Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-01-03
CHAPTER XVII.
Gree.

lay curled up in deep fauteull, WIN
her cheek pressed, like day lily,
against the dull, soft blue Of the chair.
She wore a trailing tea-gown OF del
icate faille, garnished with exquisite
lace. Her little head was rough with
a mass Of gathered yellow curls that no
pins seemed quite able to confine. She
looked unspeakably fair and pensive,
unspeakably childlike and innocent
not in the least like woman who could
throw vltrIol or play the hypocrite.
Against the wall near her leaned man,
with his hands buried in his pockets,
and his eyes fixed attentively on the
young rider.
80 you've broken your engagement,
ma'm'zell?" he said, quietly. you're
bound not to ride any more at pres
ent? What new whim is this?"
In the rich folds of her tea-gown
nestled tiny lap dog, wearing collar
of silver bells. She stroked him with
snowflake fingers, weighed down with
diamond rings, and answered:
How can you ask, you stupid old
Jasper? Did I not fall in the ring a
few nights ago, and sustain injuries
that were thought, at first, to be fatal?
1 am too i'll to ride for weeks, perhaps
months, to come. Do I not look i'll,
Jasper"
Jasper Hatton's shrewd eyes rested
for a moment on the exquisite figure,
on the dazzling face, in its halo Of yell
low hair, and he shrugged his square
shoulders expressively.
Not in the least, mam'zell"
We'll" she pouted, "let me then say
that I do not want to leave Whithaven
just now, Jasper; that l have particu-
lar business in this vicinity. Cannot
you understand? l abandon my dear
cirque; 1 drive the manager mad with
disappointment; throw money to the
winds: I quarrel with everybody, and
swear that I am disabled, dying, all
for the privilege Of remaining a few
days longer in horrid Yankee town
where, under ordinary circumstances,
life would be quite uncomfortable"
Mr.. Hatton smiled grimly. He was
still flashy in regard to pantaloons, and
loud as to neckties. His eyes were still
small and black, and all alert, and his
manners, suggestive of the stable-yard.
You had a rafting fight with the
manager, did you? Yes, yes, under
stand it all, Zephyr, and 1 wonder at
you! You've carried the world by
storm; you've made your pile, as these
blamed Yankees say-in short, you've
had your fling without hindrance;
now, what more can you want?"
She set her little white teeth.
Il want revenge, Jasper-Ive had
everything but that"
Pooh! why bother yourself further
about Basil Hawkstone? You threw
him over long ago; you're free Of him
and he of you. What made you faint
at sight Of him the other night. Faugh!
l thought you had more pluck, mann
zell!"
The jeweled hand that caressed the
lap-dog trembled.
Jasper" she said, sweetly, you are
dull, you are heavy, you are often eX-
asperating; but I have always got on
better with you than with other men,
because you never thwart or worry me,
you let me have my own way in all
things-that is why we remain friends.
Now tell me, am still beautiful? Do
you see any crow's-feet about my
eyes, any gray in my hair? Am fad
ing? Have lost, in the smallest de-
gree my power to charm?"
The square -shouldered Englishman
surveyed her with a curious sidelong
look
Your beauty, ma'm'zell, is as it al
ways was--without a flaw: and it's
good should say, for a professional
wear and tear of ten or more years,
at least women like you age slowly"
We'll, you see what l am Jasper
you know how I have been adored in
all lands 1 cast myself at that mans
feet-I implored him to love me again.
and he repulsed me with scorn. Do
YOU wonder that tried to throw vitriol
in the face that Knocked me? Do you
wonder that I vowed to be revenged,
and that l mean to keep that VOW at
any cOst?"
Mr.. Hatton shrugged his shoulders.
II don't know how any man living
could repulse you. Zephyr-he must be
something more than human. AS for
the vitriol business, my little lady, you
look like a SANTA right down angel
minus the wings but I always knew
you had the very deuce of temper
Did you go down to Tempest Island, a
day or two ago, to finish the work be-
gun in the cirque?"
She laughed.
How do you know that l have been
down to the island? Don't watch me
too closely, Jasper. or I shall hate you,
as do the rest of your kind"
Somebody has got to watch you"
he answered, sulkily: God knows you
need it-and I am the man for the
work. You may quarrel with me as
much as you like-you cannot shake
me off. I'm not like the others, as you
ought to know"
Il went down to Tempest Island to
see my child, Jasper-to take her
away; but another woman foiled me
the Ravenel girl. But for her, should
have succeeded. 1 carried a stiletto
with mel tried to use it, too; but she
was like lioness-I found myself dis
armed at once. Jasper l swear to you
that l must get possession of Bee
must tear her from Basil Hawkstone
or die"
Hatton whistled. softly.
so the little kid just escaped the
clutches of her fond mamma, eh?
Lucky for her, say 1! How long would
you be bothered with a lame brat like
that? The maternal instinct was new
er developed in you, Zephyr. Humph!
What's the Ravenel girl like
"An Eastern princeSS-a Cleopatra"