Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-02-14
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Face to Face.


news of her marriage had indeed
brought about that sudden and death
like suspension of the action of the
senses and of volition, her kisses had
saved, and her voice recalled him to
life!
Peg Patton and Derby carried him
to the latter's cottage. gave him food
and wine. warmed him at a generous
fire. ministered unto him with eager
hands.
Miss Ravenel," said Peg, solemnly.
IF you hadn't insisted on seeing him
again, he must have perished in the
tomb"
Speechless, overwhelmed. Jetta sat by
the side Of the man she loved. and held
his hand, and looked into the face
which had come back to her from the
shadows of the grave.
Il have had a horrible dream!" he
shuddered. Il thought some one told
me that you had married Vincent-it
was frightfully real"
Nothing is real" she answered,
wildly; nothing-except that you have
returned to me from DEATH"
Up at Tempest Hall, Vincent Hawk
stone, the new master, was holding
wild, disgraceful orgy-a wicked, riot
Gus feast of funeral baked meats" and
wines unearthed from the cobwebs and
dust Of half century's rest in the Hall
cellar.
For hours the revel had been in
progress-it was now nearly midnight
but the uproar and confusion in the
great dining-room continued unabated
to the CONSERVATION Of Mrs. Otway
and the servants. who We're huddled in
the kitchen. as the island sheep were
wont to huddle on the mOOrs in time Of
sudden tempest.
They're bound to make n night Of
they'n do before morning the Lord
alone can tell"
An open fire of hickory wood warmed
the room, and cast strange lights and
shadows on the wainscot-on the fam
lily portraits, and over the faces of the
half dozen men who made up the pre-
cious company.
Fragments Of glasses strewed the
floor. wild songs rang up to the rafters.
The feast had been swept off the table.
and the feasters were now deep in play.
Dice ratified, cards flew. All sorts of
valuables strewed the board-watches,
rings. money. Vincent Hawkstone,
pale, turbulent, disheveled. was roaring
out in wild chorus, and shaking the
dice-box in the face of his law partner,
Dudley, whose eyes had grown vacant,
and his utterance thick, under the in
fuence of old wine.
BY Jove! Vincent" he stammered
81 fancied we had good cause to be
merry with you tonight, because every
mothers son Of US held your o U. But
luck's turned, it seems. You've won
the paper all back. Faith, We'll not
have even our coats to wear to Whit
haven if we stay here longer"
Vincent's wild, handsome face grew
wilder yet
Yes, by Heaven! luck has turned!"
he cried. When I met with you last
1 was an impecunious devil, up to my
eyes in debts Of honor. Tonight, l am
lord of Tempest Island, and, may add
of the whole Hawkstone fortune"
But Prince Lucifer has left a daugh
ter" said a voice at the end of the
table.
"A sickly, puny brat, who cannot out
last her childhood" sneered Vincent.
An envious sigh went round the
board.
Then, all that's lacking here tonight
is the wife you've married." suffered
Dudley; the handsome southern girl.
Cad! she was beauty! And pledged
to your cousin. too. You were always
trespassing on his preserves-winging
his game, you know! Now, where's the
bride? Really, we insist upon seeing
the bride! Where are you hiding her?
Why do we find you widowed as soon
as wed? My word! It's like
THE Lord of Main and his lady fair, "
who
"In early youth united were
In early youth divided werc!"
Vincent's flushed face grew thunder
Gus. He knocked the top off fresh
bottle of wine and sent its red contents
splashing, like blood, the entire length
of the table.
Look out what you say!" he cried,
hoarsely. There are private matters
which you cannot safely mention here,
you drunken idiot"
Dudley, always quarrelsome in his
cups, answered with a sneer:
Tut, man! don't attempt to bully
me. l carried your letters. remember,
to that pretty circus-rider. Mademois-
ellie Zephyr, over in Whithaven. l
Shan't hesitate to swear that some
thing deuced queer was mixed up in
your marriage with the gOverness-
something that you will find awkward
to explain. She refuses to share your
new honors-eh? Tonight she makes
herself conspicuous by her absence
BY my soul, she's a girl Of spirit! Well,
Fortune must stop sOmewhere-you
can't expect to receive all her favOrs.
man."
Vincent seized a chair and felled the
speaker to the floor. Instantly the
whole company started up on unsteady
legs. Some one swept the stakes off
the board, and the lamps also. There
was a fresh crash of glasses and bottles
as the table itself was overturned in
the midst Of the turmoil. At that mo-
ment clock in the hall struck the hOul
of twelve.
The lamps were all out.
Give US torches" shouted a voice
"and let us illuminate. in honor of Vim
cents succession to the sovereignty OF
Tempest Island"
With a shout the wine -crazed lot
rushed to the hearth. each seizing a
brand, which trailed a comet's-tail OF
red sparks across the room. Directly
the servants in the kitchen became
aware that some new catastrophe had