Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-12-03
By ETA w. PIERCE.

rSU COllOH SOWll, Will q leu Ae1huhSA
chief pinned about her muscular neck
Her sleeves, rolled up to the elbow, re-
vealed arms capable of Telling an OK
She held a cob pipe in her mouth, but
drew II out to say, dryly:
Come in. young master. So you've
got back to the island at last? Lord
knows you didn't hurry yourself! She
that's just gone has been a-pining for
you these months and years past"
Then you know that she is dead?'
said Hawkstone, in an unsteady voice
81 heard the bell toll, sir" answered
Peg Patton, briefly.
She motioned him into little living
room, clean and bright. and with
driftwood fire burning cheerfully on
the hearth. He looked splashed and
haggard with his long tramp. This
curled darling of fortune, this pleas
ure-loving, self-indulgent Prince Luci-
fer had entered upon new and un-
pleasant experience Of life. Peg Pat
ton advanced close up to him, still
holding the lamp in her brawny hand.
81 know the errand that brought you
here" she said, dryly. "She has told
you everything"
Yes" he acknowledged.
And didn't you ever suspect the
truth before, sir?"
Great Haven. no! How should IL
Her swarthy face put on sad, visit
full look.
Mister Basil, I loved your father
once, and for little while he pretend
ed to love me. The lady that's gone
loved him, too Women do many
strange things for love. You are like
Philip, but handsomer, and with lord
lier air. Pray God you'll never work
the woe he did. with his good looks
and his fiattering tongue! It's many
a lonesome year I've passed in this In
let house! it's many lonesome year
Jetta Hawkstone lived in her fine hall,
and whether we two did right or wrong
whether the work which we accom-
DllSnSQ lOStllSE "do 6OO0 VI S''t wv.
must Judge! Now follow me-"
She stepped out into a long, dark
passage, which seemed to end in the
solid wall. Peg put out her hand,
however, and an aperture suddenly
opened, so small that Hawkstone was
forced to bow his tall head to pass
through. Evidently this hidden door
had been constructed for some peculiar
purpose. HawkstoAe now found him
self in another room. far more preten-
tious than the first. 1t was luxurious
ly furnished in oak, with dark. rich
carpet and hangings. A lamp, sus-
pended from the ceiling, burned softly
under a rose colored shade. Below,
on the floor sat female figure, play
ing with a pile of sea-shells. At sight
of her, Basil Hawkstone paused, hold
ing his breath.
Was II a woman or a spirit? From
head to foot she was white and lum-
inous, like winter moonlight. She wore
a long white cashmere gown, gathered
about her waist with white gtrdle.
Her hair, blanched to the same hue as
her dress, and braided in loose plait,
swept the floor as she sat- Her face,
her hands, were like something cut
from alabaster-perfect in symmetry,
startling in color With a slow, grace
full motion she arose as Peg Patton
and Hawkstone appeared.
Here's a gentleman come to see you,
madam" began Peg. her gruff voice
growing soft and kind. The white lady
looked at Hawkstone with large. gentle
eyes, but did not speak. "Are the shells
talking tonight, madam" went on Peg,
in the indulgent tone that one would
use to a little child, do they tell you
any stories""
A far-away smile fitted over her
frostwhite face. She put a great shell,
pinkfiuted within, ribbed without IN
dusky brown, to her ear and listened.
Yes" she answered, in voice as
gentle as her eyes, "they say strange
things-things that quite frighten me,
Peggy"
Let us hear them, madam" ooaxed
Peg.
They tell me that stranger is oom-
ing to Tempest Island tonight" said
the white lady; ''ah, these island folks
do not like strangers!-a girl, with yell
ghn o,-rinc HpahrQ
in her little hand that will consume the
whole place, and the glory of the
Hawkstones with 1t! I hear one word
over and over again! 'Woe!-woe!
The Hawkstone doom is coming upon
us again."
God forbid" cried Hawkstone, in
voluntarily,
Peg Patton went little nearer the
moon white figure. and said
Madam, do the shells tell you any
thing about your son-do they bring
him to your remembrance? You onoe
had a son, you know-try now to REQ
olleet."
"Oh, yes, l once had a. son. Peggy
do you think 1 could forget my bahy?'
shaking her head sadly,
Peg grasped the white cashmere robe
in strong appeal, as though she would
in this way hold the wearer's darkeneo
understanding.
Madam, look at this gentleman-i,
is your little son Basil, grown to man
hood-the child that was taken from
YOU long ago-he has come here to see
YOU for the first time. Not till tonight
did he know that you still lived. HI
had quite ceased to think OF the on'
that bore him."
There was a reproach In the word:
that Hawkstone did not fall to notice
The spirit-like woman surveyed HIN
sadly, attentively, for a moment ther
turned away with a disappointed air.
mo, no." she said; 1T Is not my
boy, good Peggy-you are very goot
to me. very kind-I scarcely know
how l should get on without you've
have lived long time together; bu
,.n,, r,oka mistakes sometimes, yOl