Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-12-24

Zephyr.
She was small in figure and exquis-
itely rounded. Her face was as white
and pure as a snowdrop, flawless, too,
in feature. and lighted by velvety eyes,
softly shining under night-black LASH
es. Her hair fell to her slight waist
in a yellow torrent-angelic hair, rip
pling and flying in countless waves
and curls. She was dressed in a gay
little Spanish jacket and short, fluffy
skirts of se-colored gauze bright with
spangles, and at sight Of her beauty
the crowded tiers broke into vociferous
applause.
All but Basil Hawkstone. He sat as
If turning to stone. OF course he knew
her instantly, for six years had chang
ed her not whit. That fatal beauty,
so innocent, so infantile, was the same,
the very same, that had wrecked his
life.
Vincent Hawkstone recognized her,
too. He gave a start, a smothered eX-
clamation, and looked sharply at his
cousin: but Prince Lucifer's magnifi-
Gently cold. stern face betrayed moth
ing. He might have been that Sphinx
from whose land he had just come.
Dudley, the lawyer with the eyeglass,
went on talking.
Look at the southerner now," he
said: "eyes all neutrality-suspicious. pale
face, like a spectres-ho, he's quite
cracked for that little beauty! And a
nice race she'll lead him, you may be
sure-she's heartless f1irt, is Zephyr
numbers her victims by the dozens, and
has no pity for any of them"
AS silent, as motionless as a craven
image, Basil Hawkstone, the ex-hus-
band, sat in his chair just behind Ga
briel Ravenel, the lover and gaZed
steadily down into the ring below. He
saw her dash, like a little whirlwind,
around it-saw her burst through
scores Of paper balloons. alighting
squarely, every time, on the back or
the night-black horse-saw her exc
cute some exquisite ballet steps, her
artistic pose emphasizing still further
her delicate beauty. How the tiny feet
twinkled in the double pirouette! How
the soft eyes shone and the red lips
smiled. The applause became deafen-
ing Mademoiselle blew a kiss from
her white flnger-tips to the audience.
AS she did so, Gabriel Ravenel, In the
front row, leaned and flung his hot
house exotics in n perfumed shower
on the lovely rider.
She looked up, smiling, ut the unex-
pected deluge: her eyes first met the
face Of her lover. and then.
by some unhappy fatality, travelled
over Raveners head and alighted on
Basil Hawkstone, sitting in the next
chair, stony, forbidding, gazing down
at her in unmoved recognition.
The change that swept mademois-
elle's face was appalling. Instantly the
glow Of triumph and pleasure died out
of it. She uttered a sharp cry, pitched
forward, and fell under her horses feet,
prone in the sawdust Of the ring.
All was hubbub and confusion In
moment. UP rose the great audience
en- masse. Gabriel Ravenel leaped
down into the arena, but was pushed
back by a painted clown, who lifted the
girl hastily and carried her into the
dressing tent A moment or two af-
ter, a man mounted the platform where
stood the reserved chairs, and twitched
Basil Hawkstone's sleeve.
Come with me-" he said. Her horse
stepped upon her-she is dying-she
wants to speak to you"
Dying. An appalling word at all
times, and under all circumstances!
Hawkstone arose without a word, and
followed the man to the dressing tent.
There, on a sofa, lay the star Of the
ring, her blue eyes wild and CLASSY,
the blood oozing over her lips, her
breath coming fitful and difficult. She
was surrounded by fellow-riders and
various persons attached to the show.
The painted face of the clown peered
grotesquely over her shoulder. AS
Hawkstone approached she waved
them all back.
Leave us alone!" she gasped.
They vanished every one. Hawk
stone was alone with his divorced
wife. Then, presto, what a change
was there Mademoiselle Zephyr leap
ed from the sofa and stood before her
former husband, not dying, not even
injured, but full of wild. palpitating,
turbulent life.
AT last we meet again." she cried;
lat last-after six weary years."
THE meeting is not Of my seeking
he answered, drawing coldly back.
when 1 entered this tent tonight had
not the faintest suspicion that you
were riding here"
Her white bosom heaved under its
vail of yellow curls. She was gazing
up at him with great fevered eyes.
HOW stern, llON uldppiotiSi'piS W.
look" she said, in breathless way.
You are not the same-I scarcely
know you. All, you have travelled ev-
erywhere since we parted-you wear
the scar of a hero. Women admire he
roism, even in divorced husbands. l
have followed your movements in all
lands. There has rarely been a time
when 1 quite lost track of you
What trick is this?" he demanded.
Il was told that you were hurt-dy-
ing. What do you wish of me-"
Il wish to look once more in your
face" she painted. you who were once
my lover-my own! Can you begrudge
me so small a privilege?"
Madam, you have hundred lovers
in the audience yonder!" he sneered.
The color flew into her cheek and out
again.
IT shall not resent your gibes to-
night, BASIL am too wretched. In
deed, there is little of the old temper
left in me. l have wept it away, per-
haps. Oh, Basil. want to hear some
thing about nv child-Our child-my