Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-12-13

no more authority over me than, ovel
that sea yonder?"
He took this defiance with Ill grace.
Have 1 no authority over you? Dc
you defy me to my face? Then, let me
tell you, Vera, you and have no longer
a chance Of happiness together"
She laughed wildly.
How you take one to task, Basil!
Are you jealous Of Jasper Hatton?-
ha! ha! He came here for what pur-
pose, do you think? To ask me to re-
turn to Hatton's Royal and name my
own figures. I have been missed. II
seems-the public has not yet forgot
ten me. Basil Hawkstone"-pausing in
the path, and drawing her breath cur
iously-T have a half-mind to go!"
He looked at her in her blazing white
beauty with horror and amaze.
You understand your own capabili-
ties" he answered, bitterly; "as a cir
Gus rider you were success-as wife
and mother you are failure! God
knows you have led me life Of 1t
since the day married you. You fan
cied you cared for me. Vera-on the
contrary, you loved nothing but that
cursed, that disgusting business. Bah!
from my soul I am sick of this sort
Of thing! If you go with Jasper Hat
ton-if you return 10 the ring, I am for
ever done with you!" There was a
moment Of tragic silence; then she
dashed back her wind-blown hair.
80 you force me to choose betwixt
you and my art, Basil; and should the
choice displease you, you would divorce
me, probably, after the fashion Of
your father!-I know something Of the
family history, you see. Well, my
liege"-mockingly-T will think the
matter over, and let you know my de-
cision. before your suspense becomes
too great for you!"
She darted on before him up the
beach. He did not attempt to over
take her. Once she turned and looked,
her gold hair ripping, her small, girl
ish figure outlined against the dusk.
She waved one white hand, and the
next moment was gone.
Hawkstone went home in an unen-
viable frame of mind. The very air
seemed charged with calamity. Little
Bee still moaned in the nursery, watch
ed by the servants. Without making
any attempt to see his wife again, the
island lord retired to his chamber at
late hour and slept Ill. When he
descended to the breakfast room next
morning Mrs. Otway, the housekeeper,
met him with an anxious face.
Your wife left the house at day.
break, sir, and has not yet returned"
she said.
"She has gone on one of her mad gal
lops, doubtless" he answered. then
snatched up his hat, and hurried to the
stables. Yes, Ais stall was empty. He
called to his groom: did I not tell
you Jim, to follow Mrs. Hawkstone
when she went out at unreasonable
hours?"
You did, sir" stammered the man;
"but this morning she stole in here and
led Ali out herself. was asleep In
the loft, and never heard a sound, sir.
Lord only knows what time 1t was!"
Throw the saddle on Rupert" thun-
dered Hawkstone. "and follow mel"
The groom obeyed. Master and man
set forth together.
Down beyond the dreary sand-dunes,
down where the "Old Woman" In
stony silence, stood guarding the en-
trance Of Peg Patton's Inlet, Hawk
stone heard the impatient stamp Of a
horse, and there, in the morning sun
shine, he found Ali tied to a blasted
tree, paving the wet earth, and rider
less.
Pinned to his saddle was letter,
reading thus:
MY choice Is made, go! You will
teach little Bee to hate and despise her
mother. You will doubtless marry an
other wife more to your taste; but l
shall take good care that YOU never
quite forget me-and will not forget
you. Vera.
He stood on that lonely beach, his
household gods shattered around him."
deserted, disgraced, the doom Of his
race falling on him darkly, and tore the
letter to fragments, and tossed 1t into
the sea.
"Go!" he muttered, with white lips.
60! And God grant that I may new
or on this earth see your fair, false face
again."