Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-07
CHAPTER Xxx.
The Next Morning.

The Next Morning.
Impatiently, up and down, up and
down his elegant room at a certain
grand New York hotel, Count Stahl
was pacing, on the morning after the
Sardis ball. The hour was what the
fashionable world calls early. Prob
ably Ethel had not yet wakened from
sleep, nor Mrs. Sardis shaken off the
influence OF that tremendous drug with
which she stupefied herself nightly
soothing her nerves by weakening
them.
The counts blonde face looked pale
and worn. His slumbers had been Of
the ightest; evidently late festivities
did not agree with him. A tray upon a
table near at hand seemed to indicate
that he had been trying the soothing
influence Of brandy and soda. His eyes
were haggard and blood-shotten. Now
and then he swore audibly in French as
he paced back and forth over the deep
pile carpet. A stream Of life was NOV
ing up and down the street without;
and again and again the count stopped
in his feverish tramp to listen-not to
passers-by, but for an approaching
footstep in the passage outside his door.
He was waiting for a visitor-waiting
with feverish impatience very unusu-
al in man Of Count Otto's cool, phleg-
matte temperament.
Suddenly rap echoed on the door.
The count started, paused.
"Enter!" he called.
Dark, smiling, shining from top to
toe In faultless attire, and calm as q
May morning, Baron Strozzi stepped
into the apartment.
Monsieur lie comte, wish you very
good morning." he said in fluent
French, and doffing his hat with q low
ho d. fn nd
am here-such Is the force Of habit.
Ma fol! even arose an hour before my
usual time, that might not keep you
waiting. Monsieur, you are pale-I fear
you danced too much at the ball last
night"
II looks could kill, Baron Strozzi
would have fallen nfeles then and there
under the fire Of the counts furious
eyes.
"Scoundrel! you have forgotten none
Of your old impudence!"
II trust not, monsieur" answered the
baron, smiling; 1T has served me so
many good turns In life that should be
extremely sorry to part with It."
In Heavens name," demanded the
count sternly, how is 1t that I find you
masQuerading in this new land, and in
the highest circles Of society, in the
character Of Roman baron?-you,
whose father kept wine-shop in the
Faubourg st. Antoine?"
The baron waved his gloved hand
airily.
in q name monsieur? ! am a man Of
nerve and courage. When have an OBJ
ject to gain I stop for nothing. He who
hesitates Is lost. / never hesitate. The
name Of Strozzi charmed me; the title
of baron stirred my profound admira-
tion. ] determined to make them my
own. did so-with what success you
can judge for yourself-you, who saw
me moving among the elite last night.
Pardieu! our unexpected meeting was
as great a shock to me as to monsieur
lie comte. True, I had heard that the
fair daughter Of the house was engaged
to a Count Stahl, picked up somewhere
abroad; but my heart said to me, mo
it cannot be the noble aristocrat whose
humble slave / once was; he Is still in
retirement, mourning the loss Of his
beautiful, his adore6 countess"
The count gave his visitor a strange
look. His face was as white as chalk.
Strozzi flung himself into an easy
chair, and began to draw off his ele-
CANT gloves.
Pardon" he said, politely, but to
sustain a conversation in standing pos
ture Is somewhat wearisome. We are
no longer master and servant, count
and valet, but simply two gentlemen
met to talk over private affairs for mu-
tual enlightenment and advantage"
With his back against the door
Count Stahl transfixed the other with
the blue eyes from which all languol
had now vanished.
Where have you been since we part
ed in Paris?" he demanded.
StrOzzi aDrean ont his hands with ar
expressive gesture.
Everywhere, monsieur-on the Con-
tinent, in England, in the antipodes
and now you behold me here. All, did
not you always say that I was man
of parts-a person Of talent? Many
times have I proved the correctness OF
your Judgment"
what brought you to this part OF
the world? You had some especial pur-
pose, suppose, in coming to New York
in donning the character Of a full
blooded baron"
Strozzi shrugged his shoulders. His
wicked eyes danced.
Purpose? Yes, monsieur. Wha
would you? One soon tires Of games o,
chance-luck will not always stay II
one side; then, too, there are place:
where a man soon becomes so wei
known that he is no longer appreciated
This New York Is gigantic field o
enterprise, open to all men of talent. IT
people, though republican in name
adore titles. The bellies of society are
as a rule, enormously rich, and are t
be had by any aristocraties foreigne
for the asking. When AHRaR reache
my age, he naturally bel think o
matrimony--the claims fair se'
arise before his view 3sieur Il
comte my purpose in hrtf my gift
and talents to this An "a marke
was to secure by them ing which
l now need exceedingly YIeh wife l
/ do not mistake, have Nthese word
not only stated my own pet ambition
but that of monsieur lie comte, also
Like master, like man."
The count grew furious. He started
up from the door, and made as If h
would lay violent hands upon his visi
tor, but upon second thought, he re
strained himself and fell back reluc
tantly.
'Impudent knavei" he fumed, ''yo,
do not mean to say
Exactly. monsieur!"
You have not dared to lift you
cursed eyes to-
Strozzi waved the expressive han
again.
Monsieur I was about to say that
have already found the ideal Of m:
dreams-a being, young, fair and ric
beyond belief-a jewel, which, with tn
help Of the gods, will win and wear
a coy. spirited creature, sharp OF ton
que and with the mettle OF half
tanned filly, but charming nevertheless
NFooeia,,r spaak of Miss RpatriS Sar