The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-11-24

was painting, as if from fear, and her
face cleaned deadly white from the
delicate wrap that vas flung about 1t.
An odor of v~iolets, Mrs. Trevor's faV-
orite perfume, betrayed her instantly
to Jacqueline. At sight Of st. George
she paused, irresolute, and uttered
some word that Jacqueline did not
understand. The man approached
her, but without eagerness. Indeed,
his whole appearance had grown sud-
denly stern and forbidding.
"You sent for me?" he said, and
his voice had a cold, far-off tone.
EYES," she answered, "a servant
the only person l could trust on the
island-posted my letter some days
ago.. Oh, great heaven! I began to
fear you would not GOMEZ"
"The storm detained me at Wach-
haven Did you think me called to
risk my life in an attempt to reach
you earlier?"
She sighed heavily.
"No, no. You are not called to
serve me in any way, but I am very
unhappy, and I have become so poor
in friends that I could think, of no
other living creature who would help
me at this crisis. So I appealed to
you. I must leave Deadman's Island.
The horror of it is killing me. My
life is in danger here"
"Madame!"
"That surprises you? 1t Is quite
true. Unless 1 escape soon, my grave
will be made among these rocks.
Now you understand why 1 humbled
myself to write that letter. / can no
longer endure my daily torture. 1
am bullied, threatened, subjected to
endless indignities. For Basil's sake,
help me to get away from the place.
I am a miserable, friendless woman,
tired Of suffering and trouble. You
see Inc Inundated in the dust. Are
you not generous enough to forget
the past now, and to think of me only
as Basil's MOTHER"
Il cannot forget the past" he an
swered, mo, not for a moment"
She saw the CLEAN of the cigar
which he had thrust behind him, and
said:
You have matches with you
strike one and lock at me closely. I
want you to seefthe wreck which l
have become-tfe havoc wrought by
FIVE short years in my beauty"
He took something from his pocket
"a blue flame flared. She drew
quickly to it, and by its light he de-
%liberately scrutinized her face. JAG
queline did not stir, she hardly
breathed. She had forgotten Vic and
her own peril in the absorbing in
terest which the pair aroused In her.
AS the match fickered and went out,
St. George flung it from htm-evi-
IDENTIFY his determination was taken.
What do you wish to do?"he de-
manded.
Leave Deadman's-as I have just
told you"
"But when?"
"Now. You have a boat. You
came from Watchhaven-you must
60 back to that place. I beg-I pray
you, on my knees, take me with you'll"
"Once you ran away from me,
Mrs. Trevor-now you wish to run
with me?"
She did not notice the gite, but be-
gan to wiring her white hands.
II am in sore straits, otherwise I
would never have sent for you-you,
of ali people on earth! But my pride
is dead, my spirit broken. My sole
thought, night and day, is how to es-
cape from Philip Trevor. Do you not
think it cost ME a struggle t5 ask aid
of you? Oh, believe me, it did! But
for the thought of Basil, I could
never have done it,"
BASIL" echoed st. George, grimly,
"it is a great pity you did not feel the
influence of the little lad at an earlier.
day. Permit me to ask n question:
Have you a guest on the island, a
lady named Hatton, who lately came
to see Philip Trevor on private busb
ness?"
Mrs. Trevor started. r.
What do you know of Miss Hat
toni" she said.
Pardon me, but that is not a reply
to my query
There is such a person at Dead
man's-she has been storm-bound
here for several days. Is she an ae-
quaintance of yours?"
II have met her a few times. I
am curious to know how she is faring
in the house of that scoundrel. Will
he restore her fathers money!"
Mrs. Trevor made a %petulant ges-
ture.
Il see you are familiar with Miss
Hatton's story. l do not know do
not care!. 1t is nothing to me-. She
was an idiot to venture here. How
can / tell whether he will give her
back the money or not? never had
any knowledge of the affair"
To be Continued.
Monks of High Degree.