Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-01-07
f r + nc GE
E W CT F E f
By ETA w. PIERCE

to amuse such a company, particularly
as I am not society man."
l was his servant. He had the right
to command my time and talents, 50.
answered, Certainly" and he thank
ed me and went away.
took tea with Bee in Mrs. Otway's.
room. Then I saw the child safely in
bed, and having dressed myself in plain
black. with no ornament save cluster
of tea-roses in my corsage, descend
ed to the drawing-room.
II was full Of people, laughing and
talking like magpies. A little hush
fell as l entered. Vincent Hawkstone,
was lounging near the piano, also a,
dark, elegant man with an eyeglass-l
Colonel Latimer Vincent gave me a.
long, devouring look. and presently
came forward with a blonde girl In a.
dinner dress of blue brocade.
Miss .Ravenel," he said, wickedly,
here is a lady whom you ought to
know. Doubtless you have heard her
name before-Doris Rokewood."
Miss Rokewood recoiled a step and
bowed without a word. She was as
white as a sheet Gabriel's former be-
trothed seemed in nowise gratified to
meet Gabrieps sister. Fortunately at
that moment Hawkstone advanced and
led me to the piano. A song was put
before me-"Auld Robin Gray" sang
1t through Music has always been my.
particular passion, and did my best
upon this occasion. The room became
perfectly still, even in the furthest cor
ners: but around the piano a crowd
gathered, and all eyes were fixed on
me curiously.
"Ah, Latimer," said the Whithaven
Judge to the colonel with the eyeglass,
that's the sort of music to make old
fellows like you and me young again!"
Others songs followed. Compliments
poured upon me from every side-queer
whispers, also, reached my ears in the
pauses.
Where the deuce did Hawkstone.
find such a handsome creature?' why
hasn't he shown her before, sly dog?"
"She's no end Of beauty" "And Vim
cents of his head about her!" "Won-
der If we shall be allowed to have her
down here often?"
AS I arose, at last, from the piano,
1 found Doris Rokewood standing at
my shoulder Her blonde face had
grown gentle and gracious. I fancied
there were tears in her eyes.
You sing like an angel, Miss Raw
enel," she said. Let me thank you
for the pleasure you have given me-"
And then she turned, as though she
could not trust herself to say more,
and vanished in the crowd.
Wednesday, descended to the gar
den this morning to gather few
flowers for the schoolroom. In a shell
tered walk leading down the terraces
to the old sea-wall, heard the rumble
of light wheels, and a thin, rasping
voice saying:
GO back to the house, Parker, and
get another wrap-I feel a chill"
And leave you alone, sir?"
Yes, yes. Make haste! Would you
have me get my death in this damp
sea -air?"
Footsteps went away up the path l
looked, and saw, few yards from the
spot where stood, an invalid chair,
and in it a small man in velvet skull
cap, with a worn, sickly face as yellow
as parchment. Hawkstone's dogs were
frisking around the chair. and one,
huge English mastiff, jostled It so vio-
lently that it began to roll down the
walk.
Hi there!" cried the sick man, as
he espied my dress in the shrubbery.
Jane, Sarah, Maggie!-whatever your
name may be, lend me a hand here,
will you?"
1 flew to him, seized the chair and
held it firmly. He stared at me in
blank way
Beg pardon, young lady" he NUT
tered; II saw only your dress, and mis-
took you for a servant"
You were not very far wrong sir"
I answered, cheerfully, 'for I am lit
tie Bee Hawkstone's governess."
His cadaverous face put on a look
that appalled, me. thought he was
about to have fit.
Gabriel Raveners sister," he roared.
Don't come near me! Take your
hands off my chair! Take yourself
out Of my sight"
IF 1 do that" 1 answered, 'you will
roll down the walk and come to harm.
Permit me to stay by you till your at
tendant returns. I fear you are very,
very angry with poor GABRIEL"
His curious yellow face was con-
vulsed.
Poor GABRIEL" he sneered. How
dare you mention his name in my pres
ence. Girl, do you really love that un-
speakable scoundrel?"
do I love my one, only brother" 1
answered, Indignantly. Yes, sir, with
all my heart!"
Then, by my soul, I pity you! yes
I pity you"-
The sentence was not finished, Tor
lust then Parker, the colored valet, ap-
peared in the walk, and Miss Rokewood
with him. AS the latter espied me by
her guardians chair, she darted for
ward in lively alarm.
"Guardy! dear guardy." she implor-
ed "for my sake be careful what you
saw"