Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-04-20

YC
Hopewood's ring was still on my hand;
I fumbled weakly at it, but could moi
draw 1t off. AS the victim waits fol
the ak Of the executioner, as Damiens
waited for his awful death-day, I sal
there, shuddering speechless, almost
| brcathless.
Suddenly he turned about he was
coming back!-his step had swift
determined ring on the gravel. He
knelt at my side. With a groan he
buried his face in the folds Of my dress
Love! Love! You have conquer
ed!" he painted.
Hear 1t ALL" I urged, wildly. %
! have no right to the name Of Ferrers-
that belonged to my mother, before
she fed with my wicked father; and
the rich, distinguished judge, Of whom
you have heard, has never acknowl-
edged me as his granddaughter. The
blood Of a felon contaminates the
Ferrers stream. My real name
"Stop!" he implored; "for Gods
sake, tell me nothing more! Oh, my
darling, do not deny that ! am shock
ed, horrified!-that If I obeyed the
voice of prudence and judgment,
should fly from you; but my heart
clamors too loudly-I cannot! You
sorceress! what have you done to me:
Give you up? Impossible! I care not
who or what you are! I can we'll af-
ford to sacrifice pride. prejudice, even
reason, If may have you!"
This, after days and nights Of doubt
fear, despair! Joy does not kill-oth-
erwise, 1 could not have looked into
the bonny blue eyes which he raised
to mine, and lived; for by the passion
burning there 1 knew that my lover
still loved me-that, in spite of the
shame and misery of the confession
had made, my happiness was yet Sc
cure.
II shall carry you far away" he said
where your story will never be known
Ny name will shield and protect you
We will forget any shadow that may
hang about your past-we will never
speak again Of your birth or your peo-
ple-we will allow no sins, either OF
the osAd or the living, to come between
us. Great God! as well ask my heart
to stop beating as to renounce your
image! have set up my idol, and
must worship it,"
He spoke in a wild, fevered way, as
though. in answer to some protesting
voice within himself And as he knelt
there, clasping me in his strong arms
his uplifted face all pale and agitated
shadow fell upon us both. We look
ed, and 10! not three yards distant, In
the Chestnut Walk, regarding us
blankly, breathlessly, stood Colonel
Rivers and Sergia Pole.
A frown darkened the coloneps
bearded face. With contracted brows,
he advanced a step toward Sir Griffin
The latter leaped to his feet.
Thank heaven. You are here at
last Rivers!" he cried. wish me joy!
Miss Ferrers has consented to become
my wife! I have been waiting only
for your return, to make our engage
ment public.
Sergia uttered little cry.
The thunderous frown lifted from
Al 90 20
genial smile he held out one hand to
the baronet, the other to me.
my dear Sir Griffin, accept my
warmest congratulations" he cried
II always know you to be a person OF
excellent taste. Who could have
dreamed that our demure little Hazel
would capture a prize, for which old
er and wiser women have long been
plotting?" He pinched my cheek in
a teasing way. Like Tennyson's young
man, Sir Griffin believes that
"a simple maiden in her flower
Is worth an hundred coats of arms.
Eh, dear fellow?"
You cannot doubt, Rivers" answer
ed the baronet, in a simple, earnest
way, that I love Miss Ferrers most
deeply and disinterestedly. I wish to
marry at an early day, and sail fol-
England in the autumn. AS you know
Hazel has no relatives, no friends, to
consult save yourself and Miss Pole"
He seemed to stand there betwixt me
hicfnry-hafwiYt n OF
and all the want and uncertainty OF
my future-a man whom any woman
might love-rich, titled, generous. Al
that moment l adored him! Sergia's
eyes grew moist and bright with ap-
proval. She knew the full height and
depth of the sacrifice he was making
and she put out her hand to him with
dazzling smile.
II, too, congratulate you!" she said
Hazel is as dear to me as a sister
It will be my pleasure and privilege tc
give her a suitable dowry. Do moi
think, Sir Griffin, that you are to wed
a penniless bride. Half of all that
possess shall be hers"
Colonel Rivers looked a little blank
but she turned upon him in a gay
peremptory way.
Prepare to give me great deal OF
money, guardy!" she cried. II am very
rich, so you need not look so dismay-
ed Hazel's dot must be in proportion
to the love l bear her"
MY dear Sergia, don't you think
that you are a trife extravagant ir
your affection for Hazel?" he said
playfully.
mo, indeed, guardy! She deserves
far deeper devotion that can give
| well, I've but just reached home
you know, after an absence Of severa
days. and there are many things de-
manding my immediate attention. Lei
us defer the subject Of settlements til
another time, my dear. and content
ourselves with presenting the future
Lady Hopewood to our friends and
guests"
We went up to the house. On the
| uov Serpia whiSDered.