Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-01-17
f f + NG GH
E. W GfF E f
BY ETA w. PIERCE.
CHAPTER XIV.
The Parting.
By ETA w. PIERCE.

Tempest had gathered at the door Of
the Hall.
Hawkstone's words were few-his
little daughter was missing-the whole
place must be searched at once He
himself mounted a fleet horse and
started out to Overtake the party led
by Harris and Doris Rokewood. He
came up with it at that very spot in
the road where Bee had so mysterious
ly disappeared Miss Rokewood, pale
and distressed, rushed to meet him,
and related the same story that he had
heard from Mrs. Otway. The ponies
had taken fright and bolted, as she
was returning from the lighthouse.
She had been thrown out and stunned,
and in that interval Of Inconsistencies
hot more than ten or fifteen minutes,
she thought-Bee had vanished as COM
pletely as though the earth had swal-
lowed her.
What frightened the ponies?' ask
ed Hawkstone, quickly.
Something moved suddenly in
thicket by the roadside" Miss Roke-
wood answered, in great grief and re-
morse; "T caught one glimpse of
dark object, crouching there-whether
man or beast, cannot say. for my at
tention was instantly drawn away to
the beasts. Oh, Mr.. Hawkstone, will
you ever cease to blame me for this
disaster?-can you ever forgive me?"
There is nothing to forgive" he an
swered, kindly: nothing for which
can blame you. Do not distress your
self. Please God, we will find Bee
again, and before many hours. 1 ought
to have been on my guard, knowing,
as l did, that an outrage Of this kind
was always imminent. Harris shall
take YOU back to the Hall, Miss Roke-
wOod-leave the search to mel know
into whose hands my daughter has
fallen"
He gave a few orders to his servants,
then turned his horses head, and rode
off through the gathering night straight
to Peg Patton's Inlet house.
The brown woman was still sitting in
her low door, smoking her cob pipe.
Hawkstone swung himself out of his
saddle, and strode up to her with an
ominous air.
Peg"
MASTER" she answered, inquiringly.
rs that woman still in your house."
Peg unlocked the swarthy hands that
held her knees, and answered. q.
Lnn 70 q
ven an hour ago"
His face was dark with anger. He
put one hand heavily on her shoulder.
II am not quite pleased with you
tonight, Peg My daughter has disap-
peared from Tempest Island. Now tell
me the truth-don't dare to trifie with
me. When Mademoiselle Zephyr went
back to Whithaven, did she take Bee
with her, and what help did you give
her in the business"
Peg dashed down her cob pipe, and
confronted her master boldly.
Have l served the HawkstOnes for
more than twenty years, sir, to be sus-
pected. at last. of treachery to you and
yours? Is your opinion Of me so poor
that YOU think l would stoop to help
any one-mind you, any one!-steal
your daughter? If Mademoiselle
Zephyr, as you call her. has taken the
child, God is my witness that had no
part in it! l haven't set eyes on Miss
Bee. A Whithaven boat brought your
former wife to the Inlet, and also took
her away-I didn't watch her come or
go-it wasn't my business"
In that case, you do not know
whether she was alone or not eh?"
II can see some things master, with
out watching" answered Peg, dryly.
There was a dark, thickset man with
her when she appeared at my door.
lie turned and went off into the wood"
Jasper Hatton!" thought Hawkstone.
He regarded Peg with unappeased
wrath.
why did you lend your aid to de-
coy Miss Ravenel here tonight? Why
did you fill her ears with a story
which might better have been told at
another time? How dared you, at the
bidding Of Mademoiselle Zephyr, seek
TO turn from me the heart Of the wom-
an | love-"
Peg looked the island lord squarely
in the face, and replied:
IL gave your former wife the shelter
of my roof for an hour or two, master
because l could not deny such small
favor to one who had once borne the
name of Hawkstone; but didn't de-
GOV Miss Ravenel here-that was the
work Of Mademoiselle Zephyr. True, l
spoke my mind to her. sir-I told her
your mothers story. For the sake OF
Philip Hawkstone's second wife. |
could not let the girl that she brought
10 this island rush into marriage with
YOU without knowing something of the
fate Of those who had been before her
something Of what she herself may
c,Dect, il ever she becomes your wife.
He WINGED visibly. Answer me, mas
ter would 1t not have been sin and
shame to stand by and see Miss Ray-
enel marry you with the truth untold?'
He frowned
You have meddled with my private
affairs In an unwarrantable manner,
Teg." he answered, sternly. Were 1t
not for your long service to me and
mine. l should find 1t hard to forgiV"
yea
II did right. sir-I know did right!
por$istcd Feg, stubbornly.
with dark suspicion In his eyes,
he stepped suddenly into the inlet
house, and seized a candle from Peg
Innntel,
with your permission" he said, dry
". II Will go and see my mother.
Peg followed him as he strobe down
the passage, and through the secret
door to the apartment Of the mad-wo-
man.
The lamp was still burning there, the
sea-shells still strewed the floor, but