Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-03-11
9, TUESDAY. T. 1913

II
pity or reluctance.
Pity? It was not in Count Stahl's
nature to feel that emotion. and es-
pecially, at this time, when furious
with the disappointment, the utter
wreck of many hopes. She did not
speak or move in his wicked grip-only
stared at him with eyes Of blank hor-
He is dead!" repeated the count,
savagely; "and his liabilities are hun
dreds of thousands, his assets-noth-
ing! Now, madame, what Is to become
Of your"
| She sweyed helplessly to one side.
He relinquished his hold Of her wrists
and let her fall backward-let her sink
a dead weight, to the floor Of the sa-
lon. He stood over her without one
throb Of compassion, or one attempt
to raise her from the dust at his feet.
my supplies cut Off" he Kissed,
with livid lips, my debts unpaid, my
purse empty, my liberty lost, my title
thrown away-I, tied to the daughter
intollerable!"
AS he stood, gazing darkly down
upon the lifeless girl, a velvet curtain
/ at the other end CT the salon was
thrust back, Finette rushed across the
room, flung the count with all the
strength Of her stout arms violently
against the paneled wall, and snatched
her young mistress from the floor.
Mon Neu! woulc you let her die,
monsieur" she cried, and laid the
countess upon a sofa, chafed her hand
| dashed water upon her, and flung UP
| the long window to give her air.
Count Otto watched all these move
ments with attention, and suddenly
discovered that the countess had late
ly changed her maid.
"Ah, monsieur, she has swooned,"
said Finette. See how rigid and cold
she is-how young, too, and beauti-
fun! You were too abrupt with your
news"
She had been eavesdropping. He
glared at her f1ercely.
/ seen you before?" he answered.
II know not, monsieur" replied FL
nette.
Look at me, vermin!"
She felt that 1t was impossible to
deceive him. Her eyes met his, stern
ly and defiantly. A sickly yellow hue
overspread his heavy face.
Marie! the deucei" said Count Ot-
YES, monsieur--Marie Finette--
that Is my name. You recognize me, l
see."
IN the name Of all the fiends, how
came you here?" he cried.
She faced him bravely.
81 am your wifs's waiting maid,
monsieur. I entered her employ one
week ago. Yous swince-great heaven!
You grow pale! Did I not serve the
first Countess Stahl faithfully? I will
do as well-yes, even better, by this,
your second wife"
He gathered himself up from the
wall against which her strong arm
had flung him.
81 fear my second wife will not long
require your services" he sneered. 1T
was not chance which brought you to
! her, good Marie-such things never
come about by chance-it was design.
Take care! You are seeking to play
some game OF your own. You are
deep, butt am dargerous!"
| Monsieur, know you are danger
ous-yet behold me! If I was afraid
Of you should I trust myself under
your roof"
He turned on his heel and left the
| salon.
Pushing back a velvet portiere,
Count Stahl entered his wife's bed
chamber dazzling room, with hang
ings and furniture, coverlet and cur
tains, all in white and gold. On the
| lace -draped toilet table stood the
! boxes containing Etheps jewels. The
count lifted the lids, looked in at the
glitter and gleam Of precious stones,
then promptly gathered up the whole
great moon white pearls, flashing
diamonds, changeable opals-every-
thing-and transferred the same In
compact form to his own person.
| Money he must have, and at once.
Il Ln
very respectable sum-enough, at least
for immediate wants. Without so much
as a glance at the salon where his
wife lay, he stepped out upon the
landing, spoke few words to valet
who was waiting there, and. immedi-
ately left the house,
Very slowly and reluctantly Ethel
drifted back to consciousness. She
opened her eyes at last, on the anxi-
Gus face Of Finette.
"Oh, madame-dear madame, 1 fear
ed you were dead!" cried the waiting
maid.
With her hands pressed wildly to
her distracted head, Ethel struggled
up to a sitting posture, and looked
round the salon. Her father a bank
rupt-dead by his own hand-every-
thing lost, even honor! 1t was too ter
rible for belief! Where was the count?
My husband!" she gasped. family,
call him."
Finette ran into her mistress's cham
Der. Her lightning eyes fell at once
upon the toilet With a s, stified
cry, she rushed toward the jewel
boxes. Some were gone, all were emp
ty. She saw at a glance what the
count had done.
"Madame!" she cried, flying back to
the salon, "he has taken your jewels,
and left the house, Oh, mon Dieu!
the coward, the thief! Your jewels,
madame, that you brought from your
own land!"
sofa. Finette ran to her side. Oh
thank God! here was one plying face
I-one, too, that she had known in her
home across the sea.
"Finette, Finette!" she walled
wringing her hands, helplessly, what
shall do?"
to save you, and you would not let me
do YOU not remember? / longed to
save you-to balk him, for l hate and
abhor him-I know him, and you-you
too. know him-now"
You tried to save me? What do you
mean?" cried the countess, wildly.
"Ah, madame, have you forgotten
the letter and the woman whom you
met in the New York park more than
two years ago-the woman who beg
ged you, for your souls sake, never to
marry the count? 1t was l. / wrote
the letter, madame. My mother was
: an English woman, and she learned
me to read and write in her own Ian
guage. l disguised myself for that in
terview. Alas! 1t came to nothing
you would not listen to me-
Amazed, dumfounded, the countess
seemed scarcely to comprehend her.
You, Finette! Oh, merciful God!
with a quick clinching Of the hands,
quick swelling of throat and bosom
what did you say to me that day-o1
what crimes did you accuse him? My
head Is in a whirl-I can remember
nothing"
Madame, listen, and l will tell you
ALL I have been in this house a week
and avoided him upon all occasions
yet I already know that he treats you
shamefuIy-that the sorrows of the
Countess Olga nave overtaken hel
successor. Mon Dieu! l knew it would
be so. He loves nothing but his lux
uries and designations; but for your
, money. he would never have married