Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-12-24
CHAPTER XVI.
Mademoiselle Zephyr.

down the broad, elm shaded streets O
Whithaven. Twilight had fallen.
full moon was rising over the harbo
and the spires and roofs Of the bus
Yankee city. Stars flashed through tn
feathery treetops. Already the lon
rows Of shop-windows blazed wit
light. Every reliable clock in Whit
haven was pointing to the hour o
seven.
The taller and elder of the two me-
puffed carelessly at an after dinner ci
gar; the younger and smaller held hi
own weed unlighted, forgotten-h
was engaged exclusively in watching
his companion.
II feared you might sail, Basil, be
fore 1 reached New York" he said
airily, 80 1 took the liberty to tele
graph to you"
And your message puzzled me s.
much" answered the other, that
concluded to run down to Whithaven
and ask you to explain yourself"
Time, trouble, years Of wandering
and adventure, had left their marks oil
Basil Hawkstone. The golden tan o
a tropic sun was on his face; the earl.
fairness OF his hair and beard hat
darkened to a deep, rich bronze. On
cheek bore the scar of an Arab lance
He lowered head and shoulders owe
his cousin. His Greek profile, his iron
gray eyes. had grown cold and steri
and forbidding. But at thirty Basi
Hawkstone was q superbly handsome
man.
'T asked you to increase my allow
ance," said Vincent, sulkily, "and Civ
me the place of overseer at Tempes
Island"
YES" assented Hawkstone, that
the very thing puzzled me. Why shoul'
l increase your allowance-'pon m!
soul, the request is getting monotonou
it has been made again and again
and granted as often. Is your law bus
mess good for anything here at Whit
haven? AS for making you overseer IL
Harris's place, that's out of the queS
tion, you know. From all that I hea
Of you, Vincent, l conclude that yo'
are not the person with whom / car
to trust my revenues"
Vincent colored.
"Oh, but I've mended my ways
Prince Lucifer," he answered, with al
uneasy laugh. Law is very quiet a
Whithaven just now, and I'm not sue
cessful at the trade, anyway. dar
say, I've mistaken my vocation. A
present, my desires all set towart
Tempest Island-in fact, like the plac
quite as much as you detest it. Then
too I'm going to marry"
Basil Hawkstone took the cigar from
his lips, and stared hard at the other
Married." he echoed, in a tone o
mingled horror and disgust.
"Yes; l know you hate matrimon.
yourself, but you can't expect tina
your ill-luck will deter others from
making the same venture"
"True!" said Hawkstone, coldly
"and, after all, you ought to marry
Vincent-you are the future ruler
the standardized. there is only Bee
life, and that frail one, betwixt yo1
and the entire Hawkstone fortune.
am not particularly pleased with you
you are my male heir Notwithstanding
No doubt, matrimony will be a goo
thing for your morals, also-that is,
with sharp suspicion, IF you hav
made the right choice"
Vincent shrugged his shoulders.
BE at ease, Prince Lucifer-I di
not think it wise to follow in you
footsteps!"- elder man wincheo
and tossed away his half consume
Havana THE lady l mean to MARI
is your former ward-your late moth
er's southern protege, and at presen
date, your daughters governess-Jett
Ravenel."
Hawkstone stopped short in his wal
and stared at his cousin.
All" he said, in a strange tone.
Perhaps you don't know that Mis-
Ravenel is now living at Tempes
Hall?" volunteered Vincent.
Yes, know"
WHO told you?" sharply, suspicious
| ly.
Il must decline to say
hpnt ,Cr1
her down to US several weeks ag'
Seeing that she was your step-mam
mas especial pet, l hope you will Civ
her liberal dowry. Prince Lucifer?"
HawkstOne gnawed his lip.
Il will" he answered, very gravelI
for l have neglected her in an unpar
donable manner in the last six years
| in fact. left her entirely to others.
fear nv poor mother would scarcel
think that l had fulfilled the promis
which | made her on her deathbed. l
Heavens name, Vincent, how did Jett
Ravenel come to choose you for hus
band? You are not the man to max
any woman happy; then, too, she
still very young-too young to b
caught in the cursed trap of matri
mony."
| Vincent laughed, uneasily.
No woman is too young to love, an
your reflections upon me, Prince Lucl
fer. are deucedly unjust, for | hav
turned over a new leaf-I am reform
ed man-that girl possesses no end
influence over me. If you really WIS
to keep me from going altogether
the dogs. don't attempt to thwart m
in this matter of marriage"
But Basil Hawkstones conscience
long dormant, seemed suddenly awak
I'm not sure that l ought to allo
Miss Ravenel to throw herself away
he answered, dryly. "In spite of you
protestations. Vincent. l do not quit
believe you. My mother would neve