Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-14
CHAPTER XIII
In the Park.

watch pointed to the hour OF one. LII
vain she told herself that the anony-
NOUS letter was unworthy OF notice
that some envious foe had written 1t;
that to give 1t a moments considera-
ton was gross injustice to the count.
The words still burned like fire before
her ewes. She unlocked the drawer In
her toilet table, took out the obnoxious
sheet, held 1t to the gas Jet and saw 1t
consume, and yet the demon was not
exercised. :.
AS sleep was out of the question, 1t
occurred to Miss Sardis that the last
new novel might possibly aid her In
driving away her unpleasant thoughts.
She descended the stair at once.
The library door was standing a1ar,
and through 1t stole long. red shaft OF
light. Some one beside herself had
murdered Sleep" Ethel pushed open
the door and looked into the room be-
yond.
It had but one occupant-her father,
and he was sitting at an inlald table,
reading what seemed to be letter!
Good heaveni can my unknown cor
respondent have written to him also!'
thought Ethel.
His face looked strangely haggard
and worn in the subdued light. He did
not see or hear his daughter till she
stood by his side. Then he started vio-
lently, and dropped his letter-droppeo
1t upon the table, quickly, before her.
The writing was large and ugly, ike
some uniformed schoolgirls, but every
word was as legible as print. 1nvolun-
tarily Etheps eyes ran over the open
sheet, and read, without meaning To-
read, these opening lines:
my Dear Kind Guardian:-You told
me to call you that, and oh, am very,
very glad to do soil am growing
strong and well again. like the school
/ study hard, try to learn all that you
wish me to know. Ny teachers VIII
write to you soon, and report my pro-
gress. Every hour Of my life oless
you for your goodness
She read no more; for, swift as
Thought. Cullen Sardis snatched up the
sheet and thrust 1t into his pocket.
rather and daughter looked at each
other. Her face was full Of surprise,
his Of annoyance and displeasure.
Pardon my rudeness, papa, smiled
Ethel II did not mean to read It: You
have a ward? What a secret! VINO Is
she? Pray tell me-
His cold mouth twitched nervously.
Pardon me; I cannot gratify your
curiosity, Ethel. You have intrudeo
upon a purely private matter. Is TINS
the way In which you pass your nights!
Heaven forbid that your mothers NAL
aides should get hold of you!"
Ethel drew back in some dismay'
What new mystery was this?
IT want a book, If you please, papa.
I am going to read awhile before
sleep"
He turned away with a shrug OF tne
shoulders. She made q selection from
the crowded shelves Of the library, tnen
returned to his side and put one nano
upon his arm. The banker was not,
and never had been an affecuonate
father. He was proud Of his daughter,
he lavished his wealth freely upon ner'
but there was not much love or 1amll-
iarity between the two. Courteous and
indulgent he always was, to both wife
and child; but fond or demonstrative-
never! .,
"As many as you like, Ethel"
"Suppose you should receive an an
onymous letter that reflected, let US
say, upon the character of-ot-a
friend. What would you do, papa
How would you treat such a commu-
nication?"
"With the contempt 1t deserved"
''You would not allow 1t to influence
you in the least against your friend?
Certainly not. How earnest you
are! I hope you have not been writ
ing anonymous letters to anybody.
Come Ethel now have something 10
say to you. Count Stahl Is more than
anxious that you should name an early
marriage day. Let me urge you TO 90
so. I wish to see you settled in life."
She opened wide her dark eyes.
"You are impatient to be rid OF me
papa, and I your only child F1e!"
He frowned little, moving uneasily
in his chair l..
scarcely fair to keep the count dane
ing attendance upon you here, especial
" when it is necessary, as he hlmseil
has told me, that he should be at home
T susnect that the steward of his es-
tate is managing his affairs In ruin
Gus fashion. l have already loaned him
money to meet his expenses here. He
ought to be in SaXony, looking a1ter MS
revenues and his dishonest servants. l
shall talk with your mother tomorrow
Ethel"
Ethel looked surprised, and not wei
pIeased. Her father wished to hasten
her marriage with the count-he was
eager to secure his titled son-in-law.
II was not strange, yet 1t gave Miss
Sardis an unpleasant sensation.
81 do not understand why the count
should borrow money of you, papa,
she said, coldly; "he Is rich is he not!
Yes; but remittances have not beer
sent to him promptly. scarcely COM
prehend It myself, but all the same l
am glad to oblige him with a few
thousands There, my dear. you ought
to be taking your beauty sleep. Late
hours are ruinous to bright eyes. Good
night"
perplexed as when she left It, Could
she treat that nameless tmpertinent
letter with the contempt that 1t de-
served? Let us see.
On the following morning Count
Stahl appeared at the Sardis mansion.
II have come to beg you to mention
the day which will make me the hap
piest of men," he said to his betrothed
''It is impossible for me to remain
many weeks in the New World, for my
presence is so much needed on my own
estates. Yet I cannot return without
you. Consider my situation. l ADORE
YOU, and have your consent to be my
wife. Make me blessed by naming ar
early marriage day"
Mrs. Sardis, who was present at TINS
interview, arose from her chair with
great rustic.
"My daughter will study your bes'
interests, count" she said, hastlly
"She will not embarrass you by an!
unnecessary delays. l think we neeC
not keep you waiting oeyono the lhir'
week of January"
She looked fixedly at Ethel; the lat
ter mechanically extended her hand tc
her lover. He covered 1t with kisses:
"A thousand thanks!" he murmured
So it was settled. On wednesday o.
the third week in January, Ethel Sar.
dis would become the Countess Stahi
and sail at once for Europe.
Having thus accomplished his de-
sire the count lunched with the family
and then returned to his hotel.
AS the day wore on a great restless
ness seized upon Ethel. There were
callers to receive, invitations to read
ARRANGEMENTS Of great magnificence t
discuss with Mrs. Sardis: but none o.
these things could Danish the anony
NOUS letter from her memory. Agar
and again she determined, recklessly
to go to the park, and again ana agar
che revoked the decision. Miss Vanr
appeared directly after lunch, ant
carried Bee off in her coupe; and, a!