Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-12-20
CHAPTER XIV.
Jetta Speaks On.

CHAPTER XIV.
Jetta Speaks On.
Once inside my own room, wonder
ed greatly at the secret visit Of the
island sovereign to his little sea-girt
kingdom. His stony face, with the
cheek, seemed staring at me from ev-
cry corner of the chamber. The sketch
book, which had been at the bottom Of
the nights adventure. I flung impa-
tiently into a drawer. AS I did so, my
eyes fell upon letter which had ar
rived in the evening mail, and been
laid on my toilet table by Mrs. Otway.
1t was from Gabriel and ran as fol-
lows:
Il wonder how you are getting on at
that absurd island? Tolerably we'll, l
hope, as my prospects, for helping you
have diminished, rather than increas-
ed, since our interview in New York.
A strange thing has befallen me, Jetta
i might truthfully call 1t terrible
thing, for fear it will destroy all my
hopes of inheriting old Hypo's money.
In short. 1 have been smitten by a
thunderbolt. But let me explain:
'I went down to Newport with old
Hypo and Doris Rokewood, as told
you ! was about to do. 1t was like
travelling with a caravan, for old Hy-
pos liver was upset, as 1t usually Is,
and he must needs bury himself in
wraps and rugs, and medicine chests
and other internal paraphernalia, be-
sides taking two Wallets along to attend
him. Strange to say, Miss Rokewood
seems really fond Of the old dyspeptic,
and her patience with his whims Is
something marvellous. 1 have already
described her to you as blonde of the
June type-rather too stately to suit
my fancy, for 1 have a penchant for
diminutive women. But society men
call Miss Rokewood a deuced fine girl,
and she has fortune in her own right.
1.-THE night before we started for
Newport 1 offered her my heart and
hand in the library Of old Hypo's Fifth
avenue palace-a superb room, blythe
way, full Of choice bric-a-brac. SUIT
ton made his money in the Far East,
and his house abounds in rich stuffs OF
Turkestan, velvets heavy with gold
and silver thread, inlaid cabinets full
of gems and antique coins, engraved
with verses from Hafiz and the Koran,
tiger skins, silver flligree, and old
porcelain Of fabulous price. Well, as
was saying, Miss Rokewood and l met
in the library under an ancient silver
lamp; and near by, on a pedestal,
little diabolic Chinese god sat grinning
at us. Miss Rokewood wore Worth
dinner dress of dull blue, with diamond
ornaments, and she looked more sub
dued and less mannish than usual. l
swore that I loved her to distraction,
and begged her to marry me.
Are you quite sure Of your own
heart, Mr.. Ravenel?' she said, looking
me straight in the eye, though her COL
or came and went in an alarming way.
I'm sure that it has passed from
my own keeping into yours, / cried;
L cannot live without you, Doris, and
your guardian approves of my passion
She gave me her large, shapely
hand. blushng the while like school
girl.
II will marry you," she said, SIM
lioh prinnp6
us from his pedestal as though he
thought it a very good joke that /,
penniless secretary, with only my
good looks to recommend me, should
win an heiress by simply asking for
her
"Old Hypo gave us his blessing, and
the next day we went to Newport.
There. twenty-fOur hours later-God
help mel met my fate! 1t appeared
in a turn of the Ocean Drive-a cream
tinted basket phaetOn, low. curved like
a shell. and. attached to it. pair OF
lustrous ponies Of the same hue-in the
carriage, a girl. petite, fairylike. wear
ing a dress of black velvet, with the
corsage full of Marechal Mel roses
She turned upon me a small, white
angelic face, set in halo of hair like
spun gold. Out of pair of innocent
sea-blue eyes flashed the fire that
scorched and consumed me in mo-
ment for 1t was all the work of mo-
ment.
.'She looked so lovely as she swayed
The rein with dainty finger uDs;
A man had given all other bliss,
And all his worldly worth for this
To waste his whole heart in one KISS
Upon her perfect lips"
u that had toyed with Love as with
a laything-laughed at it-scorned II
suddenly felt the full measure Of Its
vengefu power. My southern blood
leaped madly through by veins. l was
dazed, blinded, overwhelmed. But
WHY do l write these things to you, a
mere child, who cannot understand
them? 1t is enough for you to know
;hat life is all changed for me. | love
creature, half angel, half woman
and | live, as it seems, suspended 'twiXt
heaven and hell. Who or what she IS