Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-02-04
CHAPTER XXXII.

The first passenger to alight was
Basil Hawkstone, weary and dust
stained from the most fruitless and eX-
asperating search that man ever pur-
sued.
AS he walked out of the depot the
chill, salty wind of the street met him.
like breath from his island home.
The moon was rising on the harbor, and
scattering her first level rays into the
elmcshaded town. In the busy thor
oughfares echoes Of traffic and toll stin
fingered.
Hawkstone turned from street to
street, and approached q quiet square,
overlooked by q gray stone church.
Yes, this was the place-a queer one
certainly, for a woman like Vera to
select! He had tasted her treachery
too often not to feel his suspicious stir
now.
The door of the sacred edifice stood
open-a light shone through-some-
thing was going on within. She meant
to meet him in the porch. maybe. AS
he stepped into the shadow ne came
face to face with a man who was lean
ing against the carved stone there, with
a broad -brimmed hat drawn low over
his face.
Have you business in this particular
spot sir?" demanded Hawkstone.
The man gave violent start.
stand off!" he cried, in thick
voice, which Hawkstone recognized as
belonging to Gabriel Ravenel. Out OF
the porch he dashed. and down the
steps, vanishing instantly in darkness.
Poor simpleton!" muttered Hawk
stone. PLAINLY he knows that Made
moiselle Zephyr Is expected here to-
night. The moth hovers persistently In
the candle that has already scorched
his silly wings"
He looked into the vestibule-it was
empty: into the church itself. The
only person visible was sexton of an
cient and melancholy aspect. He mo-
toned Hawkstone to enter.
1.-The lady will be coming shortly
sir" he said, with solemn smile. Il
am instructed to tell you to take
seat"
Hawkstone thought this very odd. He
had scarcely expected to find church
open ana sfEgheed- for what Vera called
their last meeting on earth. Full Of
doubt and wrath, he sat down.
1T Is some new trick Of the enemy"
he thought.
Did she really intend to meet him?
Judging from her past conduct, the
chances were against 1t. He seemed to
be the only living thing in the place
Even the old sexton had disappeared
The pews stretched in empty rows
around him-the pulpit was vacant.
He found something ominous and OPP
pressive in so much space and silence.
Suddenly Hawkstone became aware
that another person had entered the
church, and was slipping noiselessly
into a seat on the opposite side of the
aisle. He looked. 1t was Gabriel Ra-
venel.
The boy was pale as ashes. yet per-
fectly composed-indeed, he had the
careful orderly appearance Of one who
had prepared himself for some supreme
occasion. He did not see HawRstone.
but kept his handsome head bent, as
though his gaze was turned inward, not
outward.
Had Mademoiselle Zephyr called him,
also, to this place?
by my soul; he, too, seems to be
waiting for her here" Basil Hawk
stone said to himself. with fresh indig-
nation.
Seven o'clock struck in the church
tower
At the same moment a peal Of music
burst from the organ-loft. There was
a noise in the vestibule. The door
swung open. Yes, she was coming!
She had not deceived him, after all
she was advancing along the aisle-but
how. and with whom?
In point lace and shimmering duch-
ess satin, orange flowers in her crush
ed yellow curls, and on her corsage, one
tiny hand on the arm Of that dark,
heavy faced Englishman, Jasper Hat
Ton. who walked at her side. Down the
aisle went the twain-lovely, sylph-like
woman in a foam Of dazzling white
swarthy, thickset man, with narrow,
exultant eyes.
HawkstOne stared after them blank
". Gabriel Ravenel stared also, and
there was something in his pale, boyish
face not good to see.
Joyfully pealed the wedding march
from the loft. A clergyman and wit
nesses entered by a side door-the for
mer stood at the foot of the pulpit-stair
and received the twain.
Verify, it was wedding to which
the beautiful circus-rider has summon
ed her divorced husband! In that Whit
haven church, she was actually marry
ing Jasper Hatton-the man who had
persistently pursued her across conti-
nents and over seas for many year
After doing her utmost to part Hawk
stone from Jetta Ravenel. she stood
there before his eyes, uttering marriage
vows for the second time!
He could have laughed aloud! What
would his poor unhappy darling at
Tempest Hall say to this? Surely her
scruples must vanish now-her strug-
giles against their mutual happiness
cease! Mademoiselle could not dream
of the weight she was lifting from his
heart-of the unspeakable relief anc
iov that filled him, as he sat and lis
tened to that brief, impressive cere'
mony there at the pulpit-stair.
Thank God! it was over! They were
husband and wife! They were coming
hack along the aisle-drawing near tc
Hawkstone. Already her great eyes
full of malice, had sought and founc
him-already the old mocking smile
was dawnng on her red lips, when To-
in the opposite pew, like deaths heat
at the ancient Egyptian banquets, Ga
briel Ravenel started up. Never OF