Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-28

course you WISH me W llOiu MY lou6uS
but all the same shall not. I am M
and know we'll. The landed gentry
look down upon me, because my father
was a gamekeeper, and was once 9
housemaid here. You want wife who
will be the equal Of the best Of them
and whom nobody will dare to snub
You want heirs to your wealth and IL.
tie. You will never be happy-I shal
never be happy, till you bring bride
to Deepmoor."
Sir Valentine turns from the window
This little gnat Of woman torments
him greatly at times, especially upor
this subject Of matrimony-her partic.
u!ar mania-but he bears 1t with pa.
tience. ..
breakfast?" he says. serenely. II an
as hungry an fox"
She obeys, with sigh. The two sill
down to a table glittering with old plate
and china, and spread with generous
English fare-delicate chops, rashers OF
home cured bacon. buttered mullins and
toast, eggs in silver vessel, boiled by
a spirit lamp upon the board, with q
minute glass to regulate the time; cold
tongue, and q reserve of game pie and
cold roast beef on the sideboard, and
tea and coffee, rich with fresh cream
from the dairy. ..
The walls Of the room are paneled In
oak; the antique furniture Is of oak
also, and heavily carved; the Crom-
wellian chairs are covered with moroc-
co; Persian mats dot the glittering ex-
panse Of black oak floor; portraits by
Sir Joshua Reynolds hang on the walls.
Do the two ever think Of Seedy Court,
Nll nf Ri oriuQ finn Y
Yes, each has a good memory.
A servant in livery brings in the post
bag, and Sir Valentine opens 1t. He
draws forth one Letter for Miss Black
and several for himself. His aunt's Is
postmarked London, and Is written In
q cramped, girlish hand. She deciphers
1t while Sir Valentine Is running
through his own correspondence. and
she looks much elated while she reads.
News from your cousin Elsie," she
says, nodding at the baronet.
"Ah!" he answers, with no sign OF
interest whatever. '
"She has been in London for the last
six weeks, with the Countess Of Heath
kinswoman, you know--and
before returning to Scotland she wishes
to make us a little visit. We may ex-
pect her in day or two. For my part,
/ am delighted. I never saw lovelier
girl-you can't deny that she is lovely.
Val?"
He smiles.
Certainly not. Have expressed any
wish to do so? BY all means give Miss
Arbuckle q warm welcome, and make
the Hall as pleasant for her as possi-
ble."
"Val, with her grand connections and
her comfortable fortune, she Is an ex-
cellent match for you-a most desir-
able match. Cannot you see 1t for
yourself?" ,...-r ....s- ,
II regret to say that cannot" he
answers. II shall not have the pleas
ure Of renewing my acquaintance with
Miss Arbuckle, for start for Paris to-
morrow. am stagnating in this place
Il need change" .aa
Miss Black understands this sudden
determination only too well. He has no
idea Of remaining In Deepmoor to sus-
tain the siege which his Scotch cousin,
who knows the value Of broad-acres
and long rent-rolls. is sure to lay to his
obdurate heart. The baronet has will
of his own-one characteristic, at least,
inherited from the Arbuckles.
do you think 1t exactly polite to
run away from Elsie?" says Miss Black,
obviously.
"Elsie will not expect politeness," he
lightly answers, from an American
boor like me-" "
And he goes. The next day Miss Ar
buckle arrives from London, armed
cap-a-pie for conquest, and filled with
deep designs against the baronets 8
peace; but alas! only to find the wary
game fiown-already Sir Valentine Ia
on his way to Dover.
In his journey to the French capital
the baronet finds a travelling compan-
ion In one of his Lincolnshire neighbors
a gentleman Of birth, named Hallam.
Together the two cross the channel,
whisk away to Paris, and take up their
abode at the same hotel, beneath the
arches of the Rue de Rivoli. AS Fate
will have 1t, that rich Gothamite, Ar
chic Van Dorm, is also a guest Of the
house. Being we'll known to Hallam,
he is not slow to make the acquaintance
of Hallam's titled friend-a small mat
ter In itself, but destined to lead to
results. '
It is a balmy, cloud!ess night; stars
twinkle above the trees Of the Champs
Elysees, gaslights shine along the
and from all the cafes, and
at the Grand Opera, Patti is singing.
The house is crowded with rank,
fashion and beauty. No empty seats
can be found in pit or ampitheatre.
Costly toilets, bright eyes and fair
faces make the private boxes dazzling.
The finest orchestra in the world is
discoursing sweet music. The gorge
GUS proscenium boxes, and those Of the
various ministers, between the dividing
columns Of the house, are all occupied
tonight. The known and the unknown,
the peer and the shopkeeper, are come
to hear the brilliant little prima donna.
A party of gentlemen, in faultless
evening dress, enters a box in the aris-
tocratic first tier 1t Is composed Of Sir
Valentine Arbuckle, Van Dorm the
American, Hallam, and two or three
friends connected with the British en-
bassy. Sir Valentine seats himself In
a corner, under the crimson curtain,
draws out his lorgenette and surveys
the house. While doing this, his atten-
ton becomes fixed upon another box In
full view Of his own, and containing
two persons-a lady and gentleman.
The former is marvelously handsome,
and dressed with the taste Of a Par
isenne, though the baronet decides at
once that she Is not one.
She looks listless and weary. One
arm, faultless as piece Of sculpture,
rests on the cushioned balustrade of
her box. She pays no heed to her
companion, a blonde. sleepy eyed, bald
man, who Is ogling Patti through his
glass.
Sir Valentine gazes at the fair, sad
face until he is well-nigh ashamed of
himself; then he speaks to- an attache
who stands at his side.
who is that lady?"
His friend understands, for the per-
son in question has no equal in the
crowded house.
You are a stranger in Paris" he an
swers, land so your ignorance must be
pardoned. That lady Is star In choice
Partisan society. She Is the Countess
Stahl, an American by birth-the
daughter of rich New York banker,
named Sardis. The man beside her is
her husband, and a sad dog he Is, too,
If report speaks truly"
Sir Valentine has a peculiar interest
in Americans. He starts and stares.
"Sardis-Cullen Sardis's daughter!
he mutters. rs 1t possible?"
By this time every glass in the box is
leveled at the countess.
by Jove!" says Archie Van Dorm, 1T
Is she, and none other!-belle Ethel,
handsome as ever, but as sad as Niobe.
I haven't seen her before since her
marriage Bless my soul l hear that
the count neglects her shamefully."