Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-02-07
PR + N GB
EW CT F. E f
BY Eta w. PIERCE.
Rv ETTA w. PIERCE.

thing dreadful had occurred at Tempes
Hall, but what?
Come away from the window, miss,
entreated Peg. You must not stant
there. Some one outside may see you,
and she drew Jetta hastily back
"Hark! hear a step!"
There was a sound of hurrying fee
in the dead leaves; then a voice cried
at the barred door.
open! oh, Peg Patton, do open, fol
the love of Cod"
ITS Sarah again!" said Peg, an6
she drew back bolt and bar, and 10! the
faithful nursemaid sprang into the
room, with little Bee Hawkstone clasp
ed tight in her arms.
Sarah was wild and white with ter.
ror
You've killed him. miss" she said
to Jetta Ravenel. He came back from
Whithaven, bringing Miss Bee, and
when / told him you had married Vim
cent Hawkstone. he dropped dead inside
his own door! Do you hear that bell:
It's for limits for Mr.. Basil that it's
a-tolling. He's dead, and Vincent
Hawkstone Is master now of Tempest
Island, as he always swore he'd be-"
With a scream of mingled grief and
Job, Bee threw herself into Jetta Ra-
venels open arms.
Peg seized Sarah, and shaking her
vigorously, cried:
What mad thing are you saying
Compose yourself, girl! Strong men
like Basil Hawkstone, are not killed by
bad news of any sort-even the unex-
pected marriage Of a sweetheart! Tel
your story straight, Sarah-tell II
straight"
Twas the shock of her marriage
that snuffed him out like candle!'
persisted Sarah, wringing her hands
"A doctor from the mainland happened
to be at Harris cottage. He exam
ined master. and said, twas heart
disease fast enough. aggravated by a
violent mental shock. or something like
that"
mo Hawkstone ever died of heart
disease" declared Peg, sternly: its a
lie!"
II saw him die" groaned Sarah; 81
saw him laid out cold and stiff in the
library-that's no lie, more's the pity!
Mrs. Otway told me to take little Bee,
and bring her to you-told me to ask
you to hide the child, for the love of
God! Her life isn't safe at Tempest
Hall. now that Mr. Vincent is in pos
session There's no telling what he
may do. and nobody's left to protect the
poor little thing"
"Tr take care Of her." said Peg. de-
cisively: "you did we'll to fetch her to
the Inlet
Let me stay, too!" prayed Sarah;
"you see 1 don't dare to go back after
what I've done-hell kill me as quick
as not. Oh. what's to become Of any
of us, with Mr.. Basil dead?"
That's what I'd like to know" said
Peg. thoughtfully. Stay with US, girl
If you like-the house is large enough
But we must prepare for trouble. Vim
cent Hawkstone will burn the roof over
our heads, maybe-he has promised as
much"
In blank horror Jetta Ravenel stood
staring at her two companions. Fright
ened by the look on her face, Peg rush.
ed to her and cried out, sharply:
Hold up, miss! 1t never could have
been your marriage that killed him
don't believe It'll don't believe IT.!
And she tried to sustain the girl in her
own powerful arms.
Jetta Ravenel uttered shrek so full
of heart-break that it might have stir
red even the pale corpse in the room
beyond.
Dead. Oh. Basil, my love, my love!
Dead"
She slipped from Pegs hold down tc
the floor, with poor Bee in her arms
And the two women, awed by the pres
ence of a grief which they could moi
measure, drew instinctively back. anc
| left her, motionless, voiceless there
with her white face prone in the dust.