Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-12-10
the overseer, when a wild outcry sud-

out from his wife's chamber. He leap
ed into the room. The window cur
tains, the draperies of the huge carved
bed, were all ablaze-everything in the
chamber seemed shriveling in sheet
of fire. And there, in the midst Of the
choking smoke and the uncanny red
glare, stood Vera, smiling, trium-
phant, her blue eyes bright with mall
Ice and mockery!
$50 you have come to me at last,
sir!" she said.
He began to tear down the blazing
draperies, shouting to the terrified SER
wants to supplement his efforts with
water In five minutes the carpet was
strewn with debris, the fire was out
and Hawkstone confronted his wife
with brows drawn ominously down
over his angry eyes.
| Did you set fire to the room to
bring me here?" he asked.
YES" she answered; why not? The
end justif1es the means"
Il hope you are satisfied, madame"
said Hawkstone, in a tone that would
have frightened another woman.
Her vicious little laugh rang out
like silver bells.
mot yeti" she answered. IT warn
you, Basil-if you persist in keeping
me on the island, will burn this old
rookery over your head"
He looked first at the ruin she had
made. and then at the slight. girlish
figure standing erect, with white bosom
heaving, and blue eyes flashing.
"You have marked out pleasant
programme" he said, dryly. Are we
10 live henceforth in open warfare, We
ra? We are young, remember, mere
boy and girl in years-we have prob
ably long life before u.s."
A great sigh parted her lips. In
moment she had ceased to be a little
gel.
! mo, I do not want to live in open
warfare with you, BASIL" she sobbed.
You loved me when we left Paris but
the air Of this dreadful island has
changed you-made you cold unkind,
grim as Bluebeard"-
| Before the last words were out he
opened his arms. With cry she sprang
into them. The reconciliation seemed
complete. Hawkstone went back to
his overseer; the servants came in to
remove the debris and restore order.
AS for Vera she stole away to anoth-
er chamber donned her blue habit,
mounted Ali, and unseen and unattend-
ed, started off for q gallop across the
| island.
Down the long slopes went Ali, and
over the gray shore toward Pegs Inlet.
The incoming tide was frothing and
racing under the low, dwindling light
Of the fading day. Not living thing
was in sight-even the noisy fish
hawks had vanished. Far away, on the
purple ocean spaces, glimmered fit
ting sail, spectrelike, unreal, but that
was ALL Softly Ais hoofs fell on the
wet sands The salt wind blew out the
girls hair, and twisted the folds Of her
blue habit How silent, how lonely
looked the dunes in that waning light!
Suddenly, from the salt, coarse grass
which fringed them, a man arose, and
stepped forward to meet Basil Hawk
stones wife.
He was of low stature, thickset, and
not bad-looking. yet with something
about him that suggested the stable
rather than the drawing room. Not a
high bred person, by any means-there
was too much color in his necktie, and
a superfluity Of stripes in his panta-
looms. Nevertheless, he went straight
up to Vera Hawkstone, and seized Alis
bride with the freedom Of an old ac-
quaintance.
by my soul, Zephyr" he cried, "its
good to see you again, my dear!"
She sat in her saddle for a moment,
as though turning to stone; then she
gave a wild, glad, astonishing cry.
"Oh, Jasper!" she answered.; "oh
Jasper Hatton! can it be you, and
here!"
| He laughed.
Its me, fast enough. I was told, over
at Whithaven, that strangers are not
received on your island, and that If l
ventured too close to Tempest Hall
as you call 1.-THE servants would most
likely set the dogs upon me. So I've
been wandering around, like a babe in
the woods, waiting to catch, somehow,
chance glimpse of you. This seems
to be a fairish sort of beast!" patting
Ali's neck approvingly.
| Her slight figure was palpitatlng
with excitement. She grew red and
white by turns.
81 am so glad to see you, Jasper!"
she gasped, with her hand on his broad
shoulder; Il think 1 was never, never
so glad as this in all my life before!"
He looked at her critically. He had
narrow eyes, as black as coal, with
lurking CLEANS in the corners.
Greatly obliged for your welcome,
little Zephyr! You are as pretty as
ever, I see. When you appeared yon-
D. u6T, l. Sdlu W SSll, leil lily illiS
lady? There's not another woman on
earth who can ride like that And
now, how do you get on with your
American nabob? Are you happy here?
Any hankerlng after old times, eh?
You might'-with low laugh-"have
been my wife, you know, instead Of
his? Is it private life, or public, that
suits you best, my beauty?"
In her agitation she did not seem to
hear his questions
II am so glad-so glad!" she kept
repeating: II never thought to see you
again. What brought you to this dread
full island, Jasper Hatton?"
Business Of Importance" he answer
ed, with a grim smile. What can you
mean?"
Little Zephyr" said Jasper Hatton,
looking her boldly in the eyes, Il have
come for you-for you!"
To be Continued.