Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-01-21
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Bv ETTA w. PIERCE.
CHAPTER xxx.
Jetta Still Speaks.
By ETA w. PIERCE.

restore him. Bitterly 1 TeHecleu Ilie'' d
would be we'll if both Of US could ole
then and there. All night long sa'
by his side, and heard the clock ticK
and counted the interminable hours aS
they dragged on. The horror OF tha'
vigil I shall never forget on this side
of the grave.
Morning came, and Sarah, the maid
crept to my door, and knocked softly'
"Oh. dear Miss Ravenel," she sob6ed
ARE you there"
Yes" I answered.
May come in, miss"
mo. You can do me no good. Sarah
Has Mr.. Sutton left the house?"
''Lor'. yes; last night he was turned
out shameful, miss, and Parker ano
Miss Rokewood with him. Mrs. Otwa!
is wild about you-says she will get uG
and come to you here, but she can't &c
that, for her ankle is dreadful. Shal
I bring your breakfast, miss?'
No; 1 do not care for breakfast
Where is Vincent Hawkstone"
I shuddered as 1 pronounced the
name. Sarah answered, dryly:
He's been drinking wine in the
drawing room all night, and is quite
HELPLESS at present, and will be,
should say, for hours to come"
Sarah departed, and I resumed my
watch by Gabriel. So long as he re-
mained unconscious 1 would not leave
him. By-and-bye he would recover
from the effects of Vincent Hawk
stones drugs, and learn that he was
pardoned-that he had nothing to rear
from George Sutton; and then he would
take me under his protection-he would
stand betwixt me and the man VINO
pretended to be my husband. My LIE
was now as bankrupt as his own--in
all the world we had nothing left but
each other.
Noon came. Again Sarah crept to my
door begging me to take a little food
and again 1 sent her away. AS the al
ternoon shadows heightened in the
room, I began, at last, to feel the eX-
haustion of so many sleepless hours
combined with poignant fear. put my
weary head down on the pillow beside
Gabriel, and, in spite Of all my efforts
to continue conscious, fell immediate
ly asleep.
When l awoke, the cedar chamber
was dark groped my way to the Ia
BILE and lighted lamp. Then turn
ed to look at the bed, and my heart
leaped into my throat. Gabriel was
gone!
I rubbed my eyes. Was l dreaming:
No. While 1 slept he had risen and
departed-left me alone and without a
word. The door was unlocked. HE
had simply turned the key and gone out
oiselessly-whether in delirium, or in
full possession of his senses. I had no
means of knowing. If the latter, fears
for his personal safety had probably
urged him to flight; and, as he could
not possibly know the dire distress into
which l was plunged because of him.
it was not strange that he should de-
sert me.
The hands of the clock on The mantel
pointed to seven. 1 listened. The house
was very still. In moment my mind
was made up.
| ran to my own room, threw on my
outer garments. and, fearful of being
discovered and intercepted, crept
stealthily down the oak stair out OF
Tempest Hall and through the horse
shoe gate and into the island road.
To whom should l go in this. my
hour of desperate need? Both Harris
and Mrs. Otway were pOwerless to helE
me now. l determined to take refuge
with Peg Patton in her Inlet House.
l flew down the tawny slope, and over
the salt dunes with the familiar song
Of the sea in my ears, and all around
me shadow and desolation. Never die
any sight appear more welcome to my
eyes than the "Old Woman" rearing
her red column near the entrance to the
wooded creek. 1 turned into the forest
path. AS stumbled along through the
salt pools and over the projecting roots
of trees, heard of a sudden, a singular
sound near at hand-the steady, vigor-
Gus thud, thud Of a spade in the wei
earth. followed the noise, and came
directly to a spot on the border of the
creek near TO the brown house.
Here the moonlight wavered an(
trembled through the gloom of thicklN
braided branches, and the water CUR.
gled mournfully in the frOst-bitter
reeds: and here, too, under a spreading
tree. found Peg Patton alone in thu
night. digging a strange, sinister-look
ing hole in the ground.
She was down in its depth. throw
ing up spadcful after spadoful Of brown
earth. l could see her uprased arms
like fine bronze, and her head bOunC
with a red cotton handkerchief.
Peg" I called. She lifted her darl
face over the uneven brink. Peg,
am in great need. Will you give m'
shelter at your house?"
She scrambled out of the hole ant
dashed down her spade Her Scant!
skirts were turned up from her bare
ankles, the fresh mold clung to he
hands-she wiped them quickly on he
apron, and faced me.
rs it true, Jetta Ravenel, that yol
have married the widest and worst o
all the Hawkstones?" she cried
Yes" l answered, Il have married
him."
Then twas by foul means-neve
by fair" she said, looking at me close
ly in the moonlight. will 1 give yo'
shelter? Yes. that l will-come witt
me-"
She started for the house. l follow
ed. She hurried me into her living
room and bolted the door. then uncOv
cred a bed of red Goals on the hearth
and heaped it high with driftwood
The friendly warmth and light, tn
sudden sense of security, overcame m