Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-12-31
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SOll IldSIcU d ioIiS, Shdi uihuS' iiiNN
stiletto. She tried to strike at me, bu
snatched the weapon from her, ant
threw it into the shrubbery. We coult
hear feet running down the terrace.
II will never forgive you for this!'
hissed the gypsy. "A moment ago
told you that you were in danger or
the island-you shall see that l spoke
truly. Well, take the child now, bu
there will come another time and an.
other chance, and then-then look tt
yourself, Jetta Ravenel!"
She dropped Bee and fled. just a:
Harris and the assistant gardener ap.
peared at my side.
Don't pursue her, Harrls!" l cried
incoherently: don't try to overtake
her!" And l seized Bee and ran to
the house. where l told my story tc
Mrs. Otway.
you must go over to Whithaven
Harris" she said to the overseer, land
telegraph the affair to Basil Hawk
stone. He ought to know Of it before
he starts for Egypt. This first attempt
to abduct the child may be followed by
others"
Harris departed on his errand, and
the outcome of the whole matter was
this: The next day the lord Of Tenn
pest Island, after an absence OF six
years, returned again to his sea-girt
kingdom.
Bee had been sent to bed. The hour
was waxing late. sat in my own room
adjoining the nursery, reading the
'Idyls of the King" when a servant
raped at the door.
"Mr. Hawkstone has come, Miss
Ravenel," she announced, "and Mrs.
Otway says will you please step down.
stairs?"
I arose at once. It was Bees BIRTH
night, and in her honor I had donned
one of the few smart gowns which
possessed-a trailing. white wool, en-
broidered in pale roses, and clasped at
the waist with an antique silver girdle.
A silver dagger pinned the coils Of my
tar-black hair, and I still wore In my
cersage an opulent cluster Of jacque-
minot roses which Bee had placed there
at dinner. 1t was a wild night, with
an east wind blowing, and the rain
sweeping in torrents by the windows
Mrs. Otway had lighted wood fire in
the hall, and the two were standing be-
fore it as descended the shallow stair
Basil Hawkstone turned and looked up
at me. I, quite as curious, looked down
at him. Yes, 1t was the same person
that I had seen on the beach at Pegs
Inlet. There was the face, carved as
If from stone, the scar on the cheek,
the eyes of hard, cold, iron-gray, the
bronzed, soldierly look. One hand
seemed to be injured-he wore 1t in
sling. AS 1 approached the fire he
made me a profound bow, and Mrs. OF
way said, simply:
Surely you two remember each 9TH
er. l have sent for you, Miss Ravenel,
to tell Mr. Hawkstone the story OF yes
terday. AS you were the heroine Of the
affair. he wants to hear it from your
lips"
II am no heroine" 1 protested, and
briefly related the incident of the pre-
vious day.
Hawkstone leaned against the man.
tel. and moved his injured hand as
though in pain.
Pray sit down, sir" urged Mrs. OF
way; you are hurt"
"I met with a slight accident Few
nights ago." he answered; lit is MOTH
ing-don't mind me. 1 know not which
to admire more in this precious busi-
ness"-and he gave an unpleasant
laugh-"the effrontery of the basket
vender, or Miss Ravenels prompt ano
courageous action. One thing is GER
tain-you did we'll to telegraph to me
Mrs. Otway. Tomorrow l should have
been on the sea. Now."-he took
turn across the hearth-'it is necessary
to change all my plans" Then, stop
ping suddenly, he looked at me in
way that took my breath. 1T seems
that my cousin Vincent has, for once
made a wise choice. Shall l congrat'
ulate you, Miss Ravenel, upon youl
prospective entrance into a family
whose closets abound in skeletons?
scarcely think ought. The past rec
ords of the house prove that 1 should
not. There is a curse upon us, and 4
seems to fall heaviest upon the womer
who take the Hawkstone name"
| felt the blood rise to my face.
You are laboring under some mis-
take" 1 said, haughtily. who ha:
dared to tell you that your cousin is
is anything to me?"
He stared.
NO less a person than Vincent him
self"
1T is a falsehood." 1 said, dryly
you have been well duped."
What? Are you not about to MARI!
that boy?" he demanded, sharply.
Certainly not-emphatically not!'
He looked thoroughly annoyed.
Il beg a thousand pardons, Miss Ra
venel. Ah!"-under his breath-"it Il
the same old Vincent" Then he turn
ed to his housekeeper: Mrs. Otway
has my cousin been much at the islant
of late?"
Yes, sir: every day in the weel
since Miss Ravenel came. He has tor
mented her a great deal, and. sir
speaking hurriedly, as though she di'
not mean to miss her opportunity, i
something is not done about it, L an
sure we shall lose her, which vii
break Miss Bees heart"
He gave me a lightning glance,
bore it steadily, determined. first of al
to escape from the false position II
which Vincent Hawkstone had PLACED
me.
1T is quite true" I said, in a firm
voice." if your cousin is permitted L
annoy me further, cannot remain a
Tempest Island"
He bent his brows in an unpleasan