Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-12-06

lin an attitude of patient waiting. II
was the white lady Of Peg Patton's In
let house.
There, at that hour and alone? A
long cloak of spotless wool hung from
her shoulders, and hood Of the same
material was drawn over her hair.
More like a disembodied spirit than
creature of flesh and blood, she ad-
vanced to meet Hawkstone.
Sir" she said, in an anxious voice,
II heard that the person known as
Philip Hawkstone's widow was to be
buried here today"
THE burial is over" he answered, in
a shaken voice.
Her large, gentle eyes grew troubled
"Oh, it is sad that I am so late!"
she sighed. Il ought to have been In
time, I ought to have seen her face
once more. Perhaps you do not know
what that face did for me In life? No?
How could you? Oh sir! tell me where
they have buried her; Is 1t here?" put
ting one OF her marble hands on the
iron door Of the tomb. You are going
in?" as he thrust the key into the lock.
pray, pray" her voice like pleading
child's, take me with you!"
He nodded, but could not speak.
The two stepped down into the vault.
What strange sound leaped to meet Ba-
sill Hawkstone from the awful gloom
Of the place. A girls voice, strong,
sweet and without culver, singing
among the dead and buried Hawk
stones, these lines of Toplady's hymn:
when l draw this fleeting breath,
| When my eyelids close in death,
| When / soar to worlds unknown,
And behold Thee on Thy throne,
| Rock Of Ages, cleft for me,
| Let me hide myself in Thee!
Jetta Ravenel was sitting on the floor
by Mrs Hawkstone's coffin. He could
see her young face shining in the dark
ness.
"Oh, it is you!" she said, rising
quietly, as her deliverer appeared. Il
was quite sure that somebody would
come for me-"
She was not dead with fright, nor
did she show any particular agitation;
but she looked with wonder at Hawk
stones companion, who was pressing
close to him with dazed, lost air.
Sir" implored the white lady, take
me to that woman-put my hand on
her coffin-li6."
He made a reassuring gesture to Jet
ia, and led the spiritlike creature to
Mrs. Hawkstone's casket. Standing be-
side 1t, Jetta Ravenel heard her utter
these words in a sad, gentle voice:
You that was called Philip Hawk
stones wife. 1 cursed you living. and
now curse you dead"
"Stop!" entreated Hawkstone. Think
again; you do not, you cannot mean
that"
She meditated for moment. Then
wan smile, like moonlight, dawned
on her lips. For the second time she
laid her ivory fingers impressively on
the lid OF the casket.
"Jetta Hawkstone, I cursed you liv-
ing but bless you dead!"
The next moment she turned and
glided out of the tomb. Hawkstone
and the Creole girl followed, but be-
fore they could reach the outer air the
white figure had been joined at the
churchyard gate by Peg Patton, and
the two were moving off together into
the falling night.
You have witnessed q strange scene,
Miss Ravenel," said Hawkstone, In a
husky voice. You must never, never
breathe q word Of this to anybody liV-
ing"
Il never will" she answered, simply.
And now, how did you happen to be
locked in that vault?"
Il tainted and fell" she answered.
Il had eaten nothing since-since Mrs.
Hawkstone's death. Derby could not
have seen me. When I awoke found
myself alone with those dead people"
And you were wild with fright, poor
child"
"Oh, no." she corrected. gravely: Il
did not dare to be afraid. I tried to
sing, and forget where l was"
you brave girl" he cried, involun-
tarily; few men or women would have
stood the ordeal better!"
They went back to Tempest Hall.
Mrs. Vera, still lazily reclining before
the fire, heard Jetta's story with de-
risive little laugh.
Dame! as the French say; what
troublesome creature you are!" she
cried. Did you want to get up little
resurrection Of your own? You have
set everybody In the house by the ears.
If 1 am to remain at Tempest Hall
which the gods forbid-it will not be
under the same roof with you. I must
be allowed to choose my own compan-
ions, and no blue -blooded pauper, with
a grand air and a long pedigree, will
be of the number"
Jetta Ravenel started for the door,
looking like an outraged princess.
Sampson has an errand to the main
land tonight" she said, with quiet dig
nity :" shall go with him. Farewell,
Mr. Hawkstone."
He put himself before her.
| Ou cannot leaVe tempest t1dIi to-
night, Miss Ravenel. My mothers
will makes you my ward. Tomorrow
l shall place you at school for a term
of years. l am now your guardian,
and you must obey me-"
Her southern blood was up-she
stared at him with splendid scornful
eyes.
"Obey you?-Never! 1 decline your
charity. l deny your authority. have
no guardian but my half-brother Ga
briel, and he is far away. Your moth
er was my good friend, Mr.. Hawkstone,
but she Is now dead, and 1 mean to re-
turn at once to the south. l should
richly deserve your wife's insults II I
could atnnn 70 acnent fnrthar henafita