Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-12-31


walking on the porch with his daugh-
lter
OH" cried Bee, wild with delight at
the sudden appearance of her father,
leone and see my papa, Miss Ravenel'
I want you to love him as l do. You
must love papa, for my sake"
What an irrational and enormous
demand!" answered Hawkstone. Let
us go to breakfast. The mail has ar
rived, Miss Ravenel. You will find
your portion of it on the hall table,
There were several letters from for
mer schoolmates, and one from my
brother Gabriel, brief and mysterious.
| Meet me at sunset tonight on the
shore at Peg Patton's Inlet"-it said
"and be secret and silent about 1t.
Bring your pupil, Beatrice Hawkstone
with you. VIII explain everything at
the meeting. Fail on no account to
fetch the child as much-very much
depends upon my seeing her. / am In
sore strait need your sisterly coun-
sci. In Gods name, bring the child"
This letter filled me with amaze
ment. What did Gabriel want-what
could he want with little Bee? How
1 got through that breakfast I do not
know. Hawkstone talked mostly to
Mrs. Otway:
81 have sent to New York for my
| traps" l heard him say. II shall not
go abroad again. see that am need
ed at Tempest Island more than at
Cairo. For years this old Hall has been
like tomb. Engage an extra corps
of servants, and open all the vacant
rooms. In a week or two shall fill
them with guests"
We were just rising from table when
step sounded on the porch, and VIM
cent Hawkstone pushed back the door
of the breakfast room, and stood be-
fore us. At sight Of his cousin he re-
coiled changing color violently.
Heaven above! Prince Lucifer," he
stammered. You here-at Tempest
Island!"
Hawkstone laid his sound hand on
the intruder's shoulder.
Come into the library. boy" he
commanded. sternly. Il have some
thing to say to you"
Vincent flashed me fierce. question
ing glance. I felt my cheeks burn.
They vanished across the hall. 1 re-
mained behind in the breakfast-room
with Bee and Mrs. Otway. The mist
hung thick on the terraces and over
the salt, cold sea. 1t was a gloomy
mutinous morning. Presently Vincent
Hawkstone pushed back the door again,
and came quickly to my side. His eyes
were like a dull fire under his angry
brows.
well" he said, in thick voice, Il
have received orders to speak to you,
no more of marriage. l am not to urge
nv suit any more-ha! ha! Perhaps
he expects me to leave the field to him
self He abhors matrimony, but in
week he will be madly in love with you.
Oh, you need not frown. His divorced
wife tainted in the circus ring at sight
OF MIN, TWO VI llllS o6ot eAN
then tried to spoil his manly beauty
with a bottle of vitriol. I wish to
Heaven she had succeeded! Did you
ask him why he carries his hand In
sling? Oh, you will have plenty of ex-
citement at the island if my PRESENT.
ments are true. But know this, Jetta
i shall not leave you to any other
man. I shall not cease to importune
you for your love; 1 never-never Will
give you up. You are mine, and woe
to the person who dares come between
u.s."
Before 1 could utter a word he was
out through the porch and down the
dripping terrace. flew to the school,
room with Bee, glad to hide myself
there-glad to bury my thoughts in the
child's books From the window saw
Basil Hawkstone mount his horse and
ride off across the island with Harris.
He looked up once to the schoolroom,
but made no sign, though Bee kissed
her tiny hand to him and nodded her
curly head. The whole island seems
electrified By his unexpected arrival.
Tempest Hall is full Of unwonteu
hustle. The work people outside wear
happy faces. Everybody rejoices that
he has returned to his own at last
| He was agreeable enough at dinner
told us droll stories Of Arab life. and
talked of the land of the Pharaohs, till
| seemed to be standing, myself, at
hundred gated Thebes, and peering
into the tombs of Biban-el-Mulouk,
and listening to the muezzin calling the
| faithful in the baZaars of Luxor He
was very kind, too. to his adoring lit
tie daughter; but when she begged for
a half holiday that she might follow
him about the island, he answered.
coldly:
mo it is best for you to be in the
schoolroom with Miss Ravenel-you
will find her a far more profitable
companion than l can be-"
So the lessons went on through the
afternoon At the usual hour l put
away my books. left Bee to the care of
Mrs. Otway, and set my face toward
Pegs Inlet-and Gabriel.
Why he had chosen that dreary, dis
tant spot for an interview l could not
imagine Twilight was already gather
ing as I crossed the dunes; the raw,
cold fog still clung to shore and sea.
All was silence and desolation at the
Inlet. A solitary white crane flashed
out of the sedge, and sailed away on
ghostly wings into the forest. AT the
same moment l saw Gabriel coming
toward me over the wet rocks. He
wore dreadnaught coat and soft
slouched hat, and he looked pale and
haggard.
Where is the child?" was his first
lquestion.
AT home. of course" / answered; ;