Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-12-13

dame. Work 1 must find, and at once
for, whatever happens, I am deter
mined to accept no more aid from that
or any other quarter.
She looked grave.
MY dear, your Independent spirit
thing about those Hawkstones? They
seem have neglected you strangely
yes, quite forgotten you, since you
came to the school,"
II know nothing Of any Of Them"
replied, indifferently; my bills, as you
are aware, have all been settled by the
family lawyer. 1 have not heard syl-
liable from any person on the island
since I left 1t. To tell the truth, I re-
member the place only with aversion"
Madame shrugged her shoulders. =.
TT is sad to see person so young
and attractive left quite alone in the
world" she sighed. MY dear, let us
look over the columns of wants In these
papers-we may find the promise of
here"
We did so. Half way down the print
ed page, my eyes fell upon this adver-
tisement:
"Wanted-A governess for a little
girl Of six years. Salary liberal. Un-
exceptionable references required. Ad-
dress Mrs. O., windsor Hotel, stating
where an interview may be had"
I read the above aloud to madame.
i"Do you think might do?" asked.
Certainly" she answered, briskly;
I'VE can furnish the unexceptionable
references. Salary liberar-that sounds
we'll. My dear Jetta, I advise you to
Write to Mrs. O. at once"
1 wrote Immediately, stating name,
age and qualifications. Then prepar-
ed to possess my soul in patience till an
answer should arrive from Mrs. o. My
purse is empty, but I am resolved to
accept no more money from the Hawk
stones. 1 retain but one pleasant
memory Of Tempest Island, and that Is
Mrs. Hawkstone herself. my fathers
friend. have always
counted her death as the greatest mis-
fortune of my life.
July 2d.-A little before lunch-time
I was called down to the reception
room to meet Mrs. o.
She was a small, quiet-looking per-
son, dress in black silk. She had a
placid face, deeply wrinkled, and iron
gray hair arranged in smooth bands. /
was startled by something strangely
in her appearance. AS I en-
tered, she. arose with the air Of lady.
Miss Ravenel!" she said, "yes, 1t Is
Of course, but recogniza-
BILE. Do you remember me?"
After vain atterapts to fix her in my
memory, I was forced to answer mo"
Il am Mrs. Otway," she said, with a
smile, "the housekeeper at Tempest
Hall-you knew me we'll about six
years ago."
1 felt as though I had received cold
douche.
And are you the person who adver-
tised for a governess?" asked.
Certainly" she answered; Il am
here in New York for the express pur-
pose Of securing one for little Beatrice
OF course, you are aware
of the troubles we have had at the Is
land since you went away?"
ION the contrary" replied, trying
to repress a smile, II have heard moth
ing concerning the island, or anybody
upon it, from that date to the present.
My so-called guardian has never trou-
bled himself about me in any way. l
trust"-and I tried to speak politely
that Mr.. Hawkstone and his family
are WELL"
my DEAR" cried Mrs. Otway. In a
shocked voice, "is 1t possible you do
not know that Basil Hawkstone has no
now, save poor little Bee? Six
years ago his wife fled from him, and
later, the courts gave him a decree of
absolute divorce and the custody Of the
child. My dear, the affair made great
scandal. All the newspapers were full
Of 1t at the time"
Il did not happen to see It," I answer
ed, feeling quite stunned. Madame
never allows her pupils to read scan
dals Of any kind"
Quite right. Since the divorce Ba-
sill Hawkstone has been wandering
abroad-in Egypt, in the Soudan, in
Asia Minor, in the uttermost parts of
the earth. He will probably never re-
turn to his own land. His little daugh-
ter is in my charge at Tempest Island.
1t Is now time for her to have a COM
petent teacher. She has scarcely
learned her alphabet as yet, poor
child"
And Basil Hawkstone Is divorced
1 echoed, blankly, from that pretty
young creature whom he seemed to
adore?"
"Oh, my dear, she ran away from
him. and went back to the circus ring
from which he had taken her. The
first thing that he heard she was In
Cuba, carrying everything by storm
with her riding. His life was wrecked
-desolated, Of course. 1t was dread
full. I cannot speak Of it. And now,
Miss Rayenel, will you come down to
Tempest Island as governess to our
motherless little Bee? You wish to
teach, from which fact infer that you
no longer consider yourself the ward of
Basil Hawkstone."
l nodded coldly.
well, we should greatly rejoice to
have you at the island, my dear, In
stead of some stranger, to whom the
affairs Of the family are unknown"
Give me time to think" I gasped.
81 have a strong antipathy to the is
land. had not wished to see 1t again.
That is not strange" said Mrs. Of
way, kindly, for some unpleasant
things happened to you there. But re-
member, all is now changed, and l am
at the head of domestic affairs at
Tempest Hall. I will give you till to-
morrow to think Of the matter, and
then call for your decision"
She mentioned a salary far above