Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-01-28


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 enorts
to continue conscious fell immediate
ly asleep.
When I awoke, the cedar chamber
was dark 1 CROPPED my way to the ia
BILE and lighted a lamp. Then I turn
ed to look at the bed, and my heart
leaped into my throat. Gabriel was
gone!
I rubbed my eyes. Was dreaming?
No. While l slept he had risen ana
departed-left me alone and without a
word. The door was unlocked He
had simply turned the key and gone out
noiselessly-whether in delirium, or IN
full possession of his senses, had no
means of knowing. If the latter, fears
for his personal safety had probably
urged him to flight; and, as he couid
not possibly know the dire distress into
which I was plunged because OF him.
II was not strange that he should de-
sert me.
The hands of the clock on the mantel
pointed to seven. / listened. The house
was very still In a moment my mind
was made up.
I ran to my own room, threw on my
outer garments, and, fearful of being
discovered and intercepted, crept
stealthily down the oak stair, ont OF
Tempest Hall and through the horse
shoe gate and into the island road.
To whom should I go in this, my
hour of desperate need? Both Harris
and Mrs. Otway were powerless to help
me now. I determined to take refuge
with Peg Patton in her Inlet House.
1 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 did
any sight appear more welcome to my
eyes than the "Old Woman" rearing
her red column near the entrance to the
wooded creek turned into the forest
salt pools and over the projecting roots
of trees, heard of sudden, singular
sound near at hand-the steady, vigor-
Gus thud, thud Of a spade In the wet
earth. 1 followed the noise, and came
directly to a spot on the border Of the
creek near to the brown house.
Here the moonlight wavered and
trembled through the gloom Of thickly
braided branches, and the water CUR
gled mournfully in the frost-bitten
reeds: and here, too. under spreading
tree, found Peg Patton alone In the
night, digging strange, sinister-look-
ing hole in'the ground.
She was down in it's depth. throw
ing up spadcful after spadeful of brown
earth. 1 could see her upraised arms,
like fine bronze, and her head bound
with a red cotton handkerchief
"Peg!" called. She lifted her dark
face over the uneven brink. '"Peg, /
am in great need. Will you give me
shelter at your house?"
I She scrambled out Of the hole and
dashed down her spade. Her scapty
skirts were turned up from. her bare
ankles, the fresh mold clung to her
hands-she wiped them quickly on her
apron, and faced me-
rs it true, Jetta Ravenel, that you
have married the widest and worst OF
all the Hawkstones? she cried.
"Yes," I answered, 81 have married
him."
Then twas by foul means-never
by fair." she said, looking at me close
ly in the moonlight. "Will I give you
shelter? Yes, that I will-come with
me-"
She started for the house. I follow
ed. She hurried me into her living
room and bolted the DIOR, then uncov-
cred a bed Of red Goals on the hearth,
and heaped it high with driftwood.
The friendly warmth and light, the
sudden sense Of security, overcame me
for a moment. Peg placed me on
settee, and held a cup Of water to my
lips.
Il see," she said, dryly, "you are in
great trouble. Have you tasted food
today?"
l shook my head.
Food would choke me, Peggy"
Pooh! you are faint with fasting.
Unhappy folks must eat to sustain life,
as we'll as other people. Sit here and
rest while get your supper ready"
Immediately a fish and a pan Of po-
tatoes were frying on the hot Goals,
and a pot of bubbling coffee perfumed
the room. Peg said nothing till she had
ministered to my bodily wants, then she
began:
why do you start and turn pale at
every sound girl? Is any one pursuing
you?"
81 do not know" shuddered.
Tell me the whole story"
Vincent Hawkstone spread a net,
and I fell into it,"
Tell me ALL"
1 told her. in a dull, unmoved voice,
as though l was relating the woes of
another instead Of my own.
Peg took her pipe from the mantel
and lighted it at the fire.
II wish to the Lord that had never
interfered 'twixt you and Basil Hawk
stone, If this is the outcome of it," she
growled. Better that you should have
married the master, in spite Of the cir
cus-woman, than this devil-may- care
Vincent No doubt your brother got
away from the island as soon as he
came to his senses--there are always
boats at the landing place. Well, you
shall stay with me till the master
comes back, and I'll defy even Vincent
Hawkstone to take you from this house
against your will
She pulled gloomily at the pipe for
few moments, then continued:
God only knows what that young
scoundrel may do if his cousin doesn't
appear soon! The islanders have lived
so long under a Hawkstone that they
saa,,o n fro III +o lift hand or voice against