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

Monday, at which time old Tom Dex'
D ter appeared at the light in his cat
boat, bringing supplies and also let.
ter for Esther Hart. Rolling his quit
of tobacco from one cheek to the 9th.
er and mournfully winking one eye a:
though he knew that this little man.
oeuvre was blighting the happiness Of
his son Rube, the old fisherman thrust
the message surreptitiously into Es'
theirs hand.
"The landing at ten tonight" he
Whispered; "by which time that She
critter Debbie ought to be in her bed
| Esther's heart leaped into her throat
What had her lover written? She fec
across the rock to the shelter of the
Mermaid's Chair. and there read his
, letter undisturbed:
II shall be at the island landing
place." it ran, tonight at 10 o'clock Ii
you love me, meet me then and there
prepared to become my wife. / have
procured the proper license. and en-
gagged the clergyman at Cinderville to
perform the ceremony.
do you love me? Can you trust
! me? l know the test is severe; will
lyou show yourself equal to 1t? Oh
my darling! something tells me that
you will, The last few hours have
been to me q Nightmares purgatory
Your lover in life and in death.
Fleetwood"
Esther Hart sat for a long time with
this message in her hand. staring out
on the wild, gloomy sea. The breakers
flashed over her head. She saw moth
ing. heard nothing. Finally she started
lup, tore F1eetwood's letter to frag-
ments, tossed it into the boiling surf,
and went thoughtfully back to the
lighthouse.
Tom Dexter had left for Cinderville
when she reached the tower. Esther
went over to Aunt Debbie's wool
wheel. great, bold affair, at which her
Isuperb figure stood with striking pose,
land set it buzzing in feverish haste.
Perhaps the cottage had never looked
50 sombre and cheerless to her eyes as
II did upon this eventful afternoon.
Through an open window before her,
the rocks of Porgy Island loomed up in
all their native barrenness, relieved
by no vegetation save the dogweed
and Aunt Deb's scattered hills Of pota-
toes. And out beyond that solitude,
land the desolation Of trap-rock and
Imutinous waves, lay a world OF ver-
Idure and bloom-a world of life and
ljoy and love.
rla hNy cpyiff q
clock in a corner licked them off with
solemn tones. The sun set in purple
and gold across the low, black waste
OF waters. Night fell on Porgy Rock
a still, peaceful night, full of stars.
The girl felt no compunction con-
lcerning what she was about to do.
She was in no way indebted either to
lgran'ther or Aunt Deb. She did not
love them, they did not love her.
Fate placed few difficulties in her
way. Aunt Deb grew drowsy, and
went to sleep in her chair by the
fire. Gran'ther betook himself to the
tower, and remained there in the most
accommodating fashion. Breathlessly
. mari uP " ilCh
under the cottage-eaves. and there
robed herself with trembling fingers for
her wedding.
| Unlike most girls of her station, she
possessed a wardrobe that seemed to
lack nothing. No pupil at Barton aca-
denny had dressed in better style than
the lght-keepers handsome grand
daughter. She arrayed herself now
with particular care, then crowded
some travelling bags with her belong
ings, put a well filled purse in her
pocket, donned a long cloak Of fine
lgray cloth, a hat and thick veil, and
stood ready for departure.
Shall l ever regret this madness?"
she asked herself, with a pang of mis-
Igiving. DO l go to happiness or to
sorrow?
At the head of her white bed a mar
row window opened toward the west.
la golden crescent sinking, like brok-
en- ring of fire, down the purple slope
of the night. A new moon, seen over
her left shoulder. and through glass,
too! The beautiful, superstitious Great
ure experienced a queer creeping chill.
Sorrow" she muttered; II am go
ing to sorrow, not happiness!"
Then Guy Fleetwoods blond face
rose up before her with irresistible
power Guy Fleetwoods voice SEEM
ed to ring in her ears:
IF you love me-if you trust mel"
She loved him-she trusted him.
The clock in the room below struck the
hour of ten. Her dark thoughts fled
conquered She snatched up her bun
dies and flew noiselessly down the
stairs and out Of the house.
Almost before she reached the land
ing place she found herself in the
arms OF Fleetwood.
MY darling" he cried, as he folded
her to his h.art: Il knew you would
come-I knew you could not disappoint
) me! You shall never regret this step,
dearest. l will show you that you
AoNfN'
Here is Tom Dexter with his catboat.
We must be off without a moments
delay"
: She yielded to his kisses, his en-
braces. The die was cast. Her lot and
his were henceforth one. In this blond
nsouciant face, bending so tenderly
over her own, she must look for her
future heaven.
| Speak" he urged gently; "you do
/ not fear to come with me, Esther"
NO" she answered.
Bless you. my brave, beautiful dar-
ling! Are we likely to be pursued
Does your grandfather or that She
, dragon, Aunt Deb, suspect anything?'
Il think not"
) Heaven be praised!"
} The next instant she was in the
boat, gliding away from the landing
) place. Did gran'ther up in the tower
hear or see aught to disturb his vigil:
' 1t seemed not, for there was no outcry