Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-03-18
THE AMERICAN COUNTESS
By ETA w. PIERCE.

dplc.
She looked at him. half in appeal
half in despair. His countenance wal
serene, his manner almost tender. Wa!
he the monster which Finette had de-
pictured him to be?"
Our servants-will they go with
us?' she demanded. ....
He smiled sadly, indulgently.
My poor wife, you are true chil6
Of luxury. You find yourself unable
all at once, to comprehend our present
strait. It will be impossible to keeI
our present retinue Of servants al
Verrieres. Firstly, there is not room
in the chateau; secondly, we cannot
afford tive are beggars. madame"
Il cannot go, will not go without
Finette!"
He frowned, then answered airily:
"Finette-always Finette! Very well
you are i'll, and must be humored. She
shall go with you. Let us take cour-
age-let US look misfortune bravety In
the face, madame. You will find the
chateau a delightful place in which to
pass your term Of mourning. / en-
,eat you, by your. marriage vows
madame. to give me your help in our
common trouble"
BY her marriage vows! Ethel shiv-
cred, but spoke not word.
You will hold yourself in readiness
to leave Paris tomorrow" said the
count. I'VE will remain at Verrieres
till the autumn. by which time, trust
shall have secured a position at the
court Of my own country"
hand again to his lips, turned on his
heel, and left her, as II the matter was
settled.
The countess rang for Finette, and
told her of the intended departure.
I'VE must go!" she said in despair.
st Is useless to resist"
Madame, that Is plain"
"You will pack my wardrobe and
make ready at once" :.
"Yes, madame. All, what can II
mean? Monsieur's valet told me but
this morning that Maoemoiselle Nj
cole had sent money tn monsieur to
relieve his present embarrassments
Verrieres! That Is where my brother
Gustave lives. WeN, heaven alone
knows what will happen to us there"
TT does not matter" answered the
countess, drearily. II have lived my
life"
On the following day Ethel departed
from Paris, with F'inette her maid
and Count Otto her husband. She was
i'll, and out Of spirits. and the moment
she had passed the barriere, she would
have given worlds, had they been hers
to return. .r
The weather was omnious. The MUIR
ky sky threatened storm, the air was
hot and oppressive. Count Otto alone
preserved his cheerfulness. He Law
ished delicate attentions upon his Wife
and expressed great solicitude regard
ing her health and comfort. His mood
seemed unaccountable.
BY the time they reached Verrieres
and the chateau which was their des-
tination, rain began to fall. Ethel peer
ed anxiously from the carriage, and
saw q square, stone country house, d.
lapidated from age, with a large paved
courtyard in front, and garden over
grown with trees in the rear.
The count lifted his wife in his arms
and carried her across the gloomy por-
tai, across hall Of polished, age
blackened wood, and deposited her
upon a faded sofa Of small salon
where q wood fire was blazing in q
cavernous chimney. Finette followed
with her mistress's wraps. Both saw
that the place was mol6y and mildew-
ed, as II from long misuse. Mirrors In
tarnished frames hung on the walls,
also, a few ancient pictures. Straight,
high backed chairs, covered with din
gy damask frayed about the edges
stood against the wainscot. Brass
candlesticks ornamented the high man.
tel; brass andirons supported the
log on the hearth.
In spite Of the cheerful blaze in the
chimney, the effect was gloomy and
cold. Ethel felt q great chill creep over
her from head to foot.
Madame, welcome 70 our hermit
age!" said Count Otto, almost gayly
I'VE have reached 1t in good time, fol
the rain is coming down like a second
deluge. regret to see you looking sc
i'll. Your maid should pour you q glass
of wine"
Finette flung him defiant glance
took Off her mistress's outer garments
wheeled her sofa to the fire, and founc
wine glass, which, after careful ex.
animation, she filled with cordial anc
held to Ethers pale lips.
Take courage, mads: le," she whis'
pered, softly. 49,,
The storm had now broken with
great violence. The wind ravee
through the trees Of the courtyard
the rain beat on the narrow, small
paned windows.
Count Otto sent away the carriage
which had brought them to Verrieres
VI,
sabots, hobbled out from some un'
known quarter Of the place, and lock
ed the gate of the courtyard, thus clos
| ing os II seemed to Ethel, who watch
ed i'm from the old, dirk salon. al
communication hetwiXt herself and the
outer world.
Presently Finette slipped away on {
tour Of discovery, leaving her discon'
solate young mistress staring from tht
window at Count Otto. who had gone
out into the court, in spite OF all th'
storm, to speak with the old man II
the blouse. Darling down a stone pas
sage, the waiting maid came to th'
chateau kitchen, where she found al
old woman preparing dinner. She wa!
the only living thing in that quarter o
the house. She wore starched cap
and her face was as withered and dr.!
as a mummys.
Finette went up to her with a friend
ly air. ,
she.
"Oui," answered the ancient crea
ture, shredding some herbs into
| copper saucepan.
who is that old man in the court
yard-your husband?"
| "Oui"
Il see. You two take care of tn
placer"
| "Oui."
Not another syllable could Finett
extract from her.
She turned from the Kitchen to IN
spect the bedrooms-dark, panele'
apartments, dusty. faded, badly light
ed. Unpleasant, tomb-like odors per
vaded them all. Madame would die
gloom in this place before week wa
out.
IF the count has made up his min'
to destroy his wife this Is the yer,
spot in which to do it," thought Fl
nette.
| Already the day was waning. Roun'
the stone angles Of the chateau IN
storm shrieked like lost soul. In tn
salon Ethel lay curled up on her SOFA
miserable, cold and depressed. Not
vestige of color was left in her face
Against the dull velvet of her sofa sh
looked like a piece Of wax. The darl
circles under her lower lids made he
llustrous eyes seem larger and deepe
than ever. Count Otto. entering from
the courtyard, never once glanced a
her. but stopped down and nervousl,
poked together the brands on tn
hearth.
How still the house is-like
gravel" shivered Ethel. Are we en-
tirely alone here?"