Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-06-09
CHAPTER NJ.
The Blue Feather.


Elsa toyed with her emeralds, ap-
parently searching for some flaw. Like
q thief in the night was a phrase that
rang unpleasantly in her ears. Her re-
markable interest in the man was
neither to be denied or ignored. In fact,
drawing her first by the resemblance
to the man she wanted to love but
could not, and then by the mystery
that he had thrown about his past
simply but guarding it closely, it would
have been far more remarkable if she
had not been deeply interested in him.
But tonight she paused for moment.
4 little doubt, like one of those oblique
flaws that obscured the clarity Of the
green stones, appeared. She had al
ways been more or less Indifferent to
public opinion, but it had been a care
less, thoughtless Indifference; it had
not possessed the insolent twist of the
rect from man whose pomposity and
mental density had excited her wit and
amusement, surprised her even if it did
not hurt. 1t had rudely awakened her
to the fact that her independence
might be leading her to a labyrinth.
She was compelled to admit that at
home she would have avoided War
rington, no matter how deeply sorry
she might have been. His insistent
warning against himself, however serv-
cd to arouse nothing more than u sub
tie obstinacy To do just as she pleased.
And it pleased her to talk to him; it
pleased her to trihe with the unknown
danger.
Something new had been born in her.
All her life she had gone about calmly
and alOofiy, her head in the clouds, her
feet on mOuntain-tops. She had never
done anything to arouse discussion in
other women. Perhaps such n situa-
ton had never confronted her until
lately. She had always looked forth
upon life through the lenses of mild
cynicsm. So long as she was rich she
might with impunity, be as indiscreet
as she pleased. Her money would
plead forgiveness and liberation
Elsa shrugged. But shrugs do not
dismiss problems. She could have
laughed To have come all this way to
solve a riddle, only to find a second
more confusing than the first!
Like a thief in the night. She did not
care to know what he had done, not
half so much as to learn what he had
been. PeculatiOns Of some order; of
this she was reasonably sure. So why
seek for details, when these might be
sordid?
Singapore would see the end, and she
would become her normal self again.
She clasped the necklace around aer
lovely throat. She was dressing for
dinner, really dressing. An impish
mood filled her with the irrepressible
desire to shine in all her splendor to-
night Covertly she would watch the
eyes of mediocrity widen. Hitherto
they had seen her in the simple white
of travel Tonight they should behold
the woman who had been notable
among the beauties in Paris, Vienna.
Rome London; who had not married a
duke simply because his title could
not have added to the security of her
position. socially or financially; who
was twenty-five years OF age and per
fcctly content To wait until she met the
man who would set to flight all the
doubt which kept her heart unruly and
unsettled.
Into the little mirror above the wash
stand she peered with smiling and ap-
proving eyes. Never had she looked
better. There was unusual color in her
cheeks and the clarity Of her eyes
spoke illuminatingly of superb health.
The tan on her face was not made no
ticeable in contrast by her shoulders
and arms, old ivory in tint and as
smooth and glossy as ancient Carrara.
You lovely creature." murmured
Martha, touching an arm with her lips.
Am | really lovely?"
You would he adorable if you had
a heart
Perhaps have one. Who knows"
You are foolish To dress like this"
Martha finished the hooking of Elsa's
waist.
And why?"
In the first place there's nobody
worth the trouble; and nobody hut a
duchess or "a" Martha apusrd en-
barrassedly.
or a what" An improper person"
Elsa laughed. My dear Martha, your
comparisons are faulty. [ know but
two duChcSseS in this wide world who
are not dowdics. and one of them is an
American. An improper person is gen
orally the most proper, outside her pc
cular environments. Can't you Su%-
gest something else"
Martha searched but found no suit
able reply one thing she felt kecnly,
Il fevcriSh impatiencc for the boat tn
reach Signapurc where ElSa'S folly
must surely end. She believed that
she saw more clearly into the future
than Elsa. Some one would talk, and
i'm that strange inSCrutahle fashion
scandal has of reaching the ends of tn"
earth. the story would eventually ar
rive home: and there. for all the pro-
fesSiOn of friendship. it would find