Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-08-25

out; and, after all, she's never go
but one letter.
Deep shadows now filled the corner:
of the grocery, and gathered on th'
r:ckety stair that led up to the sal
loft. Captain Ira started to light hi!
oil lamps.
). Its to be feared" he remarked
that Caleb Hillyer and the sailor ga
has that ere idjit on their hands fol
his nat'ral life"
"And Caleb he's laid up with cricl
in his back, and can't hobble," an
swered Duff, curving his horny hand:
around the rusty stovepipe. He wal
never saving man. l calkerlate Bes:
keeps the house"
A blast of wind shook the grocery
door, and ratified the dry sharks tai
nailed thereto; then the latch was lift
ed, and Bess Hillyer, breathless with
the buffeting of the elements, and pow
dered white with snow, stepped into
Berry's grocery.
She wore a plaid cloak, and close
hood tied over her black hair. She
was trifle paler and thinner than OF
old, but she still kept the bright, un-
tanned look which had always distin-
guished her. Not waiting even to
shake the snow from her garments, she
advanced to the counter, and asked
eagerly: "Is the mail in, Captain Ira? %
He shook his head.
Toms late-lost in the drifts, most
likely. Gracious Lawd! How'd you
ever cross the cliffs tonight, Bess
Hillyer? Go up to the stove and. warm
yourself, girl? How's Caleb's back?"
| Duff and the other fishermen moved
respectfully, to allow her to approach,
but she shook her handsome head.
Thank you. I'm not cold. Uncle
Caleb is worse tonight. He wanted to
come in my stead but knew he could
never make his way through the snow"
Ira Berry turned again to the storm
blurred window, and directly espied a
black, moving speck on the distant
road.
Mails in sight" he announced,
briefly; and soon after Tom Duff, muf-
fled to the eyes, and with a rime OF
frost on his red beard, stalked into
Berry's grocery, and flung the mail bag
on the counter.
Blessed If l was ever out in sich
weather afore!" he growled. ITS huff
to freeze every drop of brine in the At
lantic! You'll be lucky If you git back
to the cove alive, miss" as his eyes
alghted on Bess Hillyer.
She did not hear-she was watching
Ira Berry, as he opened the bag and
drew out the letters-not more than a
half-doZen in all. He looked them
carefully over: then said, regretfully:
None for you, Bess-and a shame,
too, arter the walk you've had-better
luck next time, maybe"
For weeks and months the same dis
appointment had met her in the same
place; yet it had never seemed so keen
as on this night. She clinched her
hands involuntarily under the cloak.
Oh, Rose!-wicked, willful, cruel, yet
always fondly loved!
without another word Bess turned to
the door. At the same moment Ira
Berry took ZIP letter addressed to the
postmaster Of Cape Desolation, broke
the seal, and, with an astonished air,
drew out a bank note, and began to
4 hn door
as fact as his manned legs would per-
nit.
"Bess, I say!-Bess Hillyer-come
back, will you?" The girl was already
struggling in the deep snow. Here's
some female woman a-Writing to me
about you, and from Boston city, too.
Blessed If l can make head or tail out
Of it,"
Bess turned back at the call. Excite
ment is always contagious. The fish
ermen arose from their seats by the
stove, and crowded around the post
master.
do you know any she person named
Susan Taylor?" said the latter to Bess.
NO" she answered.
Then listen to this, for a brazen
one" And Captain Ira rested his Grip
pled limb on an overturned bait basket
and proceeded to read aloud Susan
Taylors letter.
ANY remarks to be made?' he ask
er dryly, when he had astonished the
little company with that curious COM
munication. Does any Of you know
about the yacht, or the gentleman
named Ellicott? AS a government Of
ficer, it's my plain dooty to enlighten
this female woman. Moreover, she's
sent five dollars to furbish up my
memory"
Hiram Duff helped himself to a plug
Of tobacco from Ira's counter.
I've seen a good many yachts at
Cape Desolation," he answered; "but l
dunno as 1 remember one from an
other. There was never any Mr.. Eli
colt in these parts, to my knowledge.
Susan Taylor better put her head in
the nearest water pail. And as for
them questions about Elizabeth Hill
yer, they're insults-downright insults,
as we all can see"
Jest So" assented Ira.
Bess stood bewildered - amazed.
Though the writer of the letter was
plainly an humble and illiterate per-
son, she dealt with startling subjects.
"Strange!" said the girl, slowly.
'Lepel Ellicott was my kinsman. Un-
Gle Caleb knows about him. His moth
er once offered me a home in her
house. 1 decoyed-I sent him to death?
What can the woman mean?"
Don't mind her meaning, miss" re-
piled Captain Ira, soothingly. Was
Mr. Ellicott your sweetheart?-thats
the question I'm called to answer"
Il never saw him in my life-he died
several years ago."
That settles it," said Ira, with jul
dicial air: and he tossed the letter on