then, If you have
not seen him? All, heaven! Do you
think of him-do you remember him
with kindness. perhaps regret?"
| Her beautiful face grew chilly and
surprised.
Those are strange questions to ask
of me-" she said, with a hauteur that
recalled him at once to his senses.
rs it strange" he cried, wildly, that
I, who regard you with alteration
should dislike to think that another
man has loved you.
| A faint, cold smile fitted over her
lips.
Many men have loved me-" she an
swered frankly.
| But not as Harding did"
| Perhaps not" she murmured, with
something like a smothered sigh;
whatever Lawrence finds to do, be It
wise thing or foolish one, he does it
with all his might"
The count gnawed his long mus
| taches.
Forgive my jealousy" he pleaded,
| for the sake Of the passion which has
made me your slave. II adored you
less I should be less fearful Of losing
you. Thank heaven, the time Is at hand
when you will be mine irrevocably-
when
| He paused abruptly.
| A step sounded near by on the floor
Of the conservatory. A man had enter
ed the place. and was eagerly looking
around 1t as II in search Of some one
a TALL swarthy man in faultless even
ing dress-one Of the guests Of the
night.
Ethel turned and held out her hand
with a smile.
You are late, baron" she said. I'VE
feared you had forgotten u.s.
The baron made a deprecatory ges-
ture.
Forgotten! Oh, impossible. l was
detained by unexpected business. May
I ask II your fair cousin, Mees Beatrix,
is anywhere about?"
Then his eyes fell upon Count Otto
standing just behind Ethel, with the
light falling on his blonde face his
decorated breast, his imposing figure.
The glib tongue Of the baron seemed
suddenly to freeze to the roof of his
mouth; a strange. livid hue overspread
his pock- marked face. He started as If
struck.
Baron Strozzi," said Ethel, ALLOW
me to present you to Count Stahl-1
think you two have never met in this
house before"
| Where were the counts manners?
He spoke not a word, he did not even
bow. His blonde face was as livid as
| the baron's.
He, too, recoiled a step and dashing
back his gloved hand, as If he was
/ ahout m strike at something he dis