Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-12-20
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CHAPTER XIV.
Jetta Still Speaks.
By ETA w. PIERCE.

All round the coast the languid air
doth swoon,
Breathing like one that hath a weary
dream"
have been on the island a week, but
have not ventured again into the cham
Der where Philip Hawkstone was muir
dered, nor seen anything more Of the
Hawkstone ghost. In cheerful room,
at the top of the house, Bee and sit
at lessons. find my pupil backward.
but very bright, and eager to learn.
Instead Of winning laurels with the Eng
lish in Egypt, Basil Hawkstone might
have been better employed, think. in
looking after the welfare Of his Only
child.
July 12th.-Bee and went to walk
on the salt, wet beach, amid flying
spray, and clamorous fishhawks. In
every dry tree, the nests OF these birds
are perched - immense, groteTque
things, made of mud and sticks and
fishbones.
Nobody at the island ever kills the
hawks" said Bee. Every year they
come to US on the Goth Of May, and
leave on the goth Of October. It's odd,
isn't 1t, that birds can remember dates
so well?"
We wandered on through coarse, salt
grass, and over sand dunes, till we
came to some low cliffs near a wooded
inlet. Here Bee began to show signs
Of fatigue; so spread my shawl on a
rock, and left her sitting upon it, like
a little queen on a throne, while I went
few rods further on to sketch.
was transferring to my beloved
sketch book the weird outlines OF the
columnar "Old Woman" who guards
the entrance to the little bay, when
heard q dip of oars, and boat glided
round the point, and into the inlet A
single rover propelled it-a female OF
powerful build, with a red handker-
chief knotted under her chin, and
pair Of brawny, bare arms cleaning in
the sunshine. ! had seen Peg Patton
in former days, and was nowise dis
concerted when she rested on her oars,
and called out gruffly:
Halo there! Are you the southern
girl, come again to Tempest Island?"
YES" 1 answered.
Draw nearer" she said, "and let me
look at you"
I went close to the waters edge.
There were bait and fishing tackle and
little heap Of scaly beauties in the
bottom Of the boat, mixed up with
scanty skirts and a pair Of bare, brown
feet.
Look at me as much as you like,
Peggy" said, laughing; but let me
also look at you. The privilege must
be mutual want to put you in
sketch"
Her eyes pierced me like gimlets.
Sketch away them" she answered,
roughly; II see you've fulfilled your
early promise, girl-God knows you are
handsome enough to make mischief,
here, or anywhere else. Beauty is
curse to most women. I live alone, but
7 hear things. What brings Vincent
Hawkstone late and early to this island
since you came back? Be warned by
me-give that man a wide berth. He
has a black heart-he will stop at moth
ing to gain his own ends"
The blood flew into my face.
Pm sure you don't mean to be i'm
pertinent, Peggy"-I began, when
shrill scream from the spot where had
left Bee interrupted me.
1 dropped my sketch book and flew.
rather than ran, to the child. She had
fallen from the rock. and was lying
prone on the earth, helpless with ter
ror. I snatched her up.
Miss Ravenel," she screamed, cling
ing about my neck, "a dead woman has
been here, all in white, with white hair
hanging down, and cold as stone! She
bent and kissed me, and l screamed
and fell; then she went away behind
the rocks"
My dear child, what are you say
ing?" 1 cried, aghast.
Look, look!" urged Bee: there is a
piece Of her shroud" pointing to
shred of white cashmere that hung
from an edge Of the rock. "Oh, know
she was dead, Miss Ravenel-I know
she was what Anne. the nursemaid,
calls a spook!"
/ soothed the child as best 1 could
Dead people do not walk, Bee"
expostulated. nor wear gowns of this
texture. l do not know what you have
seen, dear but beg you will not speak
OF it to any one, especially to Anne. or
the other servants. Do not even think
OF it again"
She has received a severe nervous
shock and the fall from the rock had
hurt her. also. took her in my arms.
Il will carry you home, dear" 1 said;
"you are very tiny and it is not far to
the house"
l set forth with my burden. l had
reached the desolate sand dunes, and
was toiling through the coarse grass,
when Vincent Hawkstone suddenly ap-
peared and snatched Bee from me.
Good Heaven!" he cried, in an an
cry tone: why do you carry this hea-
Wv child? Your devotion to her is
something absurd-yes, maddening.
must protest against your always play
ing second fiddle, either to Prince Lu-
cifer or his daughter"
1T is my business and pleasure alike
to devote myself to Bee" l answered,
coldly. "She had a fall on the rocks.
She is hurt-I need not make further
explanations"
How sharp you are!" he drawled.
with a long, lingering look that turned
me red and angry; Il confess that l
am by nature as jealous as Turk.
Now. don't frown and make things un-
pleasant, for l have come to take tea
at the Hall tonight"
l lifted my eyebrows.
Again."
He laughed.
"Oh, you need not tell me that l tax
Mrs. Otway's hospitality to the utmost.
L., l. af