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

~ SIO-A- I0ICs
1t was in October, sombre and brown
The trees in the park had donned Au-
aumn colors The season was over, the
watering places were deserted. Crowds
Of pleasure seekers, after dancing,
flirting, dressing and dining for many
day
by mountain, stream and sea-"
had now fed cityward like fiocks of
summer birds. Bellies were counting
up their conQuests, managing man.
mas the result of their skill and labor
Husbands and fathers were groaning
over formidable bills. The shop win
dows began to flame with hues like
the autumn woods. The fashionable
world had returned to its habitations
of brick and stone and mortar-to op-
era and ball reception and matinee, to
the splendor and the designations be-
loved by Vanity Fair. Green fields and
blue seas, moonlit piazzas, the song OF
birds, and the wash Of warm waves In
the sun, were now but things of the
past
The day was dark and full of un-
pleasant drizzle. At intervals a genu-
inc downpour broke from the gray Oc-
tober clouds, and a mournful wind
sighed round the corners Of the streets
and up and down Broadway. But a
little boudoir in a certain brown stone
palace upon Fifth Avenue looked
bright and cozy in spite Of the wealth
er. Rich eastern rugs dotted its par
quet floor. The black Japanese furni-
ture was upholstered in Louis Quinze
rose satin. The walls were frescoed,
and exquisite pictures, cabinets of gilt
and ebony, costly bronzes and vases
running over with creamy tea-roses,
adorned the place. On the tiled hearth
burned q soft, fiickering fire and drawn
up before 1t in an attitude conductive
to confidence and repose, sat two girls,
chattering as only girls can chatter
when they have been parted for many
months, and are really fond Of each
other.
My dear child" said Ethel Sardis.
moving a screen Of embroidered rose
satin betwixt her pearly face and the
too ardent fire (she had landed in New
York with her mother just twenty four
hours before), my dear, darling Bee,
you have altered much since saw you
last"
For the better, hope" answered
Bee, listlessly-Bee, whom Cullen Sar-
dis had brought home from a safe re-
treat among the mountains to meet
the returned travellers.
II am not quite sure. You have lost
your wild-rose color, for one thing,
mon enfant. You look pale and out of
spirits. Did you really enjoy Newport
with the Vanns and the mountains
with papa? Tell me about 1t. We have
nothing to do for the next hour but
exchange condolences"
Bee had changed in the last few
weeks-she had lost flesh and color,
but gained in what people call style. A
grave composure, lately acquired, gave
a new charm to her blonde loveliness.
"Oh, Newport was very well" she
said, with a vast show Of carelessness.
Il love the sea, you know; but the
mountains don't much care for
mountains. 1t was very dull there.
Guardy was away a great deal-in
Boston, on business, I suppose, though
1 never thought to ask him-and the
people with whom he left me-old
friends of his, and grave Quakers-
were greatly tried with me, / fear-I
am sure ! was with them. yawned
myself almost to death. I really
thought 1 should perish with home
sickness before guardy was ready to
bring me to New York"
II can't think why papa should have
whisked you away from Miss Vann so
suddenly" said Ethel, leaning down to
smoothe a lap-dog that was sleeping
on a rose-colored satin cushion before
the fire. He sent some message to
mamma in Paris which made her very
angry-it was about you, though
could not coax her to show it to me-
After that came a long letter, which
mamma burned without giving me SC
much as a glimpse at It; and then
instead of spending a few weeks in
London, as she had intended to do, she
made her purchases-Oh, how cross
she was, blythe -way!-had a fit OF
nervous illness, as she always has
when anything goes wrong-that de-
layed us an entire fortnight! and bade
vexation of spirit. Bee, hope you did
not go and lose your heart to any OF
those penniless young men Of genius
whom Miss Vann loves to gather
around her hearthstone, and so fright
en- papa into snatching you away from
their dangerous society"
BY the hot color that surged up tC
Bees temples, Ethel knew that hel
random shaft had struck home. She
was half shocked, half amused-a vet
eran belle may well be amused by
frolics which she herself, had outgrown
The next moment, however, Bee ralli-
ed bravely.
BAH" she answered. Like Madame
Montespan, l mean that the strong
shall protect the weak-that my heaC
shall take care Of my heart. Like
Montespan? l might have said, witt
quite as much truth, like Ethel Sardis
come. let US not talk Of poor me, bu
of yourself, belle cousine. You have
been everywhere, you have seen every.
thing, and you are engaged to count
what exhaustless subjects for con.
versation! Oh, Ethel, are you going
1t oil Nd t~tt1
She leaned a little lower to caress
the dog-Ethel Sardis, beauty, belle
and heiress. She looked a trifle pale
and fatigued after her ocean voyage
but this seemed only to increase the
perfect loveliness which had quite turn
ed the head Of Lawrence Harding, ant
driven many another suitor, also, t
the brink of despair.
Really and truly, Bee! Behold th'
sign of my bondage!" and she held ou
her hand, blazing with big diamond
Count Stahls engagement ring,
And you are very happy, Ethel
YOU love him very much, eh?" urget
Bee, moving her chair nearer to he
cousin and gazing at her inquisitiVe
ly with a pair of bright blue eyes.
EthsPs pearly face never changed.
Happy? Of course. Shall / not b.
a countess. with castles in SaXony,
hotel in Paris, wealth, honors and al
old-world spendor at my command
AS for your other question, child, 1t i
scarcely the kind which well-bred peo
ple PROFOUND to each other; but l vii
forgive you, because you are altogeth
er unsophisticated. Love-matches ar
growing obsolete, my dear-only par
venu people make them nowadays; In
deed, 1 fancy that love itself is gettinI
to be an old-fashioned disease. Its at
tacks are no longer Of the Virulen
kind which the old novelists were fon'
of describing-it is no longer necessar'
to a harmonious marriage"
Just as l thought" said Bee Wit
energy; you don't care straw for tn
count"
Ethel shrugged her beautiful shoul
ders.
"Don't jump at conclusions. Do yo,
EXPECT me to gush. my dear, like tn
heroine of a three-volume novel
Heaven forbid! We!l-bred people nev
or do such things. respect the count
I admire his courtly manners. his ele
gance, his-title; and mamma assure
+h;. ic n,Iite enough. She like