Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-07-02
CHAPTER TX.

communicate her dark 1OreDOuiHSS "
him.. do not say such things. Esther
No trouble shall come to you through
memo sorrow. l swear to cherish
you tenderly till die: 1 swear to love
you for ever and everi"
The wind screamed mockingly
around the tall tower, the waves beat
mockingly on the rocks below. DID
Fleetwood think of his cousin Maud
then? If he did, the thought had no
power to stay his new, impetuous pas
sion. The two were strangers. they
knew next to nothing Of each other,
vet here In the tempestuous night, at
the top of the old lighthouse, they
stood plighting their troth.
You have seen me but three times"
sighed Esther. How strange-how
very strange 1t all seems!"
81 knew, the moment I first looked
upon you, that my doom was sealed
he answered, passionately. What has
love to do with times and seasons?
love YOU, and all the rest of the world
may go. I have laughed at the grand
passion in my day; have thought II
a foolish delusion; and in this way
you see, it takes revenge upon me at
last"
With the shining black braids and
the face like carven pearl pressed
against his breast, he might well for
get his loyalty to Maud, his honor, his
social obligations.
will you marry me, Esther" he
said, through set teeth. IF you do
not, no other woman ever shalt"
Your sick mother in Canada-what
will she say to your choice?" faltered
Esther Hart.
"She may not like II at first" he
answered. frankly. Indeed, am sure
she will not; but time will reconcile
her to 1t, and when she sees you she
will love you. Anyway" gloomily, Il
cannot marry to please my mother.
She was barely eighteen, and very
shy, in spite Of all her pride, so she
questioned him no more. and he VOL
unteered no further information. They
went back down the stair to the house
Gran'ther Joe Runnel and Aunt Deb,
grooming over the kitchen fire, were
startled to see this pair of young
creatures flashing suddenly up to them
with such q light on their faces as
never was on land nor sea.
Mr. Runnel," began Fleetwood, with
manly .candor. Il love your grand
daughter, and she has promised to be-
come my wife. Give us your blessing"
Crippled with rheumatism Gran'ther
Joe undoubtedly was. but at these
words he bounced up like a rubber ball
from his flag bottomed chair. Fright
and dismay mingled in his wrinkled
face, and seemed to choke his breath
AS for Aunt Deb, she uttered a shrill
scream.
There! father" she cried, 'its
come jest as l thought it would-its
come, and you and are ruined!"
To this outbreak, which seemed
quite as strange to Esther as it did
to Fleetwood, Gran'ther responded,
with a furious snort:
you scoundrel! Who be you that's
come to rob US of Esther? If l was
a strong man I'd throw you over the
rocks. No, sir! Esther shall not marry
you nor anybody else! Esther Is our
main stay here. She belongs to us.
She amt a-going to leave us for any
stranger" And then, swinging his
arm in air. he shouted, at the top Of
his lungs: BE OFF,"
1t was not pleasant, this sudden
transformation of a hospitable host
into a belligerent enemy; but Fleet
wood confronted the old lightkeeper
with a calm smile.
Pardon. it is impossible for me to
leave the island tonight, Mr.. Runnel;
and. permit me to add, it is extremely
selfish of you to reject my suit for such
reasons as you have just given. Esther
loves me. and her happiness should be
your first thought. You ask who am.
A gentleman by birth, and. l trust, by
nature also. l have sufficient means
to support your granddaughter in
plenty. and can give you indisputable
proofs that her future is safe in my
keeping"
"Oh!" groaned Aunt Deb: we're
ruined, father. we're ruined! This is
wusser than rheumatic. or blowing
away in storms. l thought we had
Essie safe out on this rock!" Then,
turning on Fleetwood, like an angry
cat, she Missed: Cursed be the hour
you entered this house! l wish you
had drowned coming over to the rock
tonight"
Aunt Deb!" interposed Esther in
shame and Indignation; have you and
gran'ther gone mad? what does this
absurd talk mean? Not love for me.
surely You have both been kind to
me! you have never treated me i'll,
and yet"-sadly-"I have always felt,
always known that you did not love
me-"
Il not love you, and you my dead
sisters child?" cried Aunt Deb. with a
curious, frightened look on her foxy
face. You're an ungrateful hussy, to
talk in sich a way. One things sar-
tin"-shutting her thin lips with reso-
lution-"this young man that goes
about like a roaring lion, seeking
whom he may devour, won't have you!
Dads sot agin it, and I'm sot agin it,
and we're your natral guardians at
present. He'll have to take you over
our cold corpses. if he takes you al
ALL"
Fleetwood. irritated indeed, but
peaceably disposed, essayed the force
Of argument with the pair 1t was like
talking to the wind. Aunt Deb, with
her apron over her head, refused to
listen. The old man, stubborn as q
mule. would answer nothing save:
"Ye can't have Essie! There's girls
enough over at Cinderville, but ye can't
have Essie!"
Talk being useless. Fleetwood gave
up at last, but the look that he cast
at Esther spoke volumes. This oppo-
citjon which neither could understand