Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-12-17

for money that's neither yours nor
mine. I've been overseer Of this island
for many a year, and Mr.. Basil has
trusted me through thick and thin. I'll
never give dollar of his revenues to
ianybody without his full knowledge
and consent, sir!"
"You old dunderhead!" the other
voice shouted Il must have the mon
ey, say and be back in Whithaven in
an hour, and If you do not give it to
me, I'll take the worth Of 1t out of your
ancient bones? Am l not Hawkstone
also, and Prince Lucifer's heir? What
does it matter whether 1 receive my
own now, or ten, twenty, forty years
hence, you fossil? dare say you have
what need about you at this moment.
Give it up or take the consequences"
Il can't give up that which isn't
mine sir. You'll come to yourself, by
and-by. hope. Better mend your ways
and quit bad company: that's my ad-
vice to you."
| Then came the sound OF fall. and a
feeble cry, Help"
| I sprang up from the garden chair
and dashed through the Horseshoe
Gate into a graveled walk beyond.
There l saw Harris, PROSTATE on the
ground, his gray head in the dust.
Over him stood a man, with one foot
planted on his breast, savagely bella
boring the old overseer with horse
whip.
In a white heat of anger flew to the
assailant.
Stop" l cried, grasping the arm
that was plying the whip. stop, you
coward! How dare you strike an old
man."
He turned and looked at me. The
whip fell from his hand; he Withdrew
his foot from Harris's breast. 1t was
Vincent Hawkstone, his eyes blood
shotten from a nights debauch, his
dress disordered, and with nothing OF
the gentleman left in his appearance
Bee had followed me through the gate
She raised shrill cry at the pitiable
plight Of Harris.
"Oh, you wicked, wicked Vincent"
she said. II will tell papa-I will, in
deed! l wish you would never, never
come to Tempest Island again!"
He did not seem to hear her-he
stared only at me. / can never forget
him as he stood there, with the red
gold hair tossed about his brows, his
eyes blank and strange, the flushed,
dissipated young face changing slowly
to gray, stony pallor.
1 bent over Harris, and helped him
to his unsteady old legs.
Take my arm, Harris" l said, turn
ing my back scornfully on Vincent
Hawkstone, land let me assist you to
the house. You are hurt-you are
faint"
ITS nothing, Miss Jetta-thank, ye,'
faltered Harris-his loyalty to the
house of Hawkstone would not let him
complain, even then. "He don't know
what he's doing-Tll be all right di-
rectly."
I wiped the blood from his face with
my own handkerchief.
IF he does not know what he is do
ing. Harris" 1 answered, in my most
withering tone, "he should be taught;
as all brutes are taught-by that whip
which he uses so freely on others!"
And still Vincent Hawkstone did not
move or speak. hurried Harris away
There has always been one wild
Hawkstone in every generation he
muttered: that boy Vincent grows
madder and madder every day. Moth
ing can hold him. The Lord only knows
what his end will be-"
Then he clapped his hat on his head
and went off toward his own cottage.
"Why does Vincent always call him
self papa's heir?" asked Bee, in an ag-
grieved tone; how can he be that
when 1 am here-I-papa's daughter?'
1T is very bad taste on his part, to
say the least" I answered. II hope
he does not live on the island"
NO" said Bee. in a reassuring voice;
"and he comes here only when he wants
Harris to do things for him. He has
law-office at Whithaven. For my
part. I wish he would never GOMEZ"
added the ancient child.
Half an hour after the breakfast
bell rang AS I. entered the wains-
coted hall with Bee, 10! Vincent Hawk
stone himself advanced to meet me, no
longer flushed and disordered, but pale,
mortified, penitent, his dress decently
arranged, his whole appearance chang
ed
II dare not ask you to shake hands
with me, Miss Ravenel," he stammer-
ed: 81 am heartily ashamed Of myself
indeed l am All that you said out
there was quite true-I am a brute-a
fend. when l have taken too much
wine. There was a club dinner at
Whithaven last night, and I lost at
play-but 1 will not disgust you with
details. How deuced unfortunate that
we should have met like this!" he end
ed, with a groan.
1T is. indeed" I answered, coldly.
You remember, do you not, that you
did not like me six years ago?'
Yes, l remember"
And now you will like me still less!
without doubt"
He looked so detected, so utterly
chagrined and cast down, that I began
to soften toward him, in spite of my
self. All the Hawkstones seem to pos
sess the fatal gift of beauty! This wild
Vincent is wonderfully handsome, with
his sleepy blue eyes and red-broWn
curls.
What shall l do to win your for
giveness. Miss Ravenel?" he implored.
Name a penance and let me perform
it. Here comes old Harris up the walk
shall | ask his pardon in your pres
ence?-Shall II" eagerly.