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

ter-she shall not see you until her
character is formed-until she Is old
enough to pass judgment for herself
upon the mother who deserted home.
husband and child for-this!" with a
Iscathing glance around the canvas
walls.
The tears shone on her lashes. She
was very pale, and her lips had a
Igrieved curve. She disconnected him a
little. He would rather have seen her
in one of her old fiery moods.
Basil" she pleadly, softly, "I want
i, Bee-give me back my child"
Impossible! You are no fit person
to have herr"
"And you-are you n better guardian
than / would be? For years you have
left her to hirelings, it seems-you
have wandered away from her to every
land under the sun. I told you just
now that had managed to keep track
of your movements. I even know that
you lately secured a governess for my
child In the person Of one whom l ha-
ted six years ago-whom l still hate
that southern girl. Jetta Ravenel!"
Madam" he answered. coldly. Il
know very little about the domestic ar
Engagements at Tempest Hall. l left the
place long ago, to return to it, as
trust, no more. Bee Is in good hands
there, and all my orders concerning
her are strictly enforced-that is quite
enough for me. Now, since you are
neither hurt not dying, and since all
further conversation between us, must
to say the least, be improbable, 1 will
leave you"
wait, Basil"" she implored, throw
ing herself before him. Look at me
one moment-do you find me chang
ed?"
He let his reluctant eyes rest for an
instant on the exquisite figure and the
snowdrop face, in its simmer of yell
low hair; then he turned coldly away
mot in the least"
Am I still beautiful, them"
"1here are thousands Of tongues to
tell you that without asking me-"
Before he was aware she had fallen
at his feet-she was clasping him
wildly in her white arms.
Basil, forgive me! I was only
child when fled from you'll am now
a woman, pentent, full Of remorse for
past follies-longing for my lost para
disc in your heart! 1 hate my tri-
jumps, / hate my fame, l hate every
thing that lured me from you! When
I went away, I meant to come back, az
ter little space-I did, indeed! Then
I heard that you were determined to
free yourself from me legally-next,
that the courts had given you absolute
divorce and the custody of Bee. The
night the news came l was in Berlin
| in the midst of such success, such
aduation as quite frightened me. All,
in that land, the circus ranks with the
opera. l was feted and caressed by the
noblest'-
heard of it ALL" he interrupted,
dryly, "even to the adoring students
wh, unhitched the horses from your
carriage, and dragged you to your ho-
tel, and the young count, well known
in diplomatic circles, who shot himself
for love of you"
She writhed at his feet, little heap
of spangles and yellow hair, and pal
pitating white flesh.
"They asked for my heart" she Sob
bed, when l had none to give them;
you had crushed-killed it! All that
night the terrible word, Divorce, dane
ed before my eyes in letters Of fire. You
had cast me out forever, even as your
father, Philip Hawkstone, cast out your
mother. years ago. Now listen! Can
man put asunder what God hath join
ed? You are still my husband, Basil
Hawkstone-I claim you as such!-and
am still your wife, and all the courts
on earth cannot make it otherwise.
Whatever our follies have been, this
fact remains. Death only can part us!
Take me back to your heart Basil!-l
have had enough of ambition, tricmph,
fame. Think how 1 have suffered when
you can wiring such words as these
from me! l want nothing now, but to
creep back to your arms, and live or
die there as you yourself may deter
mine"
1t was a piteous appeal, made with
all the fervor and passion of heart
broken woman: but the hard, cold lines
of his face relaxed not a whit. He
quietly shook off the beautiful arms
that held him.
You will pardon me, Mademoiselle
Zephyr, If decline to believe in your
newly awakened love-" he said Il
find such a stretch of imagination quite
beyond me- And even were it so, l
should be forced to tell you that your
regrets come too late. You forsook
your child you disgraced and deserted
me. and the choice which you then
made you must abide by. If you have
grown older and wiser so, too, have l.,
Mademoiselle Zephyr. I distrust you
and all your kind, and my love for you
is dead-klled by yourself and buried
beyond resurrection. l wish you we'll
can do no less-for you are Bees
motler: but Heaven knows I never
wish to see your face or hear your
voice again."
She leaped to her feet, pale as
ashes, trembling in every limb.
You mean this, Basil Hawkstone?
My penitence and love are as nothing
to you now? You will accept neither
you scorn and reject me-the mother
Of your child? You have learned to
hate, where you once loved-to despise
the beauty you once adored. Is that
Iit?"
With cruel candor he answered:
That is it,"
Hell hath no fury like woman
| scorned.'
For moment her face was convuls-
ed with rage, then her hand went up to
her breast. She snatched something