Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-07-03
CHAPTER III.
HillYars Cove.


nette face, lighted by magnificent BLACK
eyes, presented a striking contrast tc
Rose Hillyers exquisite blonde tints
In marked disapproval she surveyed
Andre Gautler.
'T hid in the tomb, Bess," the
younger girl made haste to say-"oul
tomb. I meant to play ghost, as you
passed by. This gentleman She
briefly told the story Of the meeting
ending with a whispered entreaty:
Pray, pray, be civil to him for my
sake!"
The sailor girl continued to look
hard at Andre. Her black eyes seem
ed to say, Give an account Of your
self" She drew Rose a little closer to
her own side.
81 should be glad to know who your
new acquaintance is" she said, dryly
Andre bowed Perhaps his youth
and good looks spoke for him in ad-
vance.
II come from a yacht in the harbor,
he said. "Of course, 1 am a stranger
on the cape. but,"-with an insinuat-
ing smile II trust you will not long
allow me to be called by that name. ;.
Then, with desperate boldness, ne add
ed: Permit me to walk home with
you, Miss Hillyer The hour grows
late, and 1t is hardly safe for young
creatures to be abroad unattended.
A smile curved the handsome lips of
the girl.
You are, indeed, stranger on cape
Desolation, IL you think that" she an
swered. Rose and I might travel the
place from sunset to sunrise without
fear" She took her cousin by the
hand. 81 wish you were not so
thoughtless," she murmured, in re-
proachful tone "Say goodbye to your
new friend, and let us hurry back to
the cove"
Can you be so cruel as to leave
me like this?" pleaded Andre, forlornly,
"Now, I dare say you have a father or
brother
I'VE live with our uncle, Caleb Hill
yer"
81 pine to see the man! Consider;
have been in the family tomb amid
all the dead Hillyers-I have scraped
acquaintance, so to speak, with you
and Miss Rose-Uncle Caleb alone re-
mains unknown. Pray take me in tow
I feel as though / could not pass him
by" -. .....ss.--.-
An irrepressible dimple appeared at
the corner of Bess Hillyers mouth.
How flattering to Uncle Caleb" she
said. Since your interest in him Is
So great, he will probably be willing to
receive you"
"A thousand thanks!" cried Andre;
and he started off with the two girls.
1t was a silent walk, for the wind
still blew violently, and conversation
could not be successfully maintained,
Bess, the queenly, the handsome, kept
her young cousin close to herself, and
tramped along through the sand, with
the free, bold step of one whose foot
was on it's native heath. At the end
OF a half-mile they came to Hillyer's
Cove.
A lonely and beautiful spot. East
ward, tall cliffs sheltered it; a quiet
anchorage could always be found at
the cove, even when tempest prevailed
in the outer harbor. A half-dozen
weather-beaten dwellings, built above
high water mark, made up the settle
ment. Some yawls were moored on the
beach, and fish and fish flakes spread
their lattice-work on all sides.
Caleb Hillyer's cottage stood nearest
the water-a brown, unpainted struc-
ture, with hollyhocks and camomile
growing under the caves, and porch
Uttered with pogy kegs and trawl bas-
kets.
TIL door stood ajar; light burned
within.
This is our sea nest" said Rose
Hillyer, turning her flower face to
Andre in the moonlight. DO you like
T?"-scornfully.
He stopped as though spellbound
and stared at the house.
Certainly there was nothing in its
outward appearance Of a disturbing OF
repulsive nature; yet, as he looked, ne
shuddered involuntarily-a sudden
curious chill ran through his strong
Young veins; he felt a strange sinking
of heart-a deadly, sickening repug-
nance! He started back a step; his
face changed.
Rose, watching him closely, said, with
a pout:
"Oh, you think it very mean anc
poor-and so it is. am sorry that we
brought you here"
Her voice broke the evil spell which
held him. Instantly he was himself
again.
Gould 1 think any place mean ol
poor that sheltered you" he replied
mo! no!
by yonder moon, swear you do me
wrong
l consider myself exceedingly fortu-
nate in obtaining entrance tonight tc
Caleb Hillyers home"
Bess led the way into a low-ceiled
quantity furnished living room, shin
ing with neatness and lighted by 6
generous driftwood fire.
Uncle Caleb has not yet come in
she said. will you sit down and wal
for him, Mr. Gautier?"
He sat down promptly. His mint
was made up. At all hazards he woult
establish permanent relations witt
these Hillyers.
Rose ran up to the fire, holding ou
a pair Of small, chilly hands. The
honest, searching glow showed him hel
oval face, dazzling as a pearl ant
family flushed with seashell pink or
either cheek-her large. languid eyes
violet in hue but looking black as inl
under long, dense lashes, and the MOI
of yellow hair that rippled and curlet
all over her little head.
The moonlight at the tomb had no
deceived him. She was the lovelies
creature that his eyes had ever restet
upon.